Note to travelling surfers
- Ecosystem first. Be kind to the environment you’re visiting: don’t leave any trash behind.
- Be kind to locals. Every lineup has an order and it was earned over years. Wait your turn, and respect local etiquette.
- Fly less, stay longer. The flight is the biggest impact of any surf trip. Two weeks once beats one week twice!
The best surf spots in Biarritz and the Basque coast are the Côte des Basques and Hendaye for beginners, Les Cavaliers and Grande Plage for punchy beach break waves, and Parlementia and Lafitenia for experienced surfers who want long reef and point waves.
Autumn is the season: Surf-Forecast picks October as the best month on most breaks, when seatemperatu.re puts the water at 17 to 18 degrees. Destination Biarritz, the tourist office, says the TGV from Paris Montparnasse takes about four hours and the airport is 4 kilometres from the centre. From Amsterdam or Brussels it's a long drive via Paris and Bordeaux, or a flight if a route is running.
The draw is variety: sand in Anglet, town beaches in Biarritz, reefs at Guéthary and a long, gentle beach at Hendaye. It's the southern chapter of our guide to the best surfing destinations in France, and starts where our Hossegor guide ends.
- 1. What are the best surf spots in Biarritz and the Basque coast?
- 2. Anglet: eleven beaches in 4.5 kilometres
- 3. Biarritz: Grande Plage and the Côte des Basques
- 4. Bidart and Guéthary: where the reefs begin
- 5. Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Hendaye
- 6. Is Biarritz good for beginners?
- 7. When is the best time to surf in Biarritz?
- 8. Where to stay in Biarritz
- 9. Showers, wetsuits and washing up in Biarritz
- 10. Surfing in Biarritz: locals and the environment
- 11. Summary
- 12. Frequently asked questions
- 13. Sources
What are the best surf spots in Biarritz and the Basque coast?
This table runs north to south, from the Adour to the Spanish border. Check the type column: sand and reef suit very different surfers. The best months follow Surf-Forecast's statistics.
| Spot | Area | Type | Skill level | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Cavaliers | Anglet | Beach break | Intermediate to advanced | Sep to Nov |
| Marinella | Anglet | Beach break | Beginner to intermediate | Sep to Nov |
| Sables d'Or | Anglet | Beach break | Beginner and up | Dec to Feb |
| Chambre d'Amour | Anglet | Beach break | Experienced | Sep to Nov |
| Grande Plage | Biarritz | Beach break | Experienced | Sep to Nov |
| Côte des Basques | Biarritz | Beach and reef break | Beginner at low tide | Sep to Nov |
| Marbella | Biarritz | Reef break | Experienced | Sep to Nov |
| Les Cent Marches | Bidart | Beach break | Beginner at low to mid tide | Oct to Feb |
| Parlementia | Guéthary | Reef break | Expert | Sep to Nov |
| Les Alcyons | Guéthary | Reef break | Advanced | Oct to Feb |
| Lafitenia | Saint-Jean-de-Luz | Point break over reef | Experienced | Oct to Feb |
| Hendaye Plage | Hendaye | Beach break | Beginner and up | Nov to Feb |
Tide is what a table can't show. Several of these beaches change completely, or vanish, between low and high water.
Anglet: eleven beaches in 4.5 kilometres
Anglet is the beach break end of the Basque coast: eleven beaches along 4.5 kilometres of sand, divided by rock groynes that Surfer Today says help build the sandbanks.
Les Cavaliers is the best known. Anglet Tourisme says a pit off the beach creates bigger waves than at the other spots, so it suits advanced surfers.
Marinella and Sables d'Or are the friendly middle. Surfer Today calls Marinella a beginner and intermediate spot, and Anglet Tourisme calls Sables d'Or beginner-friendly, though Surfer Today warns that high tide covers the whole beach there. Chambre d'Amour, under the cliff at the southern end, is for experienced surfers according to the Guide du Pays Basque, and Surf-Forecast flags localism.
Surfer Today mentions a youth hostel by Marinella, and you know the routine: six sandy people, one bathroom, and a shelf that's already full.
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At Chambre d'Amour the sand runs out, and beyond the lighthouse headland the coast becomes a town.
