Biarritz France
France

6 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

CroisiEurope (6 Cruises)

An empress launched this beach. Seduced by the bay from childhood, Eugénie de Montijo had a villa built there in 1854 facing the ocean; crowned Europe followed, then surfers, a century later. Biarritz still lives from this dual inheritance: Belle Époque palaces above the waves, boards under arm in the sloping streets. The port-call unfolds between these two worlds, on foot.

Disembark Facing the Great Beach

The bay has no deep-water pier: the ships—most often small upmarket units—anchor offshore and transfer their passengers by tender, with the Great Beach and its striped cabins in their sights. Some companies choose instead the neighbouring bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and convey their guests by coach. In either case, the centre is discovered without vehicle once ashore.

The Great Beach and the Palace Hotel

The central arc of sand concentrates the city's image: parasols, swimmers, surf schools for the first waves. At its northern end watches over the former villa of Eugénie, become the Palace Hotel, red and white façade you can admire from the promenade. Strolling from one end of the bay to the other takes twenty minutes, sea spray included.

The Rock of the Virgin and the Fishers' Harbour

Southward, the coastal path winds around the Atalaye plateau to the Rock of the Virgin, a reef linked to land by a metal catwalk from Eiffel's workshops. The statue atop it watches the swells of the Bay of Biscay pass; in heavy seas, spray fountains reach the visitors. Below hides the Fishers' Harbour, a handful of white crampotes—the old fishers' huts—converted to small restaurants where you eat facing the boats.

The Market Hall and Basque Taste

Five minutes into the interior streets, Biarritz's Halles gather each morning fishmongers, cheesemongers and pastry makers. You taste Ossau-Iraty, mild peppers and Basque cake with dark cherry; oyster bars surrounding the market readily extend the stop. Count on a quick lunch there rather than a sit-down meal: the atmosphere suits it better. The surrounding quarter, commercial and lively, offers the best sense of daily Biarritz.

The Coast of the Basques and the Lighthouse

Two viewpoints frame the city. To the south, the Coast of the Basques—Europe's cradle of surfing since the 1950s—unfolds its long waves beneath a cliff planted with tamarisk; the sight of the surfers is appreciated from the corniche. At high tide, water covers the sand entirely and the silhouettes seem to launch from the very foot of the cliff. To the north, the lighthouse of Saint-Martin Point rewards the climb of its 248 steps with a complete panorama, from the Landes beaches to the Pyrenean summits that plunge into the sea.

The Port-Call Memo

ElementDetail
DisembarkationBy tender facing the centre, or via Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Rock of the Virgin15 minutes on foot from the landing
The Market Hall5 minutes on foot from the waterfront
Saint-Martin Lighthouse25 minutes on foot, 248 steps
BayonneAbout 10 km, bus or taxi

Elegance and Spray

Few seaside resorts succeed at ageing without freezing. Biarritz manages it: the imperial façades serve as backdrop to the surfers, the markets feed the palaces, and the ocean sets the rhythm for everyone. You return aboard with salt-dried hair, with the feeling of having visited two epochs for the price of a single day.

Frequently Asked Questions

By tender, most of the time. The bay has no deep-water pier: ships, usually small upmarket vessels, anchor offshore and tender passengers in, with the Grande Plage and its striped bathing huts straight ahead. Some lines prefer the neighbouring bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and bring guests over by coach.
Entirely, once ashore. Strolling the length of the Grande Plage takes twenty minutes, sea spray included, and the main sights are within a fifteen-minute walk.
An empress launched it. Taken with the bay since childhood, Eugénie de Montijo had a villa built facing the ocean in 1854; crowned Europe followed, and the surfers a century later. The villa is now the Hôtel du Palais, a red and white facade you can admire from the promenade.
A reef linked to the shore by a metal footbridge from the Eiffel workshops, fifteen minutes' walk from the tender pier along the coastal path. The statue on top watches the Bay of Biscay swells roll in; in heavy seas, spray reaches the visitors.
A handful of white crampotes, the old fishermen's huts, now small restaurants where you eat facing the boats. It hides below the Atalaye plateau, on the way to the Rocher de la Vierge.
Fishmongers, cheesemongers and pastry cooks, every morning, five minutes from the seafront. Try ossau-iraty, mild peppers and gâteau basque with black cherry; the oyster bars around the market are happy to extend the stop. Think quick lunch rather than a sit-down meal.
Yes, at the Côte des Basques, the European birthplace of surfing since the 1950s, south of town. Watch from the corniche road. At high tide the water covers the sand completely and the figures seem to launch from the foot of the cliff itself.
Yes, at the cost of 248 steps. The Pointe Saint-Martin lighthouse is a twenty-five minute walk from the seafront and the view runs from the Landes beaches to the Pyrenees dropping into the sea. Skip it if your knees or your breath are a concern.
By bus or taxi, about ten kilometres. It is the capital of the French Basque Country and the trip makes sense if you are in port more than six hours.
The euro. French everywhere, Basque on the signs. Cards work in shops and at Les Halles; a little cash is still useful at the market stalls.