The sea temperature at Biarritz today is 17.7 °C (64 °F) – icy water, most people reach for a wetsuit. The usual October average is 19 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 22.7 °C to 17.7 °C. Swimmable from June to October, when the sea averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.2°C / 54.0°F | 13.1°C / 55.5°F | 13.7°C / 56.7°F |
| February | 12.0°C / 53.6°F | 12.7°C / 54.8°F | 13.3°C / 55.9°F |
| March | 12.4°C / 54.4°F | 12.8°C / 55.1°F | 13.3°C / 56.0°F |
| April | 13.2°C / 55.7°F | 13.9°C / 57.0°F | 14.4°C / 58.0°F |
| May | 15.3°C / 59.6°F | 16.3°C / 61.4°F | 17.1°C / 62.7°F |
| June | 19.2°C / 66.6°F | 20.3°C / 68.6°F | 21.3°C / 70.3°F |
| July | 21.0°C / 69.8°F | 22.2°C / 72.0°F | 22.9°C / 73.2°F |
| August | 22.1°C / 71.7°F | 22.9°C / 73.1°F | 23.2°C / 73.8°F |
| September | 20.7°C / 69.3°F | 21.4°C / 70.6°F | 22.5°C / 72.5°F |
| October | 18.3°C / 64.9°F | 19.0°C / 66.3°F | 20.2°C / 68.4°F |
| November | 15.8°C / 60.4°F | 16.6°C / 61.9°F | 17.1°C / 62.7°F |
| December | 13.4°C / 56.0°F | 14.5°C / 58.1°F | 15.2°C / 59.3°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.0°C / 46.4°F | 9.1°C / 48.4°F | 11.3°C / 52.3°F |
| February | 9.3°C / 48.7°F | 10.9°C / 51.6°F | 13.6°C / 56.4°F |
| March | 10.2°C / 50.4°F | 12.2°C / 53.9°F | 14.7°C / 58.5°F |
| April | 11.3°C / 52.3°F | 13.4°C / 56.2°F | 16.0°C / 60.9°F |
| May | 13.7°C / 56.7°F | 16.0°C / 60.7°F | 18.2°C / 64.8°F |
| June | 17.6°C / 63.8°F | 19.7°C / 67.5°F | 22.0°C / 71.5°F |
| July | 18.9°C / 66.1°F | 21.0°C / 69.9°F | 23.3°C / 73.9°F |
| August | 19.6°C / 67.2°F | 21.6°C / 70.8°F | 24.0°C / 75.2°F |
| September | 17.8°C / 64.1°F | 19.8°C / 67.6°F | 22.4°C / 72.4°F |
| October | 16.0°C / 60.8°F | 17.8°C / 64.1°F | 20.6°C / 69.0°F |
| November | 12.2°C / 53.9°F | 13.2°C / 55.8°F | 15.2°C / 59.3°F |
| December | 10.0°C / 50.0°F | 11.0°C / 51.8°F | 13.0°C / 55.4°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Biarritz holidays
Once the summer retreat of Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III, Biarritz is a resort town on the French Basque coast, in south-west France close to the Spanish border. French surfing began in Biarritz in the late 1950s, and the town still combines grand 19th-century buildings with a surf culture.
Beaches
The Grande Plage, the main beach of Biarritz below the casino and the Hôtel du Palais, is wide and sandy, with lifeguarded swimming zones in summer. Miramar beach continues north towards the lighthouse. The Port Vieux, a small cove sheltered by rocks, has calmer water and suits families, while the Côte des Basques, below the cliffs to the south, is the surfers' beach and almost disappears at high tide. The Atlantic can have strong currents, so swim between the flags. Surf schools on the Grande Plage and the Côte des Basques run lessons for beginners, including children.
Things to do
A footbridge leads out to the Rocher de la Vierge, a rock topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary, with views along the coast. The Biarritz lighthouse on Pointe Saint-Martin can be climbed for a view over the town and beaches, and the Aquarium de Biarritz shows the sea life of the Bay of Biscay. Les Halles, the covered market in the centre, sells Basque ham, cheese and fish, with small bars around it. Bayonne, a few kilometres inland, has an old town on the Nive and Adour rivers, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, to the south, is a fishing port with a sheltered sandy bay.
Weather and best time to visit
From June to September the sea at Biarritz is warmer than 20 °C / 68 °F.
Biarritz has a mild oceanic climate: summers are warm rather than hot, and rain can fall in any month. July and August are the busiest, with festivals and full beaches, while June and September are quieter and often sunny. Autumn and winter bring the biggest Atlantic swells, the season for experienced surfers.
Hotels and where to stay
The centre of Biarritz, around the Grande Plage and the casino, puts hotels within walking distance of the beaches, shops and restaurants. The Côte des Basques and the quarter above it suit surfers, and neighbouring Anglet has more hotels and campsites behind its long beaches.
Signature hotels: Hôtel du Palais Biarritz, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt · Sofitel Biarritz Le Miramar Thalassa
Airport and getting there
Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (BIQ), in neighbouring Anglet, is only a few kilometres from the centre, with flights from Paris and other European cities that vary by season. TGV trains from Paris stop at Biarritz station, and San Sebastián in Spain is under an hour away by road.