# A weekend on the French Basque Coast, 30 minutes from San Sebastián Two nights in Saint-Jean-de-Luz to ride the rack railway up La Rhune, walk the harbour and take a boat along the corniche, and try surfing in Biarritz. An hour and a half from Bilbao and Vitoria. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/nouvelle-aquitaine/french-basque-coast/itineraries/weekend-from-san-sebastian · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Dónde: French Basque Coast The French Basque Coast is thirty kilometres from Hendaye to Biarritz, half an hour from San Sebastián and an hour and a half from Bilbao, Vitoria or Pamplona. For a weekend, the centre is Saint-Jean-de-Luz: the fishing port with a pedestrian old town, fifteen minutes from the La Rhune train and twenty from Biarritz. This plan combines what is most worthwhile in two days: the coast seen from the summit and from the sea, the villages of Lapurdi and a surf lesson. ## What do you need to book? Three things, a few days ahead. The La Rhune train, on its website, because queues form in season and cash is not accepted. The Nivelle V cruise along the corniche to Hondarribia, by phone only. And the surf lesson, which is set by each day's tide. For eating, Chez Pablo in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which closes Wednesday and Thursday, and the Euzkadi in Espelette, which closes Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. WhatHow muchWhen La Rhune train€26 adult, €18 ages 4 to 12 (2026)Late March – early November Cruise to Hondarribia€22, €15 under-10sApril – October Surf lesson in BiarritzFrom €45April – November Biarritz Aquarium€17, €12 ages 4 to 12All year ## Where to sleep? In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Grand Hôtel Loreamar is on the beach promenade, with a seawater spa and a kids' club, and the Hôtel Les Almadies is a small hotel in a Basque house on the rue Gambetta, 300 metres from the beach and the station. In Biarritz, the Hôtel du Palais, the former summer villa of Empress Eugénie, is the hotel for a special night. For camping, La Ferme Erromardie and the Camping Bord de Mer are beside Erromardie beach, north of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. For motorhomes, the municipal area in Hendaye is the first one after crossing from Irún. ## Without a car and in winter Without a car, Euskotren's Topo takes you from San Sebastián to Hendaye and the regional train continues to Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz; for La Rhune and Espelette you need a car or taxi. From November to March neither the La Rhune train nor the boat runs, and the Maison Louis XIV closes: swap Saturday for the Abbadia castle in Hendaye, which opens in the afternoons, and the coastal path from Bidart to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which can be done all year. ## El plan ### Friday · 19:00 · Arrival in Saint-Jean-de-Luz From Bilbao, an hour and a half by the AP-8; from Pamplona, an hour and a quarter. Leave the car at the hotel and have dinner in the old town, around the place Louis XIV. ### Saturday · 09:30 · Rack railway up La Rhune You leave from the Col de Saint-Ignace, a quarter of an hour from the hotel. Two and a half hours return with 1 h 20 at the summit, at 905 m, with the coast from Biarritz to Hondarribia at your feet. ### Saturday · 12:30 · Lunch in Espelette and a stroll in Ainhoa Inland Basque cooking at the Euzkadi, beside the pelota court, and in the afternoon the street of Labourd houses in Ainhoa, ten kilometres away. ### Saturday · 18:00 · Harbour and old town Back in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where Louis XIV married in 1660, and the fishing port at sunset. ### Sunday · 10:00 · Surf lesson at the Côte des Basques An hour and a half of beginners' tuition on Biarritz's school beach, with board and wetsuit. If you do not fancy the water, the Atalaye aquarium is next door. ### Sunday · 12:30 · Tapas at Les Halles de Biarritz The covered market is open until two and the bars around it serve as a counter. ### Sunday · 14:30 · Boat along the corniche to Hondarribia The Nivelle V leaves the port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and skirts the flysch cliffs of Socoa and Abbadia to the mouth of the Bidasoa. Outside July and August, at 14:30; in summer, at 14:00. When it ends, head home. ## Un consejo más Check the summit of La Rhune on the train's webcam before going up. If it is in cloud, swap the days: do Sunday's plan on Saturday. ## Cuándo no ir August by car. Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz grind to a halt, hotels double their prices and there is no room on the beach. If it is your only date, arrive by train. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Bilbao? An hour and a half to Saint-Jean-de-Luz by the AP-8 and the A-63. From Vitoria, the same; from Pamplona, an hour and a quarter. ### Do you need a car? For the coast, no: the regional train links Hendaye, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz. For La Rhune and Espelette, yes. ### Where is it better to sleep, Biarritz or Saint-Jean-de-Luz? Saint-Jean-de-Luz is calmer, has a station in the centre and is closer to La Rhune. Biarritz is more of a city and more expensive. ### Can you go with a dog? Yes. The dog rides the La Rhune train with its own ticket and walks in the villages and on the coastal path. It is not allowed into the Abbadia castle. ### Is it worth it in winter? Yes, with a different plan: Abbadia castle, coastal path and old town. Without the La Rhune train or the boat, and with fewer people and better prices. ## Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hôtel du Palais**: The former summer villa of Empress Eugénie, a hotel since the late 19th century and a Palace-rated hotel since 2011. For a special night with the beach below. - **Hôtel Les Almadies**: A small hotel in a Basque house on rue Gambetta, 300 m from the beach and the station. No lift: bear it in mind with large suitcases. ## Dónde dormir without a car - **Grand Hôtel Loreamar Thalasso & Spa**: On the Saint-Jean-de-Luz beach promenade, with a seawater spa opened in 2007 and a club for children aged 4 to 12. The railway station is a short walk away. - **Hôtel Les Almadies**: A small hotel in a Basque house on rue Gambetta, 300 m from the beach and the station. No lift: bear it in mind with large suitcases. ## Dónde dormir in style - **Hôtel du Palais**: The former summer villa of Empress Eugénie, a hotel since the late 19th century and a Palace-rated hotel since 2011. For a special night with the beach below. - **Grand Hôtel Loreamar Thalasso & Spa**: On the Saint-Jean-de-Luz beach promenade, with a seawater spa opened in 2007 and a club for children aged 4 to 12. The railway station is a short walk away. ## Dónde dormir if you're camping - **Camping Bord de Mer**: A small campsite, 2 km from the centre, that stretches 300 m along Erromardie beach. The coastal path passes in front. - **Camping La Ferme Erromardie**: A larger family campsite, in the same bay of Erromardie, open from late March to early November. Useful if Bord de Mer is full. ## Dónde dormir in a campervan - **Camping Bord de Mer**: A small campsite, 2 km from the centre, that stretches 300 m along Erromardie beach. The coastal path passes in front. - **Camping La Ferme Erromardie**: A larger family campsite, in the same bay of Erromardie, open from late March to early November. Useful if Bord de Mer is full. - **Hendaye Motorhome Area**, desde 15 € / night: The municipal area on rue Ansoenia, the first on crossing from Irún, with water, electricity and waste disposal (paid separately). Pay by card; it is close to the train and the tourist office. ## Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Hôtel du Palais**: The former summer villa of Empress Eugénie, a hotel since the late 19th century and a Palace-rated hotel since 2011. For a special night with the beach below. - **Grand Hôtel Loreamar Thalasso & Spa**: On the Saint-Jean-de-Luz beach promenade, with a seawater spa opened in 2007 and a club for children aged 4 to 12. The railway station is a short walk away. - **Hôtel Les Almadies**: A small hotel in a Basque house on rue Gambetta, 300 m from the beach and the station. No lift: bear it in mind with large suitcases.