The Ultimate Guide to Bidart Surf

The Bidart surf picks up where the Biarritz surf ends. That should give you a clue just how good this little French town is for wavecraft!

An introduction to Bidart surf

There’s Biarritz. Then there’s Bidart. These two Basque towns are joined at the hip. They share beaches and an oceanfront location on the Bay of Biscay.

Bidart just happens to be a whole load more charming than it’s jet-setter compadre.

It also beckons surfers to emptier lineups and spots that have a whole range of different sorts of wave, from hollow point breaks over stone to mellow beginner beachies.

So, what’s the catch? Bidart surf isn’t that reliable in summertime.

The north-west orientation of the coastline ensures the swell power is cut to a fraction of which it is in Landes further north, and that can mean long periods without a rideable day. You also need to watch the tides in Bidart a little more than you do up in the French coast.

Still, those are decent sacrifices to make to escape the hordes of Hossegor and paddle out under the lush peaks of the northern Pyrenees. Plus, it’s nothing that having your own rental car can’t fix – there are more steady beach breaks a mere 20-30-minute drive away.

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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing France

Bidart surf at a glance

The good:

Lots of wave types – reef and beach break
This is a charming Basque town
Spots that will let multiple levels surf together

The bad:

Flat summers
Gets busy closer to Biarritz
Watch out for the rocks!

What’s in this guide to Bidart surf?

Where is Bidart?

Bidart is located just a few miles south of Biarritz.

It’s on the French Basque coast, less than 25 minutes’ drive from the Spanish border, which is to the south-west.

The nearest airport is in Biarritz: The Biarritz Pays Basque Airport.

The A63 roadway connects the town directly with Bordeaux. That’s the nearest major city, some 200km to the northeast (the drive is about 2h10 in total).

We would definitely opt to drive here. Whereas in Biarritz you can get by booking a hotel in the town and surfing the local breaks right in front of you, Bidart is less touristy and so less well connected.

We also think having a car is brill for exploring north and south to beaches and reef breaks that work on different swells.

A guide to Bidart surf spots

Bidart surf spots start just below Biarritz (the surf mecca of the Basque Coast) and run into more challenging Guethary to the south. Here’s each in turn…

Biarritz

Biarritz surely needs no introduction. It’s the town that’s really put the Basque Country on the French surf map, although we’d say there’s probably more quality in the breaks at Bidart itself.

Still, the breaks at La Cote des Basques (known locally as Marbella) and the pumping sandbank wedges of Le Grande Plage are the stuff of bucket lists.

The city is also SLIIICCKK – think James Bond casinos on the promenades and hotels that’ll make you feel like a billionaire.

Learn more about surfing in Biarritz with our ultimate guide to the town

Ilbarritz

Ilbarritz is one of the more advanced spots in Bidart, mainly because the rocks will play havoc with an intermediate’s ability to paddle.

Its northern end runs into the southern beaches of Biarritz town, so expect busier lineups.

When it’s good, we’re talking wedgy shoulders and the occasional hollow peak that runs out fast. When it’s bad it’s crumbly as hell and doesn’t offer much headroom over the reef.

Pavillon Royal

Named after the nearby camp site and home to the local Bidart surf school, the breaks at Pavillon Royal show a little more teeth than their partners to the south.

The main cause is the dashes of rocky reef that hug the headland. They’re not actually what you want to surf over, because high tide doesn’t have enough depth to cover them properly.

It’s better to move down the beach a bit to pick up the wedges that can A-frame nicely and give fat shoulders to turn on.

Plage d’Erretegia

Plage d’Erretegia hides beneath the high cliffs to the north of town. It’s one of the more secluded beaches here and gets good protection from onshores coming from the south and west.

The waves are tempered by a few pockets of reef out at sea, which creates sets that are perfect for beginners (it’s the playground for all the Bidart surf schools!).

Mellow is the keyword, with even some room for loggers on the most glassy of days.

Plage du Centre

Plage du Centre is sometimes called just Bidart Plage (Bidart Beach). It’s the main stretch of sand that runs below the lovely town.

Cut up by groins, it can sometimes mimic the wider beaches of Landes further north, but that needs some punchy NW swells on the roster.

The main reason we like it is that it’s classic peaky beach break stuff with a secondary swell that can work well for beginners. Always better on the push. Localism is very rarely an issue – they’re a nice bunch!

Where to stay? Villa L’Arche – a gorgeous coast home with a pool on the cliffs above.

Plage de l’Uhabia

Plage de l’Uhabia is known as just l’Uhabia for short. It’s right by the rivermouth of the, you guessed it, the l’Uhabia River.

That allows for some pretty unique waves that rise from the silt deposits and banks created in the estuary. There’s one pretty famous right that’s rarely super busy but quite fast and fun.

The main issue is pollution following storms and heavy rainfall, though that’s fairly rare it remains a fun beginner location for most of the summer.

