Surf beaches, villages with red shutters, green mountains and great food: the Basque Country is explored on both sides of the French-Spanish border. Here is a one-week road trip.
Itinerary: on both sides of the border
- Day 1: Bayonne, its quays and old town
- Day 2: Biarritz and the Basque coast
- Day 3: Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the coastal corniche
- Day 4: The inland villages: Espelette, Ainhoa, Sare and the Rhune train
- Day 5: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, on the Way of St James
- Day 6: San Sebastián and its pintxos bars
- Day 7: Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum
When to go
Spring and early autumn are ideal: it is mild and the villages are lively without being crowded. Summer brings many visitors to the coast. The climate is oceanic: showers are part of the trip and explain the greenery.
Getting around
A car is the most practical for the inland villages. On the Spanish side, San Sebastián and Bilbao are walkable, with good public transport.
Our tips
- Try Espelette pepper and gâteau basque in the villages
- In San Sebastián, hop between pintxos bars rather than sitting in one restaurant
- Book coastal accommodation in summer
- Keep an umbrella at hand
Plan this trip with Voyage : mon guide
Add each stop with its number of nights: the app creates the days and puts the whole route on an Apple Maps map. Keep villages, beaches and good restaurants in the ideas box, log flights, trains and rentals on the right day, then prepare the trip for offline use before leaving. Once there, Guide mode shows the current day and tonight’s hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Should I cross the border?
It is not required, but San Sebastián and Bilbao are well worth it, less than two hours’ drive away.
Is a week enough?
Yes for the essentials on both sides. With more time, explore the Soule or the Biscay coast.
Plan this itinerary with Voyage : mon guide.
More ideas: all our travel guides · travel app comparison