Biarritz & French Basque Coast from San Sebastian

Three French Basque towns in one day, starting at 10am from your hotel

You get picked up from your San Sebastian hotel and driven to three French Basque towns: Biarritz for its Belle Époque seafront, Bayonne for its medieval streets and chocolate shops, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz for its harbor (private option only). Lunch is included, your guide handles the pace and stories, and you return to your hotel in the evening without arranging transport or entry fees yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Biarritz, Bayonne, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz

• Visit Biarritz Casino and Rocher de la Vierge
• See Hôtel du Palais and Sainte Eugénie Church
• Explore Bayonne Cathedral and Port Neuf
• Visit Bayonne Town Hall and Market
• Stroll Saint-Jean-de-Luz Rue Gambetta and Church
• Walk Grande Plage and Louis XIV Square

The experience

The car pulls up at your hotel in San Sebastian and you're heading toward the Atlantic. Within an hour you're standing in front of Biarritz's Grand Plage, where the sand stretches wide and the Belle Époque buildings rise behind it like a postcard someone actually lived in. Your guide walks you past the Casino, the Rocher de la Vierge with its iron footbridge, and the Hôtel du Palais. Each one has a story about emperors and architects and why this particular stretch of coast became fashionable in the 1800s. It's not rushed. You get time to photograph, to stand and look, to ask questions about what you're seeing.

Then Bayonne, which is smaller and older and smells like chocolate. The guide takes you through Grand Bayonne's narrow streets: half-timbered houses, artisan shops, the kind of place where you can actually see how people live instead of just walking past storefronts. The Cathédrale Sainte-Marie sits in the middle of it all, and the market is still going if you time it right. Lunch happens here, included with the tour, and you eat with the river in view. If you've booked the private option (not the bilingual group), you'll also get Saint-Jean-de-Luz at the end of the day: the harbor town with its own rhythm, the church where Louis XIV got married, the Grande Plage that feels different from Biarritz's because it's smaller and more lived-in.

The whole thing takes about eight hours door to door. You need your ID or passport to cross into France, and the tour runs in any weather, so bring a jacket. If you're traveling as a couple or small group, the private option means hotel pickup and drop-off. If you're joining the bilingual group tour, you'll meet at a specified point instead and lunch won't be included. Either way, you're not renting a car, you're not navigating, you're not deciding where to eat or how long to stay in each place. The guide handles all of that.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in San Sebastian (or Bilbao, depending on your choice), private transportation between the three towns, a professional guide who shares the history and stories of each place, entry to the main landmarks and streets, and lunch at a local restaurant in Bayonne. If you've booked the private option, Saint-Jean-de-Luz is also included.
• if you've booked the bilingual group tour, lunch and Saint-Jean-de-Luz are not included. Vegetarian and gluten-free meals, as well as kids menus, are available upon request.

Options for this experience

5 options

Bilingual option departing from San SebastianUp to 15 people · Guide in English or Spanish · 09:00This option has no hotel pickup and departs from a set meeting point. The tour leader speaks Spanish and English at the same time, and travelers who speak either or both languages are welcome. The minimum group size is 4 adults and the maximum is 45 adults. Lasts 6 hours, starting at 9:00 am and ending at 3:00 pm. Lunch is not included, unlike the other options. This option does not visit Saint Jean de Luz, only Biarritz and Bayonne. The vehicle depends on demand and may be a bus or a minivan. Meeting point: San Sebastian bus station, Federico García Lorca Pasealekua, 20002 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, at the main door of the cafeteria.

Departing from San Sebastian, conducted in SpanishUp to 15 people · 09:00Small group tour for up to 8 participants. Lasts 8 hours and includes lunch and hotel pick-up. Travels by minivan using private transportation. The tour is conducted in Spanish, and pickup is included.

Departing from San Sebastian, conducted in EnglishUp to 15 people · 09:00Small group tour for up to 8 participants. Lasts 8 hours and includes lunch and hotel pick-up. Travels by minivan using private transportation. The tour is conducted in English, and pickup is included.

See 2 more options

Departing from Bilbao, conducted in EnglishUp to 8 people · 08:00Small group tour for up to 8 participants. Lasts 10 hours and includes lunch and hotel pick-up. Travels by minivan using private transportation. The tour is conducted in English, and pickup is included.

Departing from Bilbao, conducted in SpanishUp to 8 people · 08:00Small group tour for up to 8 participants. Lasts 10 hours and includes lunch and hotel pick-up. Travels by minivan using private transportation. The tour is conducted in Spanish, and pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (under 12)

GroupUp to 45

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Local Experts Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see three distinct French Basque towns in one day without driving, navigating, or deciding where to eat: the fixed itinerary and included transport are what make a full coastal loop possible in eight hours from your hotel.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need a passport to cross into France from San Sebastian?

Yes, you must bring your ID or passport to cross the border. A national ID card is acceptable.

Is lunch included in the bilingual group tour?

No. Lunch is included only in the private tour option. The bilingual group tour does not include lunch or the Saint-Jean-de-Luz stop.

What time does the tour start?

The tour arrives in Biarritz at 10:00am. Hotel pickup from San Sebastian happens earlier. Exact pickup time depends on your hotel location.

Can I book this tour as a solo traveler?

For the private option, a minimum of 2 adults is required across all bookings. For the bilingual group option, solo travelers are welcome and will be joined with other travelers if needed (minimum 4 adults total to operate).

What if the minimum group size isn't reached?

If the group is too small to operate, the tour operator will contact you at least 2–3 days before to offer an alternative date or full refund.

Can I request vegetarian or gluten-free meals?

Yes. Indicate your dietary preference in the comments section when booking, and the operator will arrange it.

Is this tour accessible for people with reduced mobility?

No, this tour is not recommended for people with reduced mobility.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather conditions. Dress appropriately for Atlantic coast weather, which can be cool and windy.

Do I need to book from San Sebastian, or can I join from Bilbao?

You can choose your departure point when booking: either San Sebastian or Bilbao. Hotel pickup is available from both cities (except for the bilingual group option, which uses a meeting point).