Biscarrosse Plage – An Active Holiday Guide
Biscarrosse Plage is a popular summer seaside resort with world-class waves that attract throngs of surfers and water sports enthusiasts. Located halfway down Landes’ Atlantic coast, Biscarrosse is blessed with a huge sandy beach, freshwater lakes, endless pine forests and rolling sand dunes.
Located just over an hour’s drive south of Bordeaux, Biscarrosse is the perfect destination for surfers, foodies and party animals alike. Your time will be split between the beach, the lakes and the town, and an active day spent in the surf or cycling the forest trails can be rewarded with a seafood dinner at one of Biscarrosse Plage’s many restaurants.
Our guide to Biscarrosse covers the area’s water sports and outdoor activities, the best places to stay and eat, the best bars and all the highlights this busy seaside town has to offer.
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Biscarrosse Highlights
A vast rural playground, Biscarrosse is three resorts rolled into one. Explore wild beaches loved by surfers, endless pine forest lined with rugged bike tracks and unspoilt lakes teaming with water sports activities. A sunny stretch of sand running up the coast for 15km, Biscarrosse brings together many sports in a oneofakind natural setting: surfing, kitesurfing, sailing, paddle boarding, sand-yachting are all available at the beach, whilst inland there are 80 km of sandy hiking trails that wind through the forest. For cyclists, 50km of trails connect the ocean, lakes, and forest.
Leaving the beach behind, Biscarrosse town centre is buzzing with life during high summer. Packed with busy bars and restaurants, embrace the lively atmosphere on one of their large terraces – ideal for getting in the holiday mood.
Famous for the échassiers landais (shepherds on stilts) of a bygone era, inquisitive culture buffs can discover the town’s history and soak up the atmosphere at one of their many traditional markets and fairs that showcase the region’s unique way of life.
Practical Information
Nearest airport |
Bordeaux-Mérignac (1 h 6 min) |
Lat, Long |
44.444497, -1.251034 |
Pharmacy |
Pharmacie de la Plage, 802 Avenue de la Plage, 40600 Biscarrosse. |
Post Office |
Bureau de Poste, 43 Place Georges Duffau, 40600 Biscarrosse. |
Taxi |
BISCA TAXI. |
Tourist Office
Office de Tourisme de Biscarrosse
55 Place Georges Duffau
40600 Biscarrosse
France
Phone: +33 (0)5 58 78 20 96
Web: www.biscarrosse.com
Email: biscarrosse@biscarrosse.com
Parking
Accessible off the A10 from Bordeaux, Biscarrosse is easy to find and one of few places on the coast where parking is a breeze. Offering free parking at the beach, lake and town centre, explore all three parts of the region without the headache of cramped parking bays and expensive day rates.Getting Around
Explore Biscarosse using the forest tracks and network of cycle paths that get you away from the main roads and into nature. Encouraging you to get out of the car and head out on your own, the Biscarrosse Tourist Office has created a wide range of walking and cycling trails for you to follow. Alternatively, there is always the ‘Bisca Bus’ that ferries holiday makers between the beach, lake and town centre.
Bike Hire
Available at five points around Biscarrosse, Velos Biscarrosse is the most convenient bike rental company in the region. Offering a range of bikes, including mountain bikes, fat bikes, hybrid bikes, road bikes and kids bikes, and also scooters and motorbikes. Rental starts at €9 per day and you can organise pick up and drop off points that suit you.
Active Things To Do in Biscarrosse
Hit the waves for a spot of surfing
Biscarrosse is a popular summer surf spot thanks to the huge west facing beach and wave curling sandbanks. Barrel hunters come from far and wide to experience one of France’s best beachbreaks, with waves rivalling those in Hossegor further south. Whilst you may not be ready for thumping shore breaks, you can learn from the best at Biscarrosse’s oldest surf school, La Vigie. Located on Boulevard des Sables beach, their home-grown instructors are fully qualified and have extensive surfing and teaching experience on the Atlantic coastline, mentoring local talent and helping budding amateurs take their first wave. Lessons are available during the summer season starting at €30 per hour.
Get wet and wild at the Biscarrosse Aqua Park
A giant inflatable water park located on one of Biscarrosse’s biggest lakes, Aqua Park is an amazing funfilled day out for kids and adults. A bouncy assault course made up of trampolines, slides, catapults, aquazorbs, slack lines, climbing walls and much, much more; create your very own Wipe Out style challenges using the blowup circuit to race around the 40m course, jumping and diving from obstacle to obstacle. Open from June to September, big kids and young swimmers are invited to join in the action, soak up the rays on the sandy beach or kick back at their beach shack and snack hut.
