Basque Country tours

Basque Country bike tour: the perfect balance of culture and coastline

Stretching from the Bay of Biscay to the Pyrenean foothills, the northern Basque Country offers a cycling experience like no other. Here, bike tours take you through iconic seaside towns like Biarritz, with its grand villas and legendary surf beaches, and into Bayonne, where Gothic cathedrals and narrow streets reveal centuries of Basque heritage. Along the Velodyssée route, you’ll follow the rhythm of the ocean, riding beside sand dunes, sea spray, and small fishing ports full of charm.

This Basque Coast bike tour is ideal for travelers who crave both natural beauty and cultural richness. Each village you pass, from Guéthary to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, feels suspended in time. In these quiet corners of France, red-timbered houses glow under the sun, café terraces buzz with local life, and the sound of waves becomes your cycling soundtrack.

From Biarritz to Bayonne and beyond

Start your journey in Biarritz, once a favorite of European royalty and now a beloved destination for surfers and seekers of elegance. Ride the coastline toward the Biarritz Lighthouse and breathe in sweeping ocean views. Then turn inland toward Bayonne, where fortified walls and half-timbered buildings surround a lively old town rich in history and tradition. Don’t miss its cathedral, covered markets, or the scent of local chocolate drifting through the air.

Continue east and discover Espelette, a village famed for its vibrant piment d’Espelette, hanging in fiery rows along whitewashed façades. This stop delights the senses—spicy aromas, colorful streets, and the rich taste of Basque delicacies like piperade or the buttery Basque cake. These are flavors you won’t forget.

Cycle through the heart of the Basque hills

Leave the coast behind and head for the green valleys of the Pays Basque intérieur. Here, the terrain shifts. Lush meadows give way to rolling hills and historic trails. In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the atmosphere is thick with centuries of pilgrim footsteps. As the traditional gateway to the Camino de Santiago, this medieval village offers cobbled streets, artisan shops, and mountain views that seem to stretch forever.

The ride between these towns is as memorable as the destinations themselves. You’ll pedal past sheep-dotted pastures, ancient farmhouses, and under shaded canopies of oak. The silence is broken only by birdsong, cowbells, or a distant Basque melody echoing from a festival square.

Traditions and festivals on a Basque Coast bike tour

Beyond the landscapes, the Basque Country thrives through its living traditions. Attend a village fête and you may find pelote matches, costumed parades, or dances to the sound of txistu flutes. These are not performances for tourists—they’re the rhythm of everyday life. Cycling through during festival season gives you a front-row seat to Basque identity at its most joyful and authentic.

Language also plays a role. Euskara, the Basque language, appears on street signs and shop windows. Hearing it spoken is a reminder that this land, though shared by France and Spain, remains fiercely proud of its singular heritage.

Choose your Basque Country cycling adventure

Discover France offers two unforgettable options for your Basque Country bike tour. Follow the Atlantic Coast from Arcachon to Biarritz over 8 days and 7 nights, riding along the Velodyssée with ocean on one side and pine forests on the other. Or stay local with the Best of Basque Country tour, a 7-day experience full of cultural moments, gourmet stops, and deeply rooted landscapes.

Whether you crave coastlines or hill climbs, food markets or quiet monasteries, this journey offers it all. A Basque Coast bike tour is more than a route—it’s a deep dive into one of Europe’s most spirited regions.