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Biarritz and the French Coast from San Sebastian or Bilbao

Badge of Excellence
San Sebastian, Spain
High interest
Booked 3 times today.
  • 6 to 10 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Group discounts
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.6
·
· Dean_Q ·
Apr 2026
This was a wonderful tour to the French basque coastal towns. I tour guide Alby was very informative and knowledgeable. Giving us little facts of history along the away. Biarritz, Bayonne & St. Jean de Luz are very charming little towns. A very short drive from San Sebastián. Went at the end of April and there were no crowds. Highly recommend this tour.
· Frank_B ·
Apr 2026
Wonderful tour with Paul. Great insights into the Basque culture and history. Really enjoyed our time in Bayonne, the coast of Biarritz is spectacular, and the town of St Jean de Luz is charming.

Overview

Maximize time in the Basque Country on this full-day tour from San Sebastian or Bilbao, which takes you across the border into France. Visit the glamorous beach city of Biarritz and the historic town of Bayonne with a professional guide. Upgrade to a tour in your choice of Spanish or English that also includes a restaurant lunch, transfers, and a visit to the seaside town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
  • Skip the hassle of a rental car and let your guide do the driving
  • Explore towns, cities, and beaches along the French Basque coast
  • Learn about the region's distinctive local culture and heritage

What's Included

  • Professional guide
  • Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off (not available for Bilingual group, meet at specified meeting point)
  • Lunch is included (not available for Bilingual group)
  • Private transportation
  • Saint Jean de Luz (not available for Bilingual group)
  • Food and drinks, unless specified
  • Rain clothes and umbrella

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Please provide your hotel or apartment name and address (if option selected, not available for the bilingual tour option).

or

Meeting point

  • San Sebastián Bus Station
    Federico García Lorca Pasealekua, 1, 20012 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain

    For the Minibus Bilingual Tour option the meeting point is set at the San Sebastian Central Bus Station. Our tour leader will meet the group at the space between the escalator (downstairs) and the indoor cafeteria. There is only one escalator and one cafeteria at the Bus Station.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

1

Biarritz

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

2

Bayonne

2 hours Admission Ticket Free

3

Saint-Jean-de-Luz

45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Most travelers can participate
  • A minimum of 2 adults is required, among all bookings, for the tour to go ahead (minimum of 4 adults for the bilingual group option). If the minimum group for carrying out the activity would not be reached, an alternative date or full refund would be offered. If your booking was below this number we will contact you at least 2 days in advance to inform you in case the minimum group size was not covered by this stage. Please feel free to contact us anytime to confirm the total amount of bookings for your tour date.
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • We would like to remind you that it is compulsory that you bring your identification document (ID or Passport) with you in order to cross the French border.
  • Bilingual tour: This tour operates with a minimum of 4 adults. Individual bookings or groups of fewer than 4 people are welcome and may be joined with other travelers to reach the required minimum.
  • Bilingual tour: If the minimum number required to operate the tour is not reached, Local Experts Tours will contact you 3 days before the start date to inform you of the situation and offer alternatives.
  • Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available upon request. Please indicate your preference in the comments section at the time of booking so we can make the necessary arrangements.
  • Kids menu is available.
  • Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
  • Not recommended for people with reduced mobility.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.6
based on 220 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most insightful

A Great Way To Spend A Day

Raegan_E, Jun 2026
Such a great day! We saw so much & learned about each different city / town that we travelled to. Carlos was an awesome tour guide. My husband & him bonded over basketball. I highly recommend this tour.

Hard Working Locals

Sarah_B, Jun 2026
This is not flashy or high class. Tour guides are responsible caretakers who keep you to a tight schedule. Be prepared to walk. Challenges include cramped small vans with poor air conditioning and very challenging parking conditions. Bonuses include excellent company communication and knockout lunch venues when included.

Okay la!

KAREN_D, Jun 2026
This trip was “okay”. Was lovely to see Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The lunch was tasty but clumsy when ordering with not a lot of help from guide. The guide had favorite guests and therefore we felt almost ignored. The guide was knowledge, there’s no denying that but he should work on being personable, friendly, inclusive and equitable with his clients.

Zero free time given at...

neldachang, May 2026
Zero free time given at the three stops, which is the first time I’ve experienced this out of all the tours I’ve taken in 20 years. The guide Ana is very knowledgeable, but should realize that not everyone on the tour shares all the same interests, especially the more obscure ones (random exhibitions, installations, etc.). Having flexibility to have some free time would allow each participant to spend time on things that matter to them. Instead, the tour felt like being shepherded from one mandatory stop to the next, and wasting some precious time. Ana also made some vaguely racist remarks. For example, at the French border crossing, she said, “well, if I had a bus full of Africans, the police would have surely stopped our car to check everyone’s documents. But since we are all white looking, no problem.” And also when asking my ethnicity, she said, “it’s hard to tell you Asians apart, you can be Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc.”. The itinerary also needs improvement - should consider spending more time in Biarritz (including having lunch there), vs spending most of the time in Bayonne (and lunch). Would have enjoyed the tour a lot more if we had 1 hour free time in Biarritz, either for lunch or just walking around the beachfront.

