Surf photos at the Côte des Basques, Biarritz
Where surfing landed in Europe in 1957, below the cliff. Were you in the water at the Côte des Basques? Pick the day and the time: your photos are in there.
Sessions at La Côte des Basques
Dead flat. No sessions here.
Either nobody shot this slot, or you’ve got the wrong spot. Happens to the best of us.
Latest surf photos in the Basque Country
Wave forecast at La Côte des Basques
Today
| Time | Swell | Dir. | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2 m13 s2nd 0.5 m · 5 s | NW | 13 km/h E | |
| 1.2 m13 s2nd 0.5 m · 5 s | NW | 9 km/h ENE | |
| 1.1 m13 s2nd 0.4 m · 5 s | NW | 4 km/h NW | |
| Now | 1.0 m13 s2nd 0.4 m · 5 s | NW | 8 km/h NW |
| 0.9 m13 s2nd 0.4 m · 5 s | NW | 10 km/h NW | |
| 0.9 m12 s2nd 0.4 m · 5 s | NW | 12 km/h SSE |
Source: Météo-France, MFWAM model (Licence Ouverte), forecast issued 2 November at 1am. Offshore swell (spot facing WNW): at the shore, the waves also depend on the sandbanks and the tide.
La Côte des Basques surf spot in Biarritz
- Getting there
- Boulevard du Prince-de-Galles: limited parking, then walk down to the beach. The beach almost disappears at high tide.
- Directions to the spot →
- Good to know
- Long, mellow waves over sand and rock, the playground of longboarders and surf schools. Views down the coast to Spain.
- Best tide
- Low to mid tide
- Level
- Beginners and longboarders
More about La Côte des Basques
This is where, in 1957, the first boards slid down a European wave. Below its cliff, the Côte des Basques rolls out long, mellow waves, the playground of longboarders and surf schools, with the coast stretching away to Spain. At high tide the beach almost disappears.
Find your Côte des Basques session by day and time, scroll through the photos and download yours in HD.
La Côte des Basques: your questions answered
What tide should you surf at La Côte des Basques?
Aim for low to mid tide, when the spot works best. On the rising tide, get out before the waves reach the rock armour, or getting out becomes tricky; once the tidal coefficient goes above 45, there’s no beach left at all at high tide.
What swell and wind work at La Côte des Basques?
The spot works best on a westerly swell with an offshore easterly wind, for waves of roughly 1 to 2.5 m according to the guides. It’s partly sheltered from north-westerly winds.
Where should you paddle out at La Côte des Basques for your level?
At the northern end, towards Villa Belza, the waves are softer and slower, ideal for your first rides. Further south, towards the “100 marches” steps, they get more powerful, and the reefs at the end of the beach give a punchier wave for shortboarders.
How do you get down to the beach at La Côte des Basques?
The car park is at the top of the cliff, and you walk down via zigzag paths and steps. Boulevard du Prince-de-Galles is a dead end, so don’t count on parking at the bottom; in summer, a free electric shuttle runs between Port-Vieux and the beach.
Why is La Côte des Basques called the birthplace of European surfing?
It was on this beach, in the late 1950s, that the American Peter Viertel, in Biarritz for a film shoot, introduced surfing with a board brought over from California. Local youngsters caught the bug, and European surfing took off from there.