Biarritz – Grande Plage

Biarritz · Pays Basque · France

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The Grande Plage is Biarritz's town beach, curving across the bay from the Hôtel du Palais to the Bellevue rocks in front of the casino. It is a beach break of hollow, fast, fun peaks, famous for its shorebreak, with rights that can be excellent when the banks line up and a fine view of the town from the water. The headland gives some shelter, so it still works with a south wind. It suits all levels on smaller days, but it is very crowded at weekends.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or fish; something sturdy for the shorebreak.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m west to southwest swell from low to mid tide with a southeast or east wind.

When it doesn't

✕ High tide, which brings a hard shorebreak, and onshore northwest wind.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • shorebreak
  • rocks
  • crowds
  • pollution

Best months

January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December

Local tips

Surf and swim zones are moved through the day with the tide and sea state, so check the flags at the lifeguard post. Keep off the rocks at either end. Water quality can dip after heavy rain.

Getting there

In the centre of Biarritz, in front of the casino. Street parking is hard; use one of the town car parks and walk a few minutes. There are surf schools, a surf club, cafés and lifeguards in season.

Travel notes

How often it works
The bay picks up most westerly swells and has waves on many days. It gets messy on very big swells.
Crowd and vibe
The town's main beach is busy all summer, with swimmers, surf schools and a surf club. Surf and swim zones move during the day, so check the flags.
Camping and vans
The 4-star Biarritz Camping (rue d'Harcet) is about 2.5 km south, near Milady (April to October). The town has two motorhome aires, at Milady (32 places) and Allée Gabrielle Dorziat (31 places), with a 48-hour limit in high season. Motorhomes are banned day and night in some central and coastal zones in summer. Nearest campsite about 2.5 km away.
Facilities
There are four surf schools, a surf club, beach tent hire, a kids' club, cafés and restaurants nearby, and lifeguards in season.
Water quality
Biarritz's beaches are rated excellent and fly the Pavillon Bleu (Blue Flag). The town has big storm-water tanks, but it still closes beaches for a few hours when pollution is suspected after heavy rain. The Kalilo app shows the daily status, all year in Biarritz.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–NW best, WSW–NNW works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.7 m, holds to 2.8 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore E–S; handles onshore up to 15 km/h
Tide
low, mid best, avoid high
Faces
NW (310°)

Live cams

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

Nearby spots

All spots in Pays Basque · All spots

Sources