Best Places to Visit in the Basque Country

While the French Basque Country can be overshadowed by the Spanish Basque region, the French side of the border is well worth exploring. 

This fascinating region has beautiful coastal and mountainous landscapes, delicious cuisine, and Pyrenean mountain villages where the unique Basque traditions are everywhere to be seen. You may also find that many speak French or Spanish as a second language, with Basque being their preferred language.

If you would like to explore the Basque Country at your own pace (including places across the border in Spain), we can plan the ideal itinerary, just for you. You’ll have time to savor each stop along the way, try some culinary specialties, and fully immerse yourselves in the Basque culture.

Browse our Basque Country tours - all these itineraries can be customized to suit your preferences

Here are some of our favorite places to explore:

Saint-Jean-de-Luz: The Spirit of the Basque Coast

Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a small but lively coastal town near the Spanish border, known for its fishing port lined with traditional Basque buildings. Its compact town center is easy to explore and there are plenty of restaurants serving fresh seafood, as well as cute shops selling local handicrafts and specialties. 

If you’re interested in history, you may like to visit Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, where Louis XIV married Maria Theresa of Spain.

We invite you to browse our self-drive tours in the Basque Country

Espelette: The Village with a Little Spice

Espelette is a charming village famous for its red peppers that hang from the whitewashed houses. The village has a laid-back feel, with small shops and cafes offering local products, including the renowned Espelette pepper used in Basque cooking. It’s a great spot to visit if you want to explore Basque culture in a more rural setting. The annual pepper festival in the fall attracts more visitors, but outside of that, Espelette is a quiet place where you can experience the everyday life of the region.

Discover places to visit in south west France

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: An Historic Gateway

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a small medieval town in the foothills of the Pyrenees, and is a stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. La Porte Saint-Jacques, a UNESCO-listed gate, is the entry point for pilgrims.

The town’s cobbled streets, local shops, and cafés make it a great place to explore for a couple of hours and get a taste of Basque village culture. You can visit the old citadel for some great views of the surrounding area. The Rue de la Citadelle (the main street) is lined with traditional Basque houses, small shops, and cafés, or you may like to stroll along the Nive River, which runs through the town.

Explore the south west coast of France

Ossau Valley: Where Mountains Meet Tradition

The area is a peaceful retreat, with its mountainous landscapes, scenic hiking trails, and small, welcoming villages. If you like, you can even try playing a Basque sport, pelote.

Some gorgeous scenic beauty spots in this region include the Lac de Bious-Artigues–a lovely place for hikes, fishing and horseback riding–and the Col d’Aubisque, which has dramatic views of the valley.

If you like cheese, we recommend trying some Ossau-Iraty sheep’s milk cheese, a specialty of this region. It has been prepared using the same traditional methods for over 3,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest cheeses, and a true culinary icon of the Basque Country. It pairs wonderfully with the regional Itxassou black cherry jam and Bayonne ham. 

If you’re on a tour of the Basque Country with us, we will recommend a place where you can try this cheese!

You may be interested in this driving itinerary from Bordeaux to Avignon

Itxassou: A Riverside Getaway

Itxassou is a small Basque village best known for its famous black cherries. Itxassou cherries are harvested by hand in early June and celebrated during the local cherry festival. You can eat them fresh or buy a delicious Itxassou cherry jam–they pair very well with the Ossau-Iraty sheep's cheese. 

As well as its cherries, Itxassou is known for its beautiful landscapes. There are various easy walking trails, or you may visit the Pas de Roland, a natural rock formation along the Nive River.

We would love to plan your driving holiday in the south of France

Ainhoa: A Step Back in Time

Ainhoa is included in the list of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Its traditional white and red half-timbered houses line the main street, which really makes you feel immersed in the Basque way of life. You can wander the main street, visit Notre-Dame de l’Assomption Church, or enjoy a quiet lunch at a village café. Ainhoa has several small artisan shops where you can purchase locally made crafts, such as Basque linens or pottery.

If you’re visiting during a local event, you might have the chance to watch a game of Pelote Basque.  There are various hiking routes around the town to explore. Just a 45-minute walk uphill from the village is the Chapelle Notre-Dame d’Aubépine, which has lovely views of the surrounding countryside.

We can help you plan a road trip through the south west of France

Sare: Prehistoric Caves and a Scenic Train Ride

Sare is a Basque village at the base of Rhune Mountain. After exploring the village, you can visit the Sare Caves to gain an insight into the region’s prehistoric past, or take the Petit Train de la Rhune for great views of the countryside.

Discover more prehistoric caves in France

La Bastide-Clairence: A Medieval Gem with Artisan Charm

Also officially listed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”, La Bastide-Clairence is a countryside village with a grid-like layout and typical white and red half-timbered Basque houses. This layout reflects its origins as a 14th-century bastide town. A bastide town is a type of planned community that was built in medieval France for both defensive and economic purposes, often during times of conflict, such as the Hundred Years’ War.

