Things to do in Pays Basque: the must-see sights

Area guide · Nouvelle-Aquitaine · 5 places to discover

Between the Atlantic Ocean and the first Pyrenean foothills, the Basque Country cultivates a strong identity, with villages of red and green timber-framed houses, traditional sports and renowned gastronomy.

Open Pays Basque on the interactive map

The 5 must-see places in Pays Basque

Loading photo…

Saint-Jean-de-Luz Must-see

A fishing port and seaside resort where Louis XIV married, with its sheltered main beach and Saint-Jean-Baptiste church.

See on the map →
Loading photo…

Ainhoa Must-see

A typical Basque village of red and green timber-framed houses, a historic stop on the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela.

See on the map →
Loading photo…

Espelette

A village famous for its red pepper hung in garlands on the façades, a symbol of Basque gastronomy.

See on the map →
Loading photo…

Rocher de la Vierge (Biarritz)

A rock linked by a metal footbridge designed by Eiffel, with a statue of the Virgin and a 360° view over the ocean.

See on the map →
Loading photo…

La Rhune

An emblematic Basque Country peak, accessible by a century-old rack railway, straddling the Spanish border.

See on the map →

Explore Pays Basque at a glance

Find these places and hundreds more — restaurants, places to stay, activities — on the BornToVisit interactive map.

Explore the map →

Elsewhere in Nouvelle-Aquitaine