Essentials
- City
- Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
- Population
- 25,000 (increases to 100,000+ in summer peak)
- Internet Speed
- Fiber optic widely available; average 95 Mbps download, 60 Mbps upload
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR); 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable; high mineral content
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, SFR, Free Mobile, and Bouygues. 20GB plans from €15.99/month
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are highly recommended; local options include Hello Bank!
- Accommodation
- Biarritz For You, Airbnb, and local agencies like Barnes International
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely; Apple Pay and contactless cards accepted even at boulangeries
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Blueground for stays of 1-3 months
- Budget Accommodation
- Surf Hostel Biarritz (approx. €35/night) or Nami House in nearby Anglet
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Port Vieux or Les Halles for proximity to beaches and nightlife
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Saint-Charles or Bibi Beaurivage for a local feel and quieter work environment
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Connect-In (9 Rue de l'Abbé d'Etcheverry); €25/day, €250/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Milwaukee Café (3 Rue du Helder); great Wi-Fi and American-style brunch
- Networking Events
- Basque Bondissant business meetups and 'Digital Nomad Biarritz' groups on Facebook
- Social Events for Expats
- Language exchange meetups at Bar Jean every Tuesday evening
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (available but seasonal) and local app 'Yuse'
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Vélopop shared bikes; rentals at Les Roues de Lilou (€20/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Côte des Basques (World-famous surf spot, 10 min walk from center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air France (connecting through Paris CDG/Orly)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair and EasyJet (direct to London, Dublin, Geneva)
- Highway Access
- A63 motorway connecting to Bordeaux (North) and Spain (South)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Biarritz (La Négresse); 2 hours to Bordeaux via TGV
- Public Transport Passes
- Chronoplus network; €1.20 single trip, €30 monthly pass
- Regional Travel
- TER Trains to Saint-Jean-de-Luz (€5) and Bayonne (€3)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Polyclinique Côte Basque Sud (Saint-Jean-de-Luz) or Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque (Bayonne)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Namasté Yoga Biarritz (7 Ave de la Marne); €20 per drop-in class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Keepcool Biarritz (Iraty district); €34.90/month
- Laundry Services
- Laverie automatique Biarritz (17 Av. du Maréchal Foch); €5 per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Axoa de veau (Basque veal stew) and Gâteau Basque
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Hungy Belly (Rue de la Poste) and Xuxu (rue Gambetta)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Maison Adam (Macarons) and Miremont Pâtisserie
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Carrefour City and the local Lidl (Iraty area)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr, Cdiscount.fr
- Grocery Delivery
- Carrefour Livré chez vous, Chronodrive
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Les Halles (The Market district) - bars like Bar du Marché
- Local Brewery
- Brasserie Belharra (Biarritz Craft Beer)
- Wine Bars
- Le Comptoir du vin (Bibi Beaurivage); excellent regional selection
- Street Food Stalls
- Les Halles de Biarritz (Morning market stalls with local pintxos)
- Popular International Cuisine
- La Hummus Bar (Mediterranean) and Carøe (Scandinavian-inspired seafood)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Rocher de la Vierge (Rock of the Virgin) and Phare de Biarritz (Lighthouse)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Cité de l'Océan and Musée de la Mer (Aquarium)
- Historical Sites
- Hôtel du Palais (former residence of Empress Eugénie)
- Religious Sites
- Église Sainte-Eugénie and the Russian Orthodox Church (Église Alexandre Newsky)
- Annual Events
- Wheels and Waves Festival (June); Biarritz Surf Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Bibi Beaurivage (Traditional Basque architecture and surf culture)
- Theater Venues
- Gare du Midi (Main venue for opera, ballet, and concerts)
- Local Markets
- Marché des Halles (Open daily until 2:00 PM)
- Music Scene
- Atabal (Biarrritz/Anglet border) for contemporary music and rock
- Street Art
- Iraty District (Murals near the skatepark and creative studios)
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier de Cuisine de Biarritz (6 Avenue de la Reine Victoria)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie 13 (Rue Mazagran) for local Basque contemporary art
- Historic Buildings
- Villa Belza (iconic turreted villa on the cliffs)
- Local Heritage
- The Ikurriña (Basque flag) and Pelota Basque (Cesta Punta)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Le Sentier du Littoral (Coastal path to Hendaye - 25km)
- National Parks Nearby
- Pyrenées National Park (approx. 1.5 hours drive inland)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- La Vélodyssée (EuroVelo 1) cycle route passes through Biarritz
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Plateau de l'Atalaye for views over the Grande Plage
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lac de Mouriscot (South Biarritz)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited on public beaches; allowed in designated areas of Anglet Chiberta with permits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste (Main office: Rue de la Poste), DHL Express Point
- Tech Repair Services
- Wefix (located in nearby BAB2 shopping center)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Parc Mazon (Outdoor public tables)
- Language Classes
- France Langue Biarritz (21 Av. de l'Impératrice); approx. €300/week
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Médiathèque de Biarritz (2 Rue Ambroise Paré); free Wi-Fi
- Community Centers
- Maison des Associations (Rue Pétricot)
- Gaming Lounges
- The 'Basque Gaming' association events in Bayonne/Anglet
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Barrière Biarritz (on the Grande Plage)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €9,500 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €285,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €6,800 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €204,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €8,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €440,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €6,200 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €310,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €8,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €680,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €472,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (flat tax including social contributions)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (183+ days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% for income over €177,106
- VAT
- 20% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to 50%+ ownership in tax havens
- Property Tax
- Taxe Foncière (annual, based on rental value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% for existing properties (Notary fees)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific 'nomad' tax rate, but 'Auto-entrepreneur' scheme offers simplified 22% social tax