Trip

Lisa_M, May 2026
Enjoyable and informative day exploring the 3 areas , we had a great tour guide Carlos. Lunch adequate. Right amount of time in each location .

Quick trip to Biarritz and Bayonne

Christine_C, May 2026
Small group tour, the vehicle was a nine seater minibus, however we were filled to capacity not very comfortable for eight adults and a child. The tour was a good way to see the highlights of both Bayonne and Biarritz. Carlos was a good guide and kept the tour light and informative.

Was about 6 hours. Our...

David_R, May 2026
Was about 6 hours. Our tour guide Victor was fantastic. Knowledgeable and flexible on the plans. We were with a group of 5 in a minivan with lots of room. We went to Bayonne and Biarritz.

French. Basque Seaside

Dean_Q, Apr 2026
This was a wonderful tour to the French basque coastal towns. I tour guide Alby was very informative and knowledgeable. Giving us little facts of history along the away. Biarritz, Bayonne & St. Jean de Luz are very charming little towns. A very short drive from San Sebastián. Went at the end of April and there were no crowds. Highly recommend this tour.

Wonderful tour with Paul....

Frank_B, Apr 2026
Wonderful tour with Paul. Great insights into the Basque culture and history. Really enjoyed our time in Bayonne, the coast of Biarritz is spectacular, and the town of St Jean de Luz is charming.

Flexible and fun little taste of France!

Jami_A, Mar 2026
Javier conducted a wonderful tour. He provided interesting insights and history about Biarritz and Bayonne. He was very flexible with what we wanted to do and helped us navigate to the shops and things we wanted to see most! I really appreciated his promptness, insights and flexibility. The trip is just enough to get a little taste of France!

Mike & Dede

Mike_R, Feb 2026
Paul was very knowledgeable. Worked in both English and Spanish extremely well. Kept things moving but we had time of our own and we'll. Great pace. Great insight.

Ana is very knowledgeable...

ALEJANDRO_D, Dec 2025
Ana is very knowledgeable and an excellent tour guide. Quick tour hits all the high notes. Great food at Biarritz market.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Great to know everything was to your liking. See you soon ;)

Great day out

Stephenprice227, Nov 2025
Had a great day out and experienced the ‘essentials’ of Biarritz and Bayonne. Javier was a formidable guide.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

So happy to hear you enjoyed the tour. Hope to see you again on another experience soon!

Small group tour turned...

magizmushrm, Oct 2025
Small group tour turned out to be a private tour with our accommodating and friendly guide, Alby. Alby was fantastic with many cool tips and gave us enough information to enjoy the Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint Jean De Luz. Felt like a friend showing you around

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your tour with Alby!

Our guide was very...

Kara_B, Oct 2025
Our guide was very accommodating. We had our young son with us, and the guide provided a car seat. Be aware, there is some walking through the streets, with cobblestones and steps, which could be difficult for some.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your review! See you soon.

Highly Recommend!

Peter_L, Oct 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Alby and our small group of 6 guests. Alby knew history of the 3 cities we visited and he knew current lifestyles and situations. Alby guided us to main points of interest in each city and then gave us time to explore on our own. Alby’s van was very comfortable and his headset/speakers made it easy for the folks in the back to hear every word he said. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

We’re happy you enjoyed the tour with Albi. Thanks for choosing us!

Fantastic tour with Alby....

Howard_B, Sep 2025
Fantastic tour with Alby. Great pace with enough time to have a walk around each place we visited. Great lunch. Highly recommend this tour and our guide Alby.

Excellent tour guide very...

Jose_M, Sep 2025
Excellent tour guide very knowledgeable , she walked us to incredible places and even showed best’s spot for pics.

Long walks. Might not be...

Ernesto_R, Sep 2025
Long walks. Might not be appropriate for people over 75. The Time allotted for lunch was too short. Othrwise, fine.

Biarritz & French Coast tour from San Sebastián

Lori_H, Sep 2025
What an amazing day touring the French Basque Country with Javier, who was extremely informative and a joy to be with for a full day tour. If you want to see the beautiful towns of Biarritz, Bayonne and St Jean de Luz in a day, this tour is perfect.

