It's in Biarritz that everything started. In June 1957, Peter Viertel shooting in Biarritz, in the Basque country, for the film "The Sun Rises" lands with his boards on the beach of the Côte des Basques, where no one has ever seen anyone standing on a wave! Recognized as one of the best surf spots, Biarritz today attracts surfers from all over the world.
Biarritz Recognized as one of the best surf spots, Biarritz today attracts surfers from all over the world. Biarritz is the only city on the Basque coast to have several surf spots, each as different as the next. There are waves for beginners as well as experienced surfers. Its very cut coast allows to surf all swells (big and small) but also to find waves sheltered from the wind according to its orientation.
FACED WITH SO MUCH VARIETY, WHICH BEACH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
LA GRANDE PLAGE ET LE MIRAMAR
North of the city, the Grande Plage and Miramar, one can evolve on quite hollow waves and powerful especially when the conditions are difficult elsewhere and in particular by southerly wind. A little further south is the beach of the Côte des Basques, cradle of surf in Europe.
CÔTE DES BASQUES
A little further south is the Côte des Basques beach, the cradle of surfing in Europe. Its distinctive feature is that it is completely covered at high tide. But it also has the largest surface area at low tide. However, this is not a problem for surfing, which is only practised during low and mid-tide.v
Its configuration is ideal for beginner surfers and longboarders. Watch out for the rising tide, don't get caught short. During high tide, the beach turns into a huge lake. It offers long, easy waves and is the ideal place to be when the north wind is blowing.
It is recommended for swells of 1 to 2 metres, at low tide until mid-tide (3 hours before low tide until 3 hours after). Check the Biarritz tide times. This beach has the particularity of being completely covered at high tide but also having the largest surface area at low tide.
PLAGE DE MARBELLA ET LA MILADY
Located to the south of the city, these are surf spots where the waves break on a half-sand, half-rock bottom. These spots are reserved for experienced surfers and shortboarders. In short, the waves are technical and when there are big swells, the current is very strong.
Of all the towns on the Basque coast, Biarritz is the only one where you can surf at any level, from beginner to advanced.... As a result, all the surfing disciplines can be practised at these spots: longboard, shortboard, stand-up paddle, bodyboard and bodysurf.
