Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist Information
The TI is in a little pink castle two blocks up from the beach (just above the beach and
casino, hiding behind the City Hall—look for
hôtel de ville
signs). Pick up the free map
and get details on any sightseeing that interests you (July-Aug daily 9:00-19:00; Sept-
June Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00; Square d'Ixelles, tel. 05 59 22 37 00,
Arrival in Biarritz
By Car:
Drivers follow signs for
Centre-Ville,
then carefully track signs forspecific park-
ing garages. The most central garages are called
Grande Plage, Casino, Bellevue,
and
St.
Eugénie
(closest tothewater). Signsinfrontofeach tell youwhether it'sfull
(complet),
in
which case move on to the next one.
By Bus:
Buses stop at “Biarritz Centre,” a parking lot next to the TI (buses to/from
Bayonne stop along the side of the lot; buses to/from St-Jean-de-Luz stop at the end of the
lot).Ifyou'retakingabus,beawarethatsomestopattheoutskirtsoftown—onlytakeone
to “Centre.”
Don't bother taking the
train
to or from Biarritz, as the station is about two miles
from the tourist area (but if you must, bus #A1 connects the train station to the city center
hourly, €1, buy ticket from driver).
There is no baggage storage in Biarritz.
There's little of sightseeing value in Biarritz. The TI can fill you in on the town's four mu-
seums (Marine Museum—described below; Chocolate Planet and Museum—intriguing,
but a long walk from the center; Oriental Art Museum—large, diverse collection of art
from across Asia; and Biarritz Historical Museum—really?).
Your time is best spent strolling along the various levels that climb up from the sea.
(Resist the urge to check out the pebble beach for now.) From the TI, you can do a loop:
First head west on the lively
pedestrian streets
that occupy the plateau above the water,
which are lined with restaurants, cafés, and high-class, resorty window-shopping. (Place
Georges Clemenceau is the grassy “main square” of this area.) Biarritz is picnic-friendly,
with
beaucoup
benches facing the waves. Consider stocking up before continuing this
walk.
Work your way past the Église Sainte Eugénie out to the point with the
Marine Mu-
seum
(Musée de la Mer). The most convenient of Biarritz's attractions, this pricey Art
Deco museum/aquarium wins the “best rainy-day option” award, with a tank of seals and