Your experience

stuart_s, Sep 2025
Polite and friendly tour guide. Attentive and happy to answer questions people had. Only downside the tour probably could’ve done with being a little longer to allow for a little more time to yourself to explore both stops/get some lunch.

Basque France Tour

Jesse_T, Sep 2025
We had an incredible time on the Biarritz and French coast tour, and our guide Josu truly made it unforgettable. His knowledge of the history, culture, and hidden details of the region was outstanding, and he shared it in a way that was engaging and easy to follow. Josu made both my wife and me feel completely comfortable throughout the day, even as I kept trying to detour us off the itinerary—he kept us on track with a smile and a sense of humor. He navigated seamlessly between Spanish, excellent English, and just enough French to keep us well-fed and entertained across the border. The tour itself was fantastic, but Josu made it extraordinary. He started the day as our guide and ended it as a friend. Highly recommend both the experience and especially Josu as your guide.

The French Basque cities are a nice day excursion to any San Sebastián trip. Worth it

Barrington_L, Aug 2025
Excellent tour of the French cities and towns that are part of the Basque Country. Guide was super knowledgeable. Tour was comfortable. These are cities rich in culture, history, storybook seaside retreats that are a wonderful addition to any travels to San Sebastián

On the French side of the Fascinating Basque Country

Corina_M, Aug 2025
A beautiful full day in the most stunning locations in the French Basque country - Biarritz, Bayonne and St Jean de Luc - courtesy of our Basque guide Josean, (Local Experts Tours). Very knowledgeable, very professional and most appreciated.

Misleading, poorly organized and overall disappointing

Rebecca_W, Aug 2025
This “small group tour” wasn’t small after all. There were 33 people altogether and 5 of them were English speaking the rest were Spanish speakers. English speakers didn’t get headphone and we would not hear the tour guide who could barely speak English. The tour was rushed and we felt like there wasn’t enough time to enjoy. Overall misleading and poorly organized.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Dear Rebecca, We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We fully understand how disappointing it must have been for you and we sincerely regret any inconvenience caused. We have reviewed your booking and can confirm that you selected the Minibus bilingual tour option, which is operated with a maximum of 35 participants and includes both English- and Spanish-speaking guests. In this format, the guide alternates between languages to ensure everyone receives the information. Our Small Group Tour is a different product, operated separately with a maximum of 8 participants, and we always respect that limit. We understand this distinction may not have been clear at the time of booking, and we will review our descriptions to make them even clearer for future guests. We truly value your feedback and will use it to improve both our communication and the guest experience. Kind regards,

Full day of walking in 3...

Samir_Y, Jun 2025
Full day of walking in 3 towns namely Biarritz,Bayonne and St John de Lutz Havier was very informative and made it a cultural tour. It was however rushed and Too much to crowd on one day

Awesome experience with Maider!

Katie_B, Jun 2025
We had an absolutely wonderful day with Maider as she guided us through the Basque region of France. Maider was very knowledgeable, had a wonderful sense of humor, and taught us about the region by introducing us to a cultural experience of food, environment, and historical structures. The tour was a very relaxed pace where we could take our time to soak in the sights and experience. In addition to showing us Bayonne and Biarritz, Maider asked if we all had a few minutes for a quick "detour" to see one of her favorite local spots in between the two towns. I won't spoil it by revealing where we went, but it was special to get this insight and perspective from a native resident! Thank you Maider for a very memorable day!

Great trip, highly recommended!

elvin_r, Apr 2025
This trip is essential to understanding the Basque region. The towns we visited were spectacular and Alby was an amazing guide. He gave us plenty of time to explore on our own at every stop. Plus lunch was phenomenal.

French Basque Coast

Marta_G, Apr 2025
Imanol was a great guide, the way the trip was designed was very effective for people of certain age and we saw a good number of places. Loved the French Basque Coast. Highly recommended.

Don't miss the chance...

Trenton_B, Apr 2025
This Tour is a great opportunity to see a little bit the French Basque country. We were so lucky to have Javier as our driver / Guide. He was fantastic ; super knowledgeable, very personable and a great attitude! The trip across the border is really a fairly short one. The first stop is Biarritz, a beautiful seaside town and home to many rich & famous residents. We had time to explore some really cute shops and cafes. You'll find no cheap & tacky tourist shops in this lovely city, they're all 'class'. Bayonne is the next and final stop before returning to Donostia and it possesses its own charms. It is quite a bit larger than Biarritz. We were able to spend 2 hrs here and the walking tour led by Javier was very informative. Lunch was delicious, followed by more shopping! I'm so glad we did this Tour!

From $92.12

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 38 days in advance.

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