Biarritz → Spain by motorcycle, the simple route with a touch of history

An accessible motorcycle ride between France and Spain.
The journey between Biarritz and San Sebastián takes less than two hours. The route follows the Basque coast for some 50 kilometers. It's the perfect way to discover two countries in one day.‍

The Basque Country, a shared territory

The Basque Country stretches along both sides of the western Pyrenees. It comprises seven historic provinces, three in France and four in Spain. Architecture remains consistent throughout the region. Half-timbered houses dominate both French and Spanish villages.

This style comes from local resources. Oak was abundant. Carpenters built wooden structures and filled them with cob or brick. White plaster protected the walls from Atlantic humidity. The half-timbering remained visible to ventilate the structure.
In France, the beams are often red or green, pigments derived from iron ore. In Spain, colors vary more, with blues, ochres and yellows depending on family traditions.

The current border dates from the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. Yet the villages have retained the same style. The central squares are organized around the church and the pelota court. The mansions are reminders of the times when shipowners and merchants prospered from maritime trade between the XVIᵉ and XVIIIᵉ centuries.

Leaving Biarritz, you drive into the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Entering Spain, you arrive in Guipuscoa, a Basque province with a marked coastal relief.

Departure from Biarritz on the D810

You leave Biarritz along the coast. The first heights quickly appear above the ocean. Cliffs alternate with more open beaches. When the view is unobstructed, you can look far out over the horizon.

For a long time, Biarritz was a fishing village. That all changed in 1854, when Empress Eugenie had a villa built on the seafront. Belle Époque villas were built on the higher ground, taking advantage of the views over the Atlantic.

From Biarritz to Bidart

The road winds towards Bidart, with the ocean on your right. The coastline alternates between grassy plateaus and rocky outcrops. Stop-off points allow you to get closer to the shore. The sea air becomes more present as you climb towards the village promontory.

Bidart dominates the coast from its natural plateau. The old town center has preserved its white houses with red half-timbering. The houses have generous eaves to protect the facades from the Atlantic rain.

Bidart to Guéthary

The road then descends to sea level. The curves follow the relief, offering close-up views of the rocks. The landscape alternates between open sections and more incised passages.

Guéthary was a whaling port until the XVIIᵉ century. The village has retained its compactness. The fishermen's houses remain low, while the more bourgeois residences rise several stories. The port lies in a rocky cove, protected from the ocean winds.

Direction Saint-Jean-de-Luz

The road continues towards Saint-Jean-de-Luz, dominating the coast for several kilometers. The hills plunge towards the sea, creating a jagged landscape.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz has a bay protected by three dikes. The historic center is home to shipowners' houses from the XVIᵉ and XVIIᵉ centuries. The half-timbered facades rise to several levels. Carved balconies were used to dry nets and keep an eye on the boats.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Hendaye and the border

The road continues towards Hendaye along the last curves of the French coast.
The international bridge crosses the Bidassoa. The river has marked the border since the Treaty of the Pyrenees. In the middle is Ile des Faisans, the site of negotiations between France and Spain in the XVIIᵉ century.
The crossing is non-stop. The signs change language. The landscapes remain similar on both sides of the border.

Hondarribia, Spain's first town

Hondarribia appears just over the bridge. The fortified old town retains its medieval walls. The houses feature colorful facades. This tradition comes from the fishermen's families, who painted their houses to be recognized from the sea. Reds, blues, yellows and greens dominate.
Wrought-iron balconies were used to dry laundry and fish. Carved coats-of-arms recall the former noble residences. Calle Mayor climbs up to Charles V's castle.

Hondarribia to San Sebastián, two options

There are two routes to San Sebastián.

The AP-8 freeway follows a regular inland axis between the hills.

The N634 national road runs alongside the sea. You pass through Pasaia, a narrow port used by Spanish galleons in the XVIᵉ century. Tall houses line the channel, squeezed between hills. The colorful facades are reflected in the water.
The road follows the coast with a succession of curves. The landscape alternates between sea flats and rock faces that slope down to the ocean.

Arrival in San Sebastián

San Sebastián can be reached from the east. The entrance from the coast leads to the port area.
The town was destroyed in 1813 when French troops withdrew. Only Calle 31 de Agosto survived. The rest was rebuilt in the XIXᵉ century with regular streets and stone buildings with wrought-iron balconies. The bay of La Concha forms a natural arch between two hills.

Other destinations from Biarritz

Getaria lies twenty-five kilometers after San Sebastián. The village still has an active port. The houses occupy a rocky promontory. Juan Sebastián Elcano, the first navigator to circumnavigate the globe in 1522, was born here.

Zumaia has a cliff coastline. The medieval center features stone houses, vestiges of the rivalries between noble families in the Middle Ages.

Tolosa lies inland. Here, the landscape becomes more undulating. The old town center is organized around a square surrounded by arcades. This system protected merchants from the frequent rains. The Saturday market is still held under the arches.

Route summary

The route between Biarritz and San Sebastián covers some 50 kilometers. The route follows the Basque coast, passing through villages whose architecture tells of the region's maritime and defensive history. French half-timbered houses give way to colorful Spanish facades. Harbors, old town centers and successive ramparts reveal a territory shaped by fishing, trade and conflict.
This is a one-day tour, returning in the evening.

Good Motors offers self-service motorcycle rental 24 hours a day, with pick-up in town or at the station, depending on the destination.

Book your motorcycle directly in Biarritz center: https://goodmotors.agency/villes/biarritz
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