As you stroll through its narrow streets, you’ll discover local artisan workshops, a beautiful 17th-century church, and little squares where you can enjoy a coffee or lunch. Try the chocolate at La Fabrique de Chocolat, buy some souvenirs and learn the family story at the little museum.

Check out our Atlantic to Mediterranean coast road trip across France

Bayonne: Where Basque Tradition Meets Foodie Favorites

We love to recommend Bayonne to our travelers because of its pretty timbered houses along the Nive River, quaint cobbled streets, artisan shops and traditional eateries. This city has deep Basque roots, which you can learn more about at the Musée Basque. 

If you visit the Gothic Cathédrale Sainte-Marie (Bayonne Cathedral), you can admire its twin spires, stained glass windows and medieval cloisters.

Head to the Halles de Bayonne (a cover food market) for lunch. Here you can taste some delicious regional cheese, the famous Bayonne ham, and locally-made chocolate, among other things.

Discover the traditions and heritage of southwest France on this custom driving tour

Biarritz: A Blend of Coastal Glamour and Surfing

Biarritz was once a small whaling village, before it became the summer vacation destination of choice for European royalty. In the 1850s, Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, fell in love with this coastal town and built a lavish holiday home, which has since become the luxurious Hôtel du Palais. Nowadays Biarritz retains an air of elegance, and has evolved into an interesting city and one of Europe’s top surfing destinations.

Enjoy a lovely walk along the Grande Plage’s promenade or climb Rocher de la Vierge for sweeping views of the bay. On clear days, you might even see the Pyrenees mountains in the distance.

For a more down-to-earth vibe, walk along to Port des Pêcheurs, built by order of Napoleon III in the 19th century for the town’s fishermen.

If you're visiting the Biarritz aquarium, there’s a scenic path near the museum that has access to the harbor. There you'll find a row of fish and seafood restaurants, which used to be fishermen's cottages. It's a lovely place to have dinner.

Check out our Paris to Biarritz itinerary

Hendaye: Laid-Back Coastal Beauty

Another nice alternative if Biarritz feels too busy or touristy, Hendaye is just along the coast, right next to the Spanish border. It has more of a laid-back, off-the-beaten-path vibe, with plenty to explore. The Plage d’Hendaye is perfect for a relaxing day at the beach, or for trying out some beginners’ surfing, as it’s known for its gentle waves. 

You can also take a stroll along the Promenade de la Baie de Txingudi, which has beautiful views across the bay to Spain.

We invite you to browse our France tour packages, all of which we can tailor to your preferences

Bidart: Village Charm and Coastal Walking Trails

Between Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the peaceful village of Bidart is known for its relaxed atmosphere. Bidart’s Plage du Centre is a favorite spot for both surfers and beachgoers. The village itself is charming, with traditional Basque houses, a lovely church, and a few great local restaurants. 

If you enjoy hiking, Bidart is a great starting point for walking along the picturesque Sentier du Littoral coastal path.

Come and visit some beautiful French towns and villages on one of our self-guided tours of France

San Sebastian (Spain): Golden Beaches and Culinary Delight

San Sebastián is a beautiful seaside city known for its golden beaches and famous for its incredible gastronomy, with the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe.

You can start exploring by walking along the gorgeous urban beach, La Concha Beach. If you’re feeling fit, take a scenic walk up to Monte Urgull, which has beautiful panoramic views of the city and the bay, as well as ramparts dating back to the 12th century. The Parte Vieja (Old Town) is full of pintxo bars where you can taste the best of Basque cuisine. You can learn more about Basque history, art and culture at the San Telmo museum.

You may also like to plan a visit to the following popular areas (these fall outside of the area we normally cover):

Irati Forest: Nature’s Quiet Sanctuary

About 50 minutes’ drive from the lovely village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is the Irati Forest, one of the largest beech and fir forests in Europe. It’s a lovely place to explore for travelers who enjoy leisurely walks or hiking, or those looking for a peaceful retreat, with stunning trails and charming villages nearby. 

Bilbao (Spain): A Fusion of Art and Industry

Just across the border in Spain, the city of Bilbao offers a mix of Basque tradition and modern innovation. The contemporary titanium structure of the Guggenheim Museum is Bilbao’s centerpiece, and is popular with art lovers from all over the world. It’s worth going to see it even if you don’t plan to visit the museum. The city also has a lively culinary scene, with pintxos bars serving a range of Basque flavors.

If you stroll down the Nervión River, you’ll reach Casco Viejo (the Old Town), with its narrow streets, bustling squares, historic churches, and markets. There are lots of local specialties for you to try at the Erriberako Merkatua, an historic indoor marketplace. 

For great views over Bilbao, take the Funicular de Artxanda up the mountain to the viewpoint–or hike up and take the funicular back town.

Discover the Basque Country with Us

The Basque culture is an example of the many unique cultures and languages that exist in France. If you’d like to explore the Basque Country by car on a customized itinerary crafted according to your wishes, we warmly invite you to contact us.

We would love to start planning your journey through this beautiful region, and create an itinerary that captures the heart of the Basque Country, just for you.