ITINERARY USING BIARRITZ AS A BASE

DAY 1 – BIARRITZ, STYLE AND SEA SPRAY

Morning – The imperial city and the ocean
Guided tour from the Rocher de la Vierge to the fishing port.
Dive into imperial history: Hôtel du Palais, built for the Empress Eugénie, and Casino Municipal.

Late morning – Fresh flavours and markets
Visit the Basque foodie destination: Marché des Halles.
Sample local produce such as Ossau-Iraty cheese, Bayonne ham and Espelette pepper.

Afternoon – Surf and chill
Explore the Cité de l’Océan or learn to surf on the Grande Plage, Europe’s surfing hotspot.
Take a walk on the beach as the sun sets.

Overnight stay in Biarritz.

DAY 2 – BAYONNE AND BASQUE VILLAGES: CUSTOMS AND COOKERY (30-45 min drive)

Morning – Bayonne, cultural capital of the Basque Country
Old town tour: Bayonne Cathedral, cloister, ramparts and shops.
Sample the famous Bayonne chocolate, delve into local history at the Musée Basque and feast your eyes on fine art at the Musée Bonnat-Helleu.

Afternoon – Espelette, Ainhoa and Itxassou
Visit Espelette, a traditional village whose namesake pepper hangs from the walls of its red and white buildings.
Explore a pepper farm and meet an AOP Espelette pepper producer.
Head onto the Basque Country’s inland gems: Ainhoa and Itxassou.
Back to Biarritz for the evening.

DAY 3 – SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ AND HENDAYE: THE ATLANTIC ALLURE OF THE SEASIDE (30-45 min drive)

Morning – Saint-Jean-de-Luz, kings and corsairs
Visit the old town, Louis XIV’s house and Saint-JeanBaptiste Church where the Sun King got married.
Walk along Grande Plage beach and the fishing port.

Afternoon – The Basque cliffs to Hendaye
Fabulous views along the coastal trail: Ciboure, Socoa, then Hendaye to the Spanish border.
Coastal walk and free time for a swim or trip to the Abbadia Observatory Castle.
Back to Biarritz for the evening.

DAY 4 – DAY TRIP ON THE WAY OF ST JAMES OR TO SPAIN

Option A – The Way of St James: Oloron-Sainte-Marie and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (1.5 hr-1 hr 45 drive)
Morning drive to Oloron-Sainte-Marie, a Town of Art and History and a key stage on the Way of St James.
Stroll around the old town and Sainte-Croix district after visiting Oloron Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed Romanesque masterpiece.
Venture onto Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a symbolic pilgrimage site at the bottom of the Pyrenees.
Explore the citadel and Notre-Dame bridge before a traditional lunch at a Basque inn.
Back to Biarritz for the evening.

Option B – San Sebastián, Spanish flair and sumptuous tapas (1 hr drive)
Trip across the border to San Sebastián, the jewel in the Spanish Basque Country’s crown.
Walk on La Concha Bay, visit the old town and feast on pintxos in the Parte Vieja’s iconic bars.
Back to Biarritz for the evening.