Biarritz: Grande Plage and the Côte des Basques
Biarritz is where surfing in France began: the tourist office calls it the birthplace of surfing in France and even in Europe, after a film shoot brought the sport here at the end of the 1950s.
Grande Plage, in the middle of town, is what Destination Biarritz calls the reference beach for locals who love powerful, short waves. Surf-Forecast lists crowds and pollution as its hazards.
Côte des Basques is the one on the postcards. The tourist office says the waves are easy for beginners, with one condition: the beach disappears entirely at high tide, and the surfing window is about six hours around low tide. So if high tide is at two in the afternoon, surf in the morning or evening.
Marbella, its natural extension, is a wilder reef break that Destination Biarritz says is mainly frequented by locals.
Bidart and Guéthary: where the reefs begin
South of Biarritz the coast turns to cliffs and rock, and the waves change from beach break peaks to reefs. In Bidart, the Guide du Pays Basque picks out the Plage des Cent Marches for beginners at low to mid tide, while Surf-Forecast's notes for Bidart mention rips, rocks and pollution.
Parlementia at Guéthary is the famous reef. The Saint-Jean-de-Luz tourist office says it has been compared to Sunset in Hawaii, and warns that the wave breaks so far out that its size is hard to judge from land: you can reach the line-up and find it much bigger than you suspected. Les Alcyons, the reef next door, also produces big waves, and Surf-Forecast lists rocks, rips and crowds.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Hendaye
The last stretch before Spain holds a classic point break, the coast's biggest wave and its easiest beach.
Lafitenia, a bay near Saint-Jean-de-Luz, has a right-hand point break over reef. Surf-Report compares it to Bells Beach and rates it for experienced surfers, with rocks everywhere and strong currents. Belharra is one to watch from land: the tourist office says waves of 10 to 15 metres form off the Corniche in autumn and winter storms, ridden by a handful of professionals.
Hendaye is the opposite. Surf-Report calls its long beach a garden for beginners, where the waves are rarely too big because the very flat sand slows the swell. It's where people come when everything further north is too powerful, though it doesn't work when the swell is weak.
Is Biarritz good for beginners?
Yes, as long as you plan around the tide and stay off the reefs. The shortlist is the Côte des Basques around low tide, Hendaye, and Marinella and Sables d'Or in Anglet. Hendaye is the family favourite, and there are more beaches like it in our guide to surfing destinations for families.
The honest part is the crowd, because these are town beaches. Destination Biarritz advises beginners to respect the supervised areas and avoid the busiest ones.
Lessons follow the tide, which can mean an early start, an evening session and a quick turnaround in a small apartment bathroom in between.
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With the tide sorted, the bigger question is the time of year.
When is the best time to surf in Biarritz?
September to November is the best time to surf in Biarritz, and October is the month Surf-Forecast picks for most breaks. Its October figures for Les Cavaliers and Grande Plage show clean waves 42% of the time and blown out ones 48%. So expect one good day in two.
| Period | Swell | Water temp (°C) | Wetsuit | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep to Nov | Most consistent clean waves | 16 to 21 | Summer suit, then a full suit | The one to book |
| Dec to Feb | Autumn and winter storms | 12 to 14 | 5/4 or 5/3, boots, gloves | Experts, or Hendaye |
| Mar to May | Varies, check the forecast | 12 to 15 | Winter suit, easing by May | Cold water, changeable surf |
| Jun to Aug | Varies, check the forecast | 17 to 22 | 3/2, then a shorty | Lifeguards, lessons, crowds |
Water temperatures are seatemperatu.re's monthly averages for Biarritz, and the wetsuits build on Surf-Forecast's advice for March and August. More in our guide to the best seasons to surf in France.
Where to stay in Biarritz
Biarritz without a car, Anglet for beach breaks, Guéthary for reefs and quiet, Hendaye for families and first waves.
Biarritz has a TGV station at the edge of town and a bus network linking it to its neighbours. Anglet has the most sand. Bidart, perched on its cliff, and Guéthary are villages for people who want calm. Spain is close too: Biarritz is less than 25 kilometres from the border, so this trip pairs well with our guide to the best surfing destinations in Spain.
Showers, wetsuits and washing up in Biarritz
This is a town surf trip, so the washing up mostly happens back at your apartment, hostel or hotel. The Côte des Basques has no beach at all at high tide, so don't plan a slow change by the water.