Guethary

Guethary is the next French surf town over from Bidart. It’s classic Basque stuff, making the most of the rocky coast to offer points that can get pretty gnarly when they’re pumping in the winter.

In fact, Guethary is positively pros only on the biggest days, when XXL swells hit Parlementia and other big-wave places along the coast.

Learn more about surfing in Guethary with our ultimate guide to the town

Where to stay in Bidart?

Bidart has some LOVELY villas and campsites that are just perfect for planning that trip to the Atlantic waves.

Some are right on the beachfront others are a short drive back from the coast and we’d say don’t be put off by those – yes, you need to drive to the surf but then it’s never far and it means you’ll have access to the roads that take you north and south to different beaches and spots.

Here are a couple of places that should cover most budgets…

Villa L’Arche – A simply stunning villa that offers walking access to the main Central Beach, Villa L’Arche has apartments for couples but also a garden-level apartment that suits a whole fam/group. Beautiful pool and gorgeous interiors. Would be our first pick.
Camping Domaine Berrua – Maeva Selection – This campsite is the perfect spring and summer stay for surfers wanting to explore the Bidart coast. There’s a pool and a range of chalets and mobile homes, plus plenty for the kiddos.
Fronton Hotel – Right in the town center, Fronton Hotel is the best choice if you’re here as much for Basque culture and food as for surf. It’s a short drive to main beach but gets you near top cafes and bistros in the thick of the lovely Bidart town.

We think using Booking.com’s map feature is a good way to go here. You can zoom in to check exactly how close a stay is to any given beach and filter by reviews and accom type.

Surf lessons in Bidart

Bidart is actually a great place to do surf lessons. As you can see from the lineup of spots in the area, there’s a good mix of beginner beaches and places to improve.

What’s more, it’s not overtouristed like Biarritz, so the schools here tend to be a bit more low-key and affordable.

There’s one that really stands out to us: Taiba Surf Club. They’ve been going since like 1988 or something, so really know the lay of the land here. They offer a whole range of courses lasting between 1.5 hours and a full five days, catering to both French- and English-speaking clients…

1.5-hour surf class with Taiba Surf Club – The standard lesson offering, including on-beach traning, all gear, and a surf on a local beach.
5-day surf course with Taiba Surf Club – Designed for real improvement and a great option if you’re sticking aroudn Bidart for a week or more. At under $160 it’s a real bargain too – you save as you book more lessons in bulk.

When to surf in Bidart?

The best time to surf in Bidart is Autumn. That’s when the W-NW swells start hitting the French Basque Coast and conditions align to create pretty reliable days from Ilbarritz to the Centre Plage.

You’ll need to bring a wetsuit and expect bigger waves if you come in November. Spring is also a good alternative, but the water’s even colder.

Let’s break it down a little more…

Summer (June-August)

It’s not a secret that the Bay of Biscay gets way quieter in the summer months. From June to August it can turn to a SW channel that will rarely find its way into this deep corner on the France-Spain border.

On top of that, the crowds increase. It all adds up to make it a pretty poor season to surf in Bidart if you ask us. Then again, when there is a wave, it’s lush to paddle out in the warm water and enjoy a cold beer in the bars afterwards!

Bring sunblock! We can highly reccomend Suntribe stuff. It’s low in chemicals that are bad for the ocean, plus they offer our readers 10% off (code: Surfatlas10).

Autumn (September-October)

Autumn is the top time to hit the Bidart surf. All of France knowns that this is when the Atlantic turns on the goods. You’re wanting that perfect NW swell hit, which typically get a-cooking in October but can come earlier.

Morning surfs are best because they are most likely to catch the E offshores. Line ups won’t be nothing, but there are fewer people around than in the height of summer, so there’s another plus.

Winter (December-March)

The winter is king on the reliability front in Bidart, with more surfable days than any season.

That’s not a reflection on quality, though. Sadly, the out-at-sea storms that pass through the Bay of Biscay can churn things up, drop in strong onshores, and leave Bidart in a mess.

They will pass and will break with some perfect conditions now and then. This is also the time for XXL surfing in Guethary and the southern Basque.

Spring (April-May)

Spring is another highlight on the Bidart surf calendar. before the big crowds of holidaymakers have arrived, it’s a time with reliable waves and less interference from the winter storm onshore systems.

The real issue is rain, which can pollute the beaches around the l’Uhabia rivermouth. Bring a wetsuit of at least 4/3 if you’re looking to do longer sessions.

Surf shops in Bidart

Bidart is no stranger to good surf shops. And there are plenty up in Biarritz too.

Here are just a few of the local options…

Sooruz Surfshop Bidart – Soöruz is one of the most innovative surf companies in the French Basque right now. They’ve developed a super-warm line of wetties that work wonders in teh cold Atlantic waters here. Drop into their store on the D810 just past the Intermache.
Prosurf Surf Shop Parlementia – is to the south of Bidart. The owners are great guys with a good knack for repairs. Super-informative advice about local breaks and a varied rack for shortboarders. Probably the most comprehensive board shop south of Biarritz.