Basque Country in 2 days - My itinerary of the essentials with map

Finally a long weekend to enjoy nature, the sun, the ocean and the gastronomy of Pays Basque in France !

Here is the organization of my 2 days on the Basque coast and in the hinterland and the program of our long weekend of discovery of the Basque Country in 2 days (itineraries, visits, restaurants, accommodation).

How to visit the Basque Country in 1 weekend?

The location of the hotel or campsite is essential so as not to waste time on the roads… In fact, even out of season, driving on certain roads is complicated because of traffic jams. So the priority is to choose accommodation that is fairly central to the tour schedule.

It was in Biarritz that I chose to stay the first night to enjoy its beautiful beach, a exceptional hotel, a good little restaurant and above all its ideal geographical location as a starting point for my 2-day tour in the Basque Country.

The 1st hotel chosen, remains to define an itinerary that is fairly complete but not too busy for the weekend. There, I made sure that this circuit allows you to discover as many small mountain villages that the beautiful and elegant Basque seaside resorts without forgetting to taste the good products of the country (cold meats, cheese, chocolate, Basque cake, Espelette pepper…)!

Stages of the 2-day tour in the Basque Country

My circuit being done in 2 days offers a 1st day along the Basque coast and 2nd day in the hinterland. Here are the steps that you can program on your GPS:

Biarritz
Bidart
Guéthary
Saint Jean de Luz
Ciboure
Hendaye
Behobia
Urrugne
Rhune
Salt
Espelette
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Bayonne
Biarritz

Map of the itinerary of the essentials of the Basque Country

DAY 1 - Along the Basque coast

From Biarritz to Hendaye, the coast of the Basque coast is characterized by a succession of cliffs interspersed with creeks and bays. With many fine sandy beaches, renowned and trendy surf spots, large elegant buildings and succulent seafood restaurants, the Basque coast is well worth a full day of visit!

Circuit Basque Coast - Biarritz

Chic, elegant, refined, we speak of Biarritz as we speak of a great lady! Made famous by the Empress Eugenie, Biarritz has some sites not to be missed: Its large beach and its Casino, the Imperial Chapel, the famous Rocher de la Vierge, the fishing port lined with crampottes, the Côte des Basques ... have a good full morning to discover its most beautiful sites on foot. I did not take the time to visit the Historical Museum of Biarritz but it should be remembered as a good idea toactivity to do in Biarritz when it rains… Here is map of my walking tour of Biarritz :

If you have a whole day to visit Biarritz, then my tourist circuit to visit Biarritz on foot.

Circuit Basque Coast - Bidart

Typical village overlooking the ocean, it's a stopover that I adored! We stop there, we walk there, a few photos and we must continue ...

bidard in basque country — Saturday: Market day in Bidart

Circuit Basque Coast - Guéthary

Former whaling port, Guéthary is a typical Basque village, it is very popular with its good surf spots, seafood restaurants and family beaches.

Circuit Basque Coast - Saint Jean de Luz

It is said to be the city of shipowners, fishermen and privateers. Sites to visit: the Church of St Jean Baptiste, the tuna, sardine and enchois fishing port, the panorama of Pointe Sainte Barbe, the houses of shipowners and privateers, the house of the Infanta and the ecomuseum of the Basque tradition.

St Jean de Luz in my 2-day itinerary on the Basque coast

Circuit Basque Coast - Ciboure

Birthplace of composer Maurice Ravel, its panorama from the Tour de Bordagain is breathtaking. Also worth seeing: its port and the fort of Socoa.

Circuit Basque Coast - Hendaye

By taking the road by the corniche, you arrive in Hendaye, a pretty marina at the gates of Spain. See if you have time to admire:

its huge beach,
the Sokoburu district and its casino at the tip of Chingoudy Bay, facing the Spanish city of Hondarribia
the Saint Vincent church in the city center,
the domain of Abbadia (natural site dominating the cliffs),
Abbadia Castle.

Day 1 - Night in Hendaye - My hotel

For this stopover night, I needed a hotel with parking, very well placed to visit Hendaye, enjoy the ocean and be close to shops and restaurants. So I did not choose the cheapest but a nice hotel whose value for money is still interesting.

Facing the sea, with a beautiful terrace with modern and spacious rooms, the Hotel Valencia was perfect for a night!

More information about this hotel

DAY 2 - The Basque hinterland

This morning, very early we take the road towards Béhobie-Biriatou to reach the town ofUrrugne which is about ten kilometers away.

Back Basque Country - Urrugne

Magnificent Basque village with:

are pediment where pelota players hit the ball with their bare hands,
the famous whitewashed Etxea houses whose woodwork is painted red,
the church with galleries typical of Basque churches,
the Château d'Urtubie,
the Chapel of Sokorri from where you have a point of view over the entire Basque coast!

Back tour Basque Country Basque village Urrugne

Back Basque Country - Ascain - La Rhune

You have to get to the village ofAscain, then take the Saint Ignace pass where is the station to take the 1924 cog train called the Rhune train. Installation in the wooden wagons and climb for more than half an hour to the top of the Rhune at 905 m.

Back Basque Country by Ascain Train from La Rhune

The panorama over the Pyrenees, the coast of Saint-Sébastien and the Landes beaches is exceptional! Count at least 2 hours and a half to make the round trip and enjoy taking some photos at the top.

View from the top of the Rhune on the Basque Coast

Back Basque Country - Sare one of the most beautiful villages in France

Impossible to discover the Basque Country, its culture, its people and its way of life without visiting Sare. Classified "most beautiful village in France", Sare is an essential stopover in the Basque Country with:

its XNUMXth century Labourdine houses,
its Basque Cake Museum,
his XNUMXth century Ortillopitz house,
and its caves (which unfortunately I didn't have time to visit…).

Back Basque Country - Village of Sare most beautiful village in France

Back Basque Country - Espelette

Our next step: Espelette for the cultivation of its famous and PDO Espelette pepper used by all the great chefs around the world. We went to visit the Lurretik house (small explanatory video of the cultivation of chili peppers + purchase of local products).

Back Basque Country - Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

On the way to Saint Jacques de Compostela, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a magnificent village classified as World Heritage of Humanity. To see depending on the time you have:

XNUMXth century church;
Ramparts and citadel Vauban;
Prison of bishops;
Brana wine estate.

Stopover in the Basque Country - Bayonne

City of art but also city of parties, ferias and bullfights, Bayonne deserved a stopover in my 2-day tour in the Basque Country ! We must devote to it more than 2 hours to discover its most beautiful sites on foot: Vauban ramparts, Gothic Cathedral, Cloister, Basque Museum, ham maker Pierre Ibaialde, Txokola chocolate maker, Bonnat Museum. See my tour to visit Bayonne on foot.

bayonne essential stopover of my weekend in the basque country

Stopover in the Basque Country - Return to our hotel in Biarritz

After this tiring day but full of beautiful images and good tastings, it is with great pleasure that we return to our hotel to immerse ourselves in a large bath and let ourselves be pampered with balneotherapy treatments. So we end our weekend in style in this superb hotel with a wellness overdose (but a little disappointed with the meal served a little too slowly…).