If you are looking for some amazing coastal towns in France, Biarritz is sure to have cropped up on your list. There are a number of gorgeous beaches in Biarritz city itself and even more on its outskirts.
While we were there we ended up visiting quite a few of these because we had a couple of days when the weather wasn’t particularly good. Instead of sitting indoors, we choose to walk along the beaches and just take it in. I guess the Dutch saying ‘We aren’t made of sugar.’ really made it into our lives.
The truth is that we visited Biarritz towards the end of spring and while we got some days of good weather, we also had some days when it was downright chilly. Luckily for us, we had expected it. For many others, the weather did not deter them. They went about their own watersports with their gear as if the dip in temperature did not matter at all.
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Beaches In Biarritz
1. Playa De Biarritz And La Grande Plage
I have to mention the Playa De Biarritz and La Grande Plage together because they are both adjoining beaches. In fact, you cannot tell where one beach ends and the other begins. This is one of the most visited beaches in Biarritz.
At the end of playa de BIarritz, you have the famed Hotel Du Palais Biarritz by Hyatt which is not just a luxury hotel but a monument in itself. You can see it from afar and its imposing facade has been part of the coastal landscape for decades.
Both these gorgeous beaches have a promenade that lines them at the back. There are a number of restaurants and cafes nearby that you can chill at too. There is a carousel which is a great activity for kids and a small exercise area. You can also choose to chill at one of the park benches and just enjoy the view.
The long expanse of coast has a lot of wave activity which is why these beaches are very popular among surfers. Infact, you will find a number of surf schools located along the promenade here.
2. Plage Du Port Vieux
If you walk straight up to Rocher de la Vierge and don’t see the Plage du Port Vieux, you can be forgiven because the beach itself is pretty much hidden from view. This is if you are walking along the coast from the Grande Plage. Walk a bit further and you will notice that the coast dips inwards to form a small bay. This bay hosts a sandy stretch that is Plage du Port Vieux.
Unlike the previous two beaches, this beach is more protected from the waves which makes it a bit easier to swim in. The horseshoe shape of the beach means that the beach is more wide than long.
If you walk along the road above you will have some breathtaking views not just of the beach but the iconic monuments around it. This is definitely one of the best places to click photographs in the city and is one of the most visited beaches in Biarritz because of its proximity to the Old Town.
3. Plage De La Cote Des Basques
Definitely one of the popular beaches in Biarritz. The only thing is that the Plage De La Cote Des Basques is a bit far from the main city. This means that it is a great deal quieter in this area which makes it one of my favorite beaches.
One of the downsides to visiting this beach is that there are a number of steps that take you down. Luckily there is a ramp that you can take if you have a wheelchair or a stroller. This makes the beach totally accessible.
Also just because the beach is a bit far from the center doesn’t mean that you have to worry about refreshments. You’ll find that food trucks pop up during the beach season. The Plage De La Cote Des Basques is a great place for anyone who loves surfing. It is also one of the best places to catch the sunset in Biarritz.
One of the things that you need to know is that this beach can be only enjoyed at low tide. When the tide is in, the sandy strip is very narrow and not the best. At least from what I saw. I may have been mistaken though because we visited this beach on one of the days when it was raining.
4. Plage Miramar
I haven’t visited the actual beach here but when we visited the light house in Biarritz, we had a glimpse of this gorgeous beach. This beach lies on the other side of Hotel Du Palais Biarritz by Hyatt. It is a bit of a walk away from the city but it has considerably less tourists because of this which makes it a quieter spot.
You will find that since the beach is very large it has designated areas for different water activities including swimming and surfing. This is particularly important so that accidents don’t occur in the water. The waves here are very strong so it is important to be careful.
5. Plage De L’Ocean
In a bid to get away from the crowds we headed out to Plage De L’Ocean. Given the fact that it was a nice sunny weekend, we found that there were plenty of people all around. The promenade was teaming with people who were out on brisk walks, the beach had loads of people sunbathing and playing football or volleyball. In general, there was plenty of activity.
Do I recommend driving out here? Well yes. The sand here is a mix of small stones and fine sand but it is clean. There are loads of people who head here but it is definitely less crowded than the main city. It is also a great place to catch the sunset.
If you are looking for a good place to chill at while you are here, try the OZEANOA Anglet. We didn’t really sit here but it was bustling and it looked like a fun place to hang out at.
6. Plage Des Dunes
Plage des Dunes or Dune beach is another one of the vast open spaces of beach that extends on either side into other beaches. The beach here is wide. So you will be walking through quite a bit of sand to actually reach the water.
This also means that there is plenty of place to spread out your beach towel and enjoy. One thing that you should keep in mind is that there is absolutely no shade here. This is why it is absolutely necessary to carry a beach umbrella or some form of sun protection.
These are some of the best beaches in Biarritz that we visited during our time. Some of the beaches are easily accessible from the city. Others are a bit further off. You would need a mode of transportation to get there.
Which is your favorite among the beaches in Biarritz? Let me know in the comments below.
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