Between the sea and the mountains - holidaying in the Basque Country

The Basque Coast, this jewel nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pyrenees, is a unique and soothing holiday destination. Between its beautiful, famous beaches, its picturesque villages, its refined cuisine and its sublime landscapes, the Basque Coast promises an unforgettable experience for travelers looking for a change of scenery and discovery.

Water activities on dream beaches

The beaches of the Basque Coast are known and renowned for their wild and preserved beauty. From Biarritz to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, via Anglet or Hendaye, each seaside resort offers a change of scenery and a great experience for travelers.

Surfing is the ideal playground for water sports enthusiasts, it is an emblematic activity of the region. With its beautiful waves, the Basque Coast attracts vacationers and surfers from everywhere, whether beginners or experienced. You can find surf schools on the main beaches, offering everyone the opportunity to learn about this legendary sport.

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The authentic villages of the Basque Coast

Far from the busy beaches, the pretty villages reveal a different side of the Basque Coast. Espelette, Guethary, Bidart, Ainhoa, Sare at the foot of the Rhune... these charming, typically Basque villages are famous for their half-timbered houses, their century-old churches but also their preserved ancestral traditions.

Basque gastronomy

An invitation to a journey of the senses: from pintxos (tasty Basque tapas to fresh seafood dishes, including delicious Basque cakes, with local sheep's cheese, each bite is a culinary discovery in its own right. Discover Basque chicken : emblematic dish of the Basque Country, it is a dish with sauce that is easy to cook and which is loved by locals.

. Bayonne and its ham, sheep's cheese, and without forgetting the famous and much appreciated Espelette pepper, used to spice up many traditional dishes.

Breathtaking hikes and landscapes

You can enjoy very pretty places with beautiful hikes and walks. The green mountains of the Pyrenees offer varied trails, suitable for all levels of hikers, whether for a leisurely stroll along the Basque corniche or a more sporty excursion to the summit of the Rhune, the spectacular panoramas over the ocean and the Basque countryside are worth the detour.

The most beautiful hikes in the Basque Country

Departing from Bidart, a beautiful hike will take you to Hendaye, the Spanish border. The trail will offer you a magnificent panorama of the Pyrenees, the Basque and Spanish mountains: the Rhune, the Trois Couronnes and the Jaizkibel.

Many viewpoints deserve breaks and photos: the hill of Sainte Barbe and its atypical chapel, the charming port of Guéthary, the beaches of Lafitenia and Erromardie.

Ascent of La Rhune

La Rhune is known for its picturesque little rack railway, but also for its mountain range which gives the opportunity to experience hiking from the simplest to the most sporty. For the more sporty, six circuits of different levels are available to you from the Col de Saint-Ignace, where it will be easy to find parking.

Ibardin Pass and Lake Xoldokogaina

Three hiking options are available to you with average difficulty and a duration of 4.5 hours via the Ibardin pass. For the other two you can start from the pass or from Urrugne, they are quite simple and last 2h30.

Explore the center of Bayonne on foot

A walk in the heart of Bayonne for fans of the city, with 2,000 years of history to be discovered and rediscovered. You will discover the beautiful architecture of Bayonne, with its large monuments and ramparts. If you like traditional and festive events, we can advise you to visit Bayonne during the Bayonne festival, on Wednesday during the day for example. Wednesday is the first day of the Bayonne feria. You can immerse yourself in Basque culture, with traditional colors and Basque songs.

The Sainte-Engrâce cirque

A very beautiful hike located in the province of Soule, known for its spectacular mountain landscapes and its impressive waterfall which flows into a natural pool. This medium-level hike lasts approximately 3 hours and the trail begins in the village of Sainte-Engrâce and follows a forest track before climbing to the waterfall.