On foot
The beaches
Grande Plage in Saint-Jean-de-Luz for calm, protected water; Erromardie for a wilder stretch of coast.
Plan Your Trip
We hope you'll have some time to explore while you're here. Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a wonderful base for discovering both the French and Spanish Basque Country — some of our favorites are an easy walk or a short train ride away, others are best explored with a car.
For anywhere marked "Train" below, book on SNCF Connect — it covers the regional trains along this coast, not just the TGV.
No Car Needed
On foot
Explore Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Start right in town and wander: the Grande Plage, Rue Gambetta, Place Louis XIV, the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and down to the fishing port. For a very local morning, visit Les Halles, the covered market, for produce, cheese, charcuterie, seafood, and pastries.
On foot
Walk to Ciboure
Cross the harbor into Ciboure for a quieter look at the bay. Wander the waterfront and the village center, and stop for a drink.
Thursday evenings, ~6:30–8:30 PM
Pintxo Pote in Ciboure
If you're here on a Thursday, walk over for Pintxo Pote — a weekly local tradition. Bars around the fronton serve a pintxo with your drink, so you bar-hop your way through a very Basque evening.
On foot
Walk to Sainte-Barbe
Follow the waterfront north to Pointe Sainte-Barbe for one of the best views of the bay, the Atlantic, and the mountains. Especially beautiful at sunset.
Train, one stop
Guéthary
A tiny surf village above the Atlantic. Wander the town, walk down to the water, have lunch — and find Chez Kutsu by the station, artisanal ice cream made by a dear friend of ours. She speaks English!
Chez Kutsu30 min, English audio
Le petit train de Saint-Jean-de-Luz
A guided loop through town — the church where Louis XIV was married included. Kids ride for 4€.
Le petit trainTrain
Biarritz
Les Halles, the Grande Plage, the Rocher de la Vierge, the Port des Pêcheurs, and the Côte des Basques.
Train
Bayonne
A completely different side of the Basque Country — old town, cathedral, riverfront. Known for chocolate and Jambon de Bayonne, so arrive hungry. A good call if the weather isn't cooperating at the beach.
Train + Euskotren
Donostia
One of our favorite day trips. Train to Hendaye, transfer to the Euskotren, then walk La Concha, explore the Parte Vieja, and do a pintxos crawl — one or two pintxos and a drink at each bar, then move on.
Book ahead
A day at sea
Our friend Vincent runs Abyss, guided sea-fishing trips out of Saint-Jean-de-Luz — half-day outings up to a full day chasing tuna, for beginners and experienced anglers alike.
Book with AbyssRentals & lessons
Surf
This is the home coast of French surfing. We recommend Charlie's Surf & Bike for boards, wetsuits, and lessons.
Charlie's Surf & BikeBest With a Car
Drive to Hendaye, then ferry
Hondarribia via the Hendaye ferry
Park near the marina in Hendaye and take the little ferry across the Bidasoa to Hondarribia, Spain — under 10 minutes, and a much better way to cross the border than a bridge. Wander the fishermen's quarter and walled Old Town, then head to Calle San Pedro for pintxos.
Drive · reserve ahead
Sare + Train de La Rhune
Drive to the village of Sare, then on to Col de Saint-Ignace for the century-old wooden cogwheel train up La Rhune. Panoramic views over both Basque countries, the Pyrenees, and the coast from the summit. While you're in Sare, the Grottes de Sare — caves used since prehistory, with Basque folklore built into the tour — are worth the detour. Pair it all with lunch and a walk around the village.
Drive · ~2h up, 1.5h down
Hike La Rhune
Skip the train and walk it — same mountain, same view, earned the hard way. The trail starts at the same spot as the train: Col de Saint-Ignace, 64310 Sare (GPS: 43.32462, -1.60091). Park by the station, follow the path alongside the tracks, and figure on about 4 km and 700 m of climbing each way. Good shoes, water, and a start before the day gets hot.
Drive
Ainhoa + Espelette
Two of the prettiest villages in the French Basque Country, easily combined. Ainhoa's traditional houses, then Espelette, famous for the red peppers hanging from every façade — pick up piment d'Espelette to bring home.
Drive
Sare Caves + Zugarramurdi
The caves around Sare, then across the border into Navarra for Zugarramurdi — the epicenter of the Basque witch trials of 1609–1614, one of the largest witch hunts in European history. Villagers were accused of gathering in these caves for the akelarre, a sabbath presided over by sorginak — the same word as the Sorgina on our Ascain word list, and the same legend that once clung to La Rhune. Nearly 300 people from Zugarramurdi alone were investigated. A different, stranger side of the region.
Drive · reserve tickets ahead
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
A tenth-century hermitage on a rocky islet off the coast near Bermeo, first built by the Knights Templar and rebuilt more than once after fires and pirate raids. You reach it across a stone bridge and up 241 zigzagging steps — ring the bell three times at the top and, legend says, you get a wish. You'll probably recognize the view: this is Dragonstone from Game of Thrones, where Daenerys came home and met Jon Snow. About 1.5–2 hours from Saint-Jean-de-Luz, on the way to or from Bilbao. Entry is free but tickets are required and book up fast, especially in summer — reserve before you go.
Reserve ticketsDrive · allow most of a day
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Farther into the Pyrenean foothills — medieval streets, old city gates, ramparts, and pilgrims setting out on the Camino de Santiago. Pair it with Irouléguy wine country nearby.
Drive · pair with St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Irouléguy wine country
One of France's smallest wine appellations, in the hills above Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. A winery visit, a tasting, and mountain views.
A Few of Our Favorites
If you only have time for a handful of these, we'd point you to:
Saint-Jean-de-Luz — the beach, the market, the port, the old town.
Donostia — an unforgettable day of pintxos.
Sare and the Train de La Rhune — mountains, and about as Basque as it gets.
Hondarribia, by the ferry — a fun way to cross into Spain.
Thursday Pintxo Pote in Ciboure — the most local night on this whole list.
Train, ferry, and attraction schedules may change before September 2027. Check current schedules and reserve ahead for popular activities — especially the Train de La Rhune — closer to your trip.