Kitesurfing on Biscarrosse Lake
Taking advantage of Biscarrosse’s largest area of fresh water, H20 kitesurfing school uses the huge lake and predictable thermal winds to deliver an action packed kitesurfing experience. Lessons from H20 are tailored to you, taking you through the ins and outs of harnessing the breeze and learning how to ride. With over 34km of flat water, Lac de Biscarrosse is a water sports heaven. Both kite-loop pros and body-dragging beginners can head out into the heart of the lake, using the long sandy beaches as your starting point. Courses can be booked in lots of four, costing €400 for the full course.
Parasail over Biscarrosse Lake
Can’t get enough of the region’s beautiful panorama? Take to the skies for a better view with a parasailing ride from Maguide Ski Nautique. A truly eye watering experience for adrenaline junkies, take off from the lake at Port Maguide and soar through the air over the treetops and towards the horizon. Available for up to four people, fly through the air in a suspended harness as a speed boat takes you on a tour of the huge lake. Prices start at €60 for one and €120 for four.
Sand Yachting
A popular seaside sport thanks to the region’s wide, flat beaches and breezy climate, sand/land yachting is an alternative way of exploring the region’s wild shoreline. A high intensity activity that’ll have you zig zagging between the surf and rugged sand dunes in no time, local thrill seekers, Alizés Speed offer beginner and intermediate lessons on the large Plage Sud beach. A high intensity activity, beginners can learn the basics and start cruising the sand track, finally heading off solo guided by the onshore breezes. Group lessons start in October from €14ph.
Beach salsa
Turn up the heat as the sun goes down with a spot of beach salsa. Rumba in the sand dunes and kick off those sandals as you pick a partner and dance barefooted to the the rhythmic sound of the sea and congas as the sun sets over the horizon. A free event organised by local dance instructor, Séverine, beach salsa is the perfect way to start a night to remember. Available once a week throughout the summer at Plage Nord beach, dancing divas and two-left-feet novices are welcome to join from 6pm.
Where to stay
Hype Hotel
When sleep just isn’t enough, you need to drop your bags off at Hype hotel. Situated in the heart of Biscarrosse and its buzzing cultural scene, this contemporary three star hotel mixes design, quality and comfort for couples and families that want to get out there and explore what the local scene has to offer. Clean and quiet double and family rooms come with all the mod cons and a private terrace, and with prices starting at €68, you’ll have enough cash spare for a slap up meal!
40 Rue du Lt de Vaisseau Paris, 40600 Biscarrosse. Tel +33 (0)5 58 07 36 35.
Camping Maguide
Sat on a rich sandy beach, no one would blame you for mistaking this unassuming two star campsite for a luxury tropical island. Lucky for you, Camping Maguide is situated just a stones throw from the centre of Biscarrosse and is bustling with families and holidaymakers throughout the summer season. Hidden on a spit of sand between thick pine forest, pitch up your tent or roll your camper into a shaded spot beach side and explore the untouched paradise all around.
870 Chemin de Maguide, 40600 Biscarrosse. Tel +33 (0)5 58 09 81 90.
La Villa Belle
A charming little community of studios, gites and rooms for rent, La Villa Belle is a design-orientated budget option that oozes with contemporary cool. A large villa divided into different holiday options, guests are free to enjoy the privacy of a cheap and cheerful apartment, or embrace the full B&B experience and choose one of the themed rooms, taking full advantage of the south-facing swimming pool and warm hospitality on offer. Rooms start from €50 per night including continental breakfast.
12 Rue des Biganons, 40600 Biscarrosse. Tel +33 (0)5 58 08 06 41
Les Cottages du Lac
Beautifully tended lawns, fresh pine cottages and luxury swimming pools on your doorstep, a holiday at Les Cottages du Lac combines creature comforts with the rustic landscape that surrounds the holiday residence. Offering a range of freshly painted, clean and contemporary holiday homes for families big and small, all accommodation comes fully furnished and equipped with self catering amenities. Sandwiched between forest and ocean, take in the natural beauty of the region just a stone’s throw away, or kick back poolside and catch some rays, the choice is yours.
Place called Moutéou, 40160 Parentis-en-Born. Tel +33 (0)5 58 82 04 56
Where to eat
KL
An ethnic fusion food institution two minutes from the beach, KL offers a slice of the orient with its diverse menu of traditional Pakistani, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine. Taking inspiration from the spice markets and local eateries everywhere from backstreet Islamabad to the shores of Padwana, KL may look like a humble eatery but don't be fooled, their carefully curated dishes are a unique taste sensation found nowhere else. Tuck into a classic biryani flavoured with spices from Delhi or succulent chicken 'sate ayam' with homemade peanut dip. 371 Avenue de la Côté d'Argent, 40600 Biscarrosse. Tel +33 (0)6 77 68 85 90l'Archipel
Specialising in wood smoked dishes, L'Archipel marries exotic cooking techniques with the finest seafood and steaks found regionally. A pacificinspired décor with a large terrace, the small villa-cumbeach shack is a friendly local hotspot with live acoustic apéro sessions during the summer. Choose between a hearty woodsmoked steak and chips, fresh salmon sashimi or catch of the day sizzled on a plancha. A relaxed vibe, sit back with a themed cocktail and listen to the sound of the sea only a few metres away. 511 Avenue de la Plage, 40600 Biscarrosse, France. Tel 05 58 04 34 76Le marché de la Goguette
A hidden gem, Le marché de la Goguette is part of a collective restaurant and art space. A large terrace with bricabrac furniture, busy blackboards advertising their latest creations, a food truck and shaded open eatery, La Gougette is more than food in fact, it's Biscarrosse's premier hangout for curious foodies and laid back surfer types. Packed with character and charm, join the team during the afternoon for a beefy homemade burgers and a cheeky beer, or soak up the friendly atmosphere once the sun goes down and savour their famous rum cocktails – imported from Reunion Island and Martinique. 480 Chemin Navarrosse, 40600 Biscarrosse, France. Tel +33 (0)6 14 17 15 30The Biscountou
Specialising in Bistro style French fare, Le Biscountou epitomises traditional French food in all its glory. A classically styled Landais villa showcasing the regions rich heritage, the menu certainly does all the talking. Harking back to a bygone era, dishes at Le Biscantou stick to original recipes handed down through the family for generations. Whilst the unassuming facade may not inspire confidence, their food certainly does! Try authentic entrecôte, oeuf cocotte or foie de canard, all crafted with produce found locally at daily markets up and down the region. Eat like a native and experience the true taste of Aquitaine at Le Biscantou. 49 Place des Chênes Verts, 40600 Biscarrosse, France. Tel (0)5 58 78 81 34Biscarrosse Nightlife
Histoires De
Slap bang on the shores of Port Maguide, Histoires De is a cool, breezy bar and brasserie right on the water front. A classy spot surrounded in shrubs and palm fronds, look out onto the calm waters and the sail boats bobbing on the lake as you chill out with a glass of crisp white. Perfect for big families with kids, the shaded terrace sits right on the beach so the kids can make sand castles whilst the adults chill out in the late day’s sun. A beautiful setting for dinner or sunset drinks, cocktails at Histoires De is the perfect way to end a sunkissed day at the water park just up the road.
18 Chemin de Maguide, 40600 Biscarrosse, France. Tel +33 (0)5 58 78 57 43
l’Idylle plage bar
A tropical lounge bar that looks like part of a Polynesian paradise resort, L’Idylle plage bar accentuates the beautiful beaches Biscarrosse is so famous for. With a private cabane jettied out on the lake and a range of themed evenings with fire dancers, Tahitian dancing, live music and DJs, this bar is certainly the one to beat. Packed with holiday makers and funloving locals during the weekend, l’Idyll is an upmarket spot for drinks, dancing and late night skinny dipping!
18 Chemin de Maguide, 40600 Biscarrosse, France. Tel +33 (0)5 58 09 87 14
Le Corto
A world music bar with its finger on the pulse of the contemporary music scene, Le Corto is quickly becoming one of Biscarrosse’s best kept secrets. A mixed bag of theme nights ranging from hard rock to soul jams, nights at Le Corto are as unpredictable as the line up. Right off the beaten track, you won’t see many other tourists here, the first and last stop for most trendsetting locals, the rough and ready setting is in keeping with its selection of grass roots DJs and artists, simple but powerful cocktails (we dare you to try a Ti Punch) and effortlessly cool clientele.
1 Avenue des Échassiers, 40600 Biscarrosse, France. Tel +33 (0)5 58 83 94 52
La Douche
An irreverently upbeat bar relatively new to the Biscarrosse bar scene, La Douche is making waves as the hottest tapas bar to hit the strip. A whitewashed concept bar beautifully furnished like an Ibiza beach taverna, get comfy on one of many remodelled pallet beds after a long day at the beach. A few streets in from the sea shore, dust your feet off, grab a beer and chow down on succulent tempura prawns, baked brie and chiprons à la placha. Open till 2am, La Douche is a young, fresh hangout with clients to match, join the fashionable crowd during the summer from sunset till the early hours.
7 Rue de la Garole, 40600 Biscarrosse, France. Tel +33 (0)9 54 76 72 91
Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your trip to Biscarrosse, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!
About the author
Self-confessed foodie and outdoor sports aficionado, Aimée Whistler has been scoping out hidden gems across France for over five years. From shredding backcountry powder to savouring the finest backyard cuisine, get first-hand suggestions from Active Azur’s most committed Francophile.