Where there is a beach shower, it's for sand and salt. Don't rinse shampoo or soap directly into the ocean or into beach showers that drain to the sea. Lather only where the water goes into a drain, which here means the bathroom you're staying in.
Biarritz also works with hand luggage only, because the station and airport are so close to the waves. That's when a wash kit needs to be small and dry: one solid bar for hair, body and face isn't a liquid at airport security and has nothing to leak.
Shampoo, body and face wash, all in one bar. Cooling, refreshing and designed for those always on the go.
Our carry-on surf trip wash kit lists the rest. The wetsuit still needs somewhere to hang, and a balcony beats a bathroom door.
Surfing in Biarritz: locals and the environment
Respect the locals
Destination Biarritz notes Marbella is mainly frequented by locals, and Surf-Forecast flags localism at Chambre d'Amour. Sit wide at first, wait your turn and never drop in.
Respect the environment
Water quality is the local issue. The Communauté Pays Basque explains that after heavy rain the drainage networks can overflow into the sea, and mayors close beaches as a precaution, with a red and a purple flag. Wait it out. The cliffs are protected too: the Conservatoire du littoral lists almost 90 hectares at Abbadia, near Hendaye, where access to the foot of the cliffs is forbidden.
Summary
The Basque coast gives you twelve very different breaks: beach breaks at Les Cavaliers and Grande Plage, learner waves at the Côte des Basques and Hendaye, and reefs at Parlementia and Lafitenia. Come in autumn, and plan every session around the tide.
Next, head north with our Hossegor guide, or south to Portugal with our guide to Ericeira.
Frequently asked questions
Is Biarritz good for beginner surfers?
Yes. The Côte des Basques around low tide and the long beach at Hendaye are the best places to learn. Stay off the reefs at Guéthary, Lafitenia and Marbella.
When is the best time to surf in Biarritz?
September to November. Surf-Forecast picks October as the best month on most breaks, with the water at 17 to 18 degrees. Expect roughly one clean day in two.
Can you surf the Côte des Basques at high tide?
No. Destination Biarritz says the beach disappears entirely at high tide and that the surfing window is about six hours around low tide, so check a tide table first.
What wetsuit do you need in Biarritz?
Surf-Forecast suggests a shorty or 3/2 spring suit in August and a 5/4 or 5/3 with boots and gloves in early March, when the water drops to around 12 degrees.
Can you do a surf trip to Biarritz without a car?
Yes. Biarritz has a TGV station, about four hours from Paris Montparnasse, and an airport 4 kilometres from the centre. A bus network links the town with its neighbours.
Sources
The facts in this article are based on the sources below, checked in October 2026.
- Surfing in Biarritz. Destination Biarritz, 2026.
- The beaches of Biarritz. Destination Biarritz, 2026.
- How to get to Biarritz. Destination Biarritz, 2026.
- Anglet beaches. Anglet Tourisme, 2026.
- Anglet, surfing capital of the Basque Coast. Anglet Tourisme, 2026.
- Anglet: 11 surf spots in 4.5 kilometers. Surfer Today, 2026.
- Les spots de surf du Pays Basque. Guide du Pays Basque, 2026.
- 6 dreamy beaches in Basque Country. Nouvelle-Aquitaine Tourisme, 2026.
- Spot de Parlementia. Saint-Jean-de-Luz Tourisme, 2026.
- La vague géante Belharra. Saint-Jean-de-Luz Tourisme, 2026.
- Surf info Lafitenia. Surf-Report, 2026.
- Surf info Hendaye. Surf-Report, 2026.
- La qualité des eaux de baignade au Pays Basque. Communauté Pays Basque, 2020.
- Abbadia, Corniche basque. Conservatoire du littoral, 2026.
- Sea temperature in Biarritz. seatemperatu.re, 2026.
- Les Cavaliers surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Marinella surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Les Sables d'Or surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Chambre d'Amour surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Grande Plage surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Cote des Basques surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Cote des Basques water temperature and wetsuit guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Marbella surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Bidart surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Parlementia surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Les Alcyons/Avalanche surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Lafitenia surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Hendaye Plage surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
