This is a travel guide to Biarritz, France that I researched, wrote, and edited in my role as Coco Travel Editor.
It was the waves that attracted us to Biarritz in the first place, but the laidback vibe, plentiful seafood, and indie spirit of the Basque coastal resort town are what charmed our pants off.
Located a little more than a stone throw away from Spain (a distance of less than 25 km), in France’s Atlantic southwestern coast, Biarritz has rocketed to the top of the world’s trendy surfing towns. But long before it became a trending geotag on Instagram, it’s actually widely believed that Côte des Basques was the first break surfed in Europe thanks to the 1956 on location filming of Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.
And even longer before surf culture arrived and thrived, it was the vacation spot of Empress Eugénie de Montijo, the wife of Napoleon III who made holidays in the town a thing, back in the mid-19th century. The Hôtel du Palais (then palace, now luxury hotel) is one of the remnants of that time.
All these cultural influences blend together to make Biarritz one fabulous place for a French holiday. It’s a nice balance of hip, chic, and historical, not to mention the great shopping and food too.
So, when you’re not surfing long waves at Côte des Basques, soaking up rays at the Grand Plage, or taking in panoramic views at the Biarritz Lighthouse, check out some of our favorite little spots to shop and eat in Biarritz.
Read the full article here.
