Camping in Biarritz

In the middle of one of the most beautiful bays on the sun-kissed Atlantic coast, the sophisticated seaside resort of Biarritz is the perfect place for relaxed camping by the sea in the French Basque Country. The 6-kilometre-long dream beach attracts bathing holidaymakers, those seeking peace and quiet and families. Thanks to the Atlantic waves, the town is also a hotspot for surfers. And those interested in culture can discover the town's magnificent lighthouse and museums on a tour of the town.

Camping in Biarritz: all important information at a glance

The popular holiday resort of Biarritz is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in the Basque Country in southern France just over the border with Spain and on the western edge of the Pyrenees. As the town has a long history as a seaside resort, there are a number of recommended campsites, most of which are located south of the town centre and close to the Atlantic coast. Camping in Biarritz is therefore an ideal starting point for waiting for the best waves on the famous Grand Plage beach. Campsites can also be found near the sheltered Plage du Port Vieux, where the water is calmer. While the beaches mainly attract bathing holidaymakers and families to camp in Biarritz, the location at the foot of the Pyrenees also appeals to active holidaymakers. In the hinterland is the sacred mountain of the Basques, La Rhune, which can be easily reached by bus from Biarritz and offers wonderful views of the Basque Country. Countless hiking trails also lead along the coast, such as the Talaia hiking trail from Bidart to San Sebastian. The area around Biarritz is also ideal for exploring by bike. Cyclists can use the well-developed Velodyssée coastal cycle path, for example. If you are travelling with your four-legged friend, choose one of the many pet-friendly campsites in Biarritz. Especially outside the high season, you can go for long walks on the beach.

Camping in Biarritz with your dog

Dogs and other pets are allowed on many campsites in Biarritz. However, you should find out in advance about the specific rules on the campsite. The situation is slightly different on the beaches. Dogs are not allowed on the central Gran Plage and other beaches close to the town centre, as they may disturb other visitors.

If you want to go to the sea with your dog, you should therefore travel a little further into the surrounding area, where you are sure to find an undisturbed spot. Outside of the high season in summer, there is also usually less activity, which increases the chances of finding a good spot for your dog.

The best campsites in Biarritz

Biarritz has a number of campsites to suit all tastes and budgets. In addition to pitches for motorhomes and caravans, campers can usually also spend their holiday in rental accommodation, mobile homes or holiday flats. Many campsites offer activities and entertainment programmes, and there is usually also a restaurant or a camping shop for everyday necessities.

Camping Ilbarritz

The beautiful Ilbarritz campsite is ideally located between Biarritz and Bidard and is less than a kilometre from the coast. The pitches are located in a park-like setting in the shade of a pine forest. The campsite has a large swimming area with children's pool and slides as well as a restaurant and a wide range of wellness and sports facilities.

Camping Le Pavillon Royal

Holidaymakers can enjoy camping by the sea with an unobstructed view of the Atlantic coast at this excellent 5-star campsite south of Biarritz. The beach can be reached in a few moments from all pitches, and holiday flats and chalets are also available to rent. There is a grocery shop, a playground for children and a spacious pool area on the site.

Camping Erreka

This terraced campsite near the village of Bidart offers holidaymakers plenty of privacy in a beautiful setting. Those not travelling by motorhome can also stay in tent cottages or mobile homes. Bidart beach is just a few hundred metres from the campsite.

The best holiday destinations around Biarritz

Beaches, sun, chic cafés and the peaks of the Pyrenees in the background: Biarritz has a lot to offer holidaymakers, whether you want to spend your holiday mainly sunbathing or actively exploring the Basque Country.

Grand Plage

The central beach of Biarritz is just a short walk from the town centre and is a popular spot for families and surfers who enjoy the waves of the Atlantic. The fine golden sand is perfect for sunbathing and watching the hustle and bustle of the city. Surf schools in the town offer courses for beginners.

Rocher de la Vièrge

The rugged virgin rock at the old fishing harbour is one of Biarritz's main attractions and offers great views over the Basque coast from the viewing platform. From the mainland, you can reach the rock with the famous statue of the Virgin Mary via a pedestrian bridge designed by Gustav Eifel. It is particularly beautiful in the evening when the sun dips into the Bay of Biscay and the rock is illuminated.

Musée de la Mer

The aquarium in Biarritz is the perfect place to go if the weather doesn't play ball. Here you can observe various species of fish from the Bay of Biscay and even touch starfish and sea anemones in the touch tank. A special highlight is the seal pool, which is an absolute magnet for visitors during the daily feeding.

Hôtel du Palais

Even if you prefer to stay at a campsite, the magnificent Hôtel du Palais is still worth a visit. The 5-star hotel dominates the bay of Biarritz and is located directly by the sea. It was built in 1855 by order of Napoleon III, who needed a suitable domicile in Biarritz for his wife Eugénie.

Phare de Biarritz

On a headland at the southern end of the Gran Plage stands the Biarritz lighthouse, one of the city's most famous landmarks. The gleaming white Phare de Biarritz is over 70 metres high, but it is definitely worth climbing the steep spiral staircase with 248 steps to the top of the tower: the views over Biarritz, the Basque coast and the peaks of the Pyrenees are simply stunning.

Activities and excursions

Camping in Biarritz can be as relaxing or as eventful as you want it to be. The town on the Basque coast offers numerous opportunities to relax and actively explore the surrounding area.

Swimming and relaxing

Biarritz may not be large, but it has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast. The central Grand Plage beach, where you can relax under parasols, is particularly popular. Another beautiful beach is the Plage du Vieux at the old harbour of Biarritz, which is somewhat more sheltered. Thanks to the calm waters, this beach is particularly popular with families.

Surfing

The Basque coast, and Biarritz in particular, was already known as one of the best surfing spots in Europe in the 1950s. This is still the case today. The Gran Plage in Biarritz in particular is the surfing hotspot par excellence due to the strong waves that prevail there. The beach used to be known as the "beach of the mad", as you had to be particularly daring to swim there.

Hiking in the Pyrenees

Biarritz is an excellent starting point for exploring the picturesque villages of the Basque Country and the green mountain landscapes of the Pyrenees on foot. Many parts of the Basque mountains have been designated as nature parks and are ideal for hiking. As Biarritz is only 25 kilometres from the Spanish border, the Spanish cities of Bilbao and San Sébastian are not far away either.

Best time for a camping holiday in Biarritz

The French Atlantic coast in the Pyrénées Atlantiques department is characterised by a mild climate all year round. Even during the cold season, the air temperature averages ten degrees Celsius. However, the most popular time for a beach holiday on the Basque coast when camping in Biarritz is from June to September.

The climate in summer offers average temperatures of around 23 degrees Celsius. However, as the water in the Atlantic rarely warms above 20 degrees Celsius, a dip in the sea is refreshing all year round. And thanks to the constant wind, there is always something to cool you down even on particularly hot days.

If you don't necessarily want to swim, you can also arrive in spring. Just in time for the opening of the campsites in Biarritz in March, the weather becomes milder and nature blossoms in the truest sense of the word. This is when the first water sports enthusiasts and surfers flock to the beaches and take advantage of the favourable winds in the Bay of Biscay.