Surf forecast: Biarritz (Côte des Basques).
European surfing effectively started here: in 1957, screenwriter Peter Viertel, in Biarritz for the filming of The Sun Also Rises, had a board shaped locally and rode the waves off the Côte des Basques — the beach has been central to French and European surf culture ever since, and remains the town's most popular spot to learn.
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Reading the current forecast…
How it works here
The Côte des Basques is an open, sandy beach break beneath a line of cliffs, taking Bay of Biscay swell from the Atlantic's SW-to-NW quadrant and delivering it as a softer, more spread-out wave than Biarritz's more exposed breaks further along the coast — a natural beginner's beach that has stayed one for nearly seventy years.
- Bottom
- Sand, shifting with the season like any open beach break.
Best season
Rideable year-round; autumn through spring (roughly September–April) brings the Atlantic's biggest, most consistent groundswell, while summer is smaller, warmer and more forgiving — and busier, given Biarritz's status as a beach-holiday town.
Conditions by level
The Côte des Basques' whole reputation — a soft, sandy, open beach break that has been Biarritz's default learning wave since European surfing began here.
Good banks form regularly enough to work on real turns; the beach's long stretch of sand means there's usually a workable peak somewhere along it.
Biarritz's more committed breaks — the Grande Plage's reef sections and spots further along the Basque coast toward Guéthary and Hossegor — are the draw for experienced surfers; the Côte des Basques itself stays a mellower wave even at size.
Watch out for
- Atlantic water is cool for most of the year — a wetsuit (3/2mm or thicker outside summer) is standard, unlike the warm-water spots on this list.
- Crowds in summer, when Biarritz's beach-holiday season overlaps with the surf season.
- Shifting sandbars mean the best peak moves along the beach through the season, same as any open beach break.
Getting there
Biarritz has its own airport with European connections; the Côte des Basques is a short walk from the town center along the coastal path.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Biarritz important in surf history?
In 1957, American screenwriter Peter Viertel, in town filming The Sun Also Rises, had a surfboard shaped locally and rode the Côte des Basques — widely credited as the moment surfing arrived in continental Europe.
Is the Côte des Basques good for beginners?
Yes — it's Biarritz's classic learning wave, an open, sandy beach break that has held that role since European surfing began there, with several long-established schools (Lagoondy, Biarritz Paradise, Biarritz Éco among them) teaching on it.
Do I need a wetsuit in Biarritz?
Yes, most of the year — Atlantic water here is noticeably cooler than the Mediterranean or the warm-water spots on this list; a 3/2mm wetsuit or thicker outside summer is standard.