Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sainte-Marie Cathedral and its 13th-century Cloister
- Museums & Art Venues
- Musée Basque et de l'histoire de Bayonne (37 Quai des Corsaires)
- Historical Sites
- Old City Walls (Remparts de Bayonne) and Château-Vieux
- Religious Sites
- Cathédrale Sainte-Marie de Bayonne
- Annual Events
- Fêtes de Bayonne (Late July/August) - Largest festival in France
- Cultural Districts
- Grand Bayonne (Shopping and architecture)
- Theater Venues
- Théâtre de Bayonne - Scène Nationale (Place de la Liberté)
- Local Markets
- Tile Market (Marché à la Brocante) every Friday on Quai Pelletier
- Music Scene
- Magneto (cultural venue under the ramparts for rock/indie)
- Street Art
- Points de Vue Street Art Festival murals in the Saint-Esprit district
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier des Chefs Bayonne (Various prices starting at €25)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie des Corsaires (7 Rue Pelletier)
- Historic Buildings
- Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) overlooking the confluence of the Nive and Adour
- Local Heritage
- Traditional Pelota Basque (Jai Alai) matches at the municipal fronton
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Forêt de Chiberta (Pine forest in nearby Anglet for running/cycling)
- National Parks Nearby
- Pyrenees National Park (2 hours drive via Pau)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Euros Vélo 1 (La Vélodyssée) passing through the city along the coast
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of the ramparts looking over the Nive toward the Pyrenees
- Birdwatching Locations
- Plaine d'Ansot (Museum and nature park at city outskirts)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly regulated; restricted to specific beach party permits in Anglet during summer
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste (Main office: 11 Rue Jules Labat), DHL Point
- Tech Repair Services
- Docteur IT Bayonne (Centre Commercial Ametzondo)
- Table Tennis Spots
- COB Bayonne Ping Pong club
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française Bordeaux Aquitaine (Bayonne branches/tutors)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Médiathèque de Bayonne (10 Rue des Gouverneurs)
- Community Centers
- Maison de la Vie Citoyenne (MVC) Bayonne Centre-Ville
- Gaming Lounges
- Check local associations for retro gaming pop-ups
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Barrière Biarritz (10 mins drive from Bayonne)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €144,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,600 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €108,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €225,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,400 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €170,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,300 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €322,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 75 m² = €240,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard French rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Flat tax/PFU)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% plus 3% extra for high earners
- VAT
- 20% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict rules applied under French Tax Code
- Property Tax
- Taxe Foncière (varies by square footage and locality)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% in notary fees and transfer taxes for old buildings
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Auto-entrepreneur status offers simplified reporting and lower initial social contributions
Essentials
- City
- Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France
- Population
- Approximately 53,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber widely available via Orange and Free)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD; Euro (€) used exclusively
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink; high quality from the Pyrenees
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, SFR, Free Mobile (Free offers 210GB for €19.99/mo)
- Banking for Expats
- Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, Revolut, and N26 are popular
- Accommodation
- Rental agencies like Orpi or Airbnb for short stays
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payment accepted almost everywhere including small bakeries
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and localized sites like Gens de Confiance
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel 20 Bayonne (approx. €35/night for a dorm bed)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Grand Bayonne (Historic center near the Cathedral)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Petit Bayonne (Vibrant atmosphere) or Saint-Esprit (Near the train station)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- La Rhune Coworking (11 Rue de la Rhune) - €20/day or €180/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Muxu (3 Rue des Gouverneurs) - Great Wi-Fi and artisan coffee
- Networking Events
- French Tech Pays Basque meetups and Creative Mornings Bayonne
- Social Events for Expats
- Language Exchange groups at 'Le Kalostrape' bar
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited availability compared to Paris) or Heetch
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Vélopublic (V-Pass) - €1 for first hour, or Donkey Republic app
- Best Beach Nearby
- Anglet Beaches (Chambre d'Amour), 15 mins by bus line 4
- Top Regional Airline
- Air France (operating from Biarritz Pays Basque Airport - BIQ)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, Transavia (connects to London, Dublin, Brussels)
- Highway Access
- A63 (Bordeaux-Spain) and A64 (Bayonne-Pau-Toulouse)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Bayonne (SNCF/TER/TGV)
- Public Transport Passes
- Chronoplus - €1.20 per trip, €10 for a 10-trip pass
- Regional Travel
- TER Train to Biarritz (8 mins, €2.50) or San Sebastián, Spain (1 hour)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque (13 Avenue de l'Interne Jacques Loëb)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga In Bayonne (Rue d'Espagne) - €15 per drop-in class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Basic-Fit (Quai Amiral Jaureguiberry) - From €19.99/4 weeks
- Laundry Services
- Laverie du Petit Bayonne (8 Rue des Cordeliers)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Deliveroo are fully operational in Bayonne
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Axoa (Veal stew) and Gâteau Basque (Custard/Black Cherry cake)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Paloa (47 Quai Amiral Jaureguiberry) - Sustainable plant-aware cuisine
- Best Dessert Spots
- L’Atelier du Chocolat (famous Bayonne chocolate and 'Krakou' treats)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Les Halles de Bayonne (Daily morning market for fresh local goods)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr, Cdiscount, Veepee
- Grocery Delivery
- Carrefour Livré chez vous or E.Leclerc Chez Moi
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Petit Bayonne (Rue des Cordeliers and Rue Pannecau)
- Local Brewery
- Brasserie Arrobio (Craft Basque beers)
- Wine Bars
- Le Zinc (Place des Victoires) - Excellent selection of Irouléguy wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Taloa (Basque corn flatbread) stalls during market days
- Popular International Cuisine
- Manko (Japanese fusion) located at 12 Quai Augustin Chaho