The Complete Guide to Guéthary, France: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore

You can almost miss the exit for Guéthary if you’re not paying close attention, as this coastal town in French Basque Country is a small hidden gem. However, it’s one of the best places to visit along the sea and a town many overlook for larger seaside cities and towns. After our visit this summer, I’m sharing a guide to the best things to do in Guéthary with helpful travel tips to plan your time.

