Essentials
- City
- Soorts-Hossegor, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
- Population
- Approximately 3,600 (peaks to 40,000+ in summer)
- Internet Speed
- Fiber optic widely available; averages 200-500 Mbps download
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Crédit Agricole, BNP Paribas on Avenue de la Gare
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (Eau de Landes)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/E sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, Free Mobile, SFR; 20€/month for 100GB+ at Boutique Orange, Dax
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are highly recommended; local Société Générale for residents
- Accommodation
- Villas, surf lodges, and holiday apartments via SeLoger or Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless (sans contact) accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Jo & Joe, and local agency Hossegor Villas
- Budget Accommodation
- Jo & Joe Hossegor (dorms from 35€/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Le Lac (Lakeside) for families or Plage Centrale for surfers
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Soorts-Hossegor (town center) for year-round amenities and lower winter rents
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- La Station (Soorts-Hossegor) - Day pass approx. 20€
- Best Cafe for Work
- Waxed (Avenue du Golf) - Excellent coffee and laptop friendly
- Networking Events
- Eurosima cluster events for surf industry professionals
- Social Events for Expats
- Hossegor Community Facebook group; weekly Surf & Yoga meetups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited availability); Taxis Gabaud +33 5 58 41 23 24
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Jerry Surf Shop or Les Vélos de l'Océan (approx 15€/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- La Gravière (world-famous surf break)
- Top Regional Airline
- Air France (via Biarritz Pays Basque Airport - BIQ)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, EasyJet (at Biarritz or Bordeaux BOD)
- Highway Access
- A63 Motorway (L'Aquitaine) connect to Spain and Bordeaux
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gare de Dax (TGV station 30 mins away) or Gare de Labenne
- Public Transport Passes
- Yégo Bus network (approx. 1€ per trip)
- Regional Travel
- TER Train to Biarritz (45 mins) or Bayonne (30 mins)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Centre Hospitalier de Dax (25km away)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- YogAsana Hossegor (Single class 18€)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Hossegor Fitness (Avenue de la Gare)
- Laundry Services
- Laverie du Centre (Avenue de la Gare)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats (mostly summer), Lyveat
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Magret de Canard or Landes Foie Gras
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Tante Jeanne (Plant-based bowls and ice cream)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pâtisserie Lucas (Gateau Basque)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- E.Leclerc Soorts-Hossegor for groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.fr, Cdiscount
- Grocery Delivery
- Leclerc Chez Moi, Houra
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Place des Landais (The 'Rock Food' area by the beach)
- Local Brewery
- Cath' (Brasserie Artisanale des Landes)
- Wine Bars
- L'Etiquette (Large selection of regional wines)
- Street Food Stalls
- Les Halles d'Hossegor (Daily indoor market food)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Little Havana (Cuban) and Louvine (Poke/Hawaiian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Lake (Lac d'Hossegor) and the Basque-Landais architecture
- Museums & Art Venues
- Maison de l'Oralité et du Patrimoine (MOP) in Capbreton
- Historical Sites
- The Estacade of Capbreton (fishing pier built by Napoleon III)
- Religious Sites
- Église Sainte-Trinité d'Hossegor
- Annual Events
- Quiksilver Pro France (WSL surf event - Oct), Braderie d'Hossegor (Easter)
- Cultural Districts
- The 'Entre-deux-Lacs' area for architecture enthusiasts
- Theater Venues
- Le Casino d'Hossegor (Theatre and cinema)
- Local Markets
- Marché d'Hossegor (Saturdays year-round; extra days in summer)
- Music Scene
- Joe & Joe Garden for live DJ sets and acoustic sessions
- Street Art
- Surf-inspired murals in the Soorts-Hossegor industrial zone
- Cooking Classes
- L'Atelier de Cuisine Landes at local guest houses
- Art Galleries
- Art-Hop-Hoop Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Sporting Casino (1920s architecture)
- Local Heritage
- Landes wooden stilts (échasses) traditions
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Forêt des Landes (The largest pine forest in Europe)
- National Parks Nearby
- Parc Naturel Régional des Landes de Gascogne
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Vélodyssée bike path (over 1,200km path passing through town)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Dune promenade at Plage Sud
- Birdwatching Locations
- Réserve Naturelle de l'Étang Noir (Seignosse)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally prohibited on dunes; check designated lake BBQ areas
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- La Poste (Central Hossegor), Mondial Relay points
- Tech Repair Services
- Docteur IT in Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at Parc Rosny
- Language Classes
- Biarritz French Courses (BFC) - 30 mins away
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bibliothèque Municipale d'Hossegor
- Community Centers
- Mairie d'Hossegor community hall
- Gaming Lounges
- None; local surfing culture dominates
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Sporting Casino Hossegor
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €8,500 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = €212,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €6,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = €150,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,800 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = €351,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,500 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = €247,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,200 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = €504,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €5,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = €350,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (standard French rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Flat Tax/Prélèvement Forfaitaire Unique)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% plus additional surcharges
- VAT
- 20% (standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under French Tax Code Art. 209 B
- Property Tax
- Taxe Foncière (owner) and Taxe d'Habitation (second homes only)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 7-8% in 'frais de notaire' for old properties
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Auto-entrepreneur status offers simplified social contributions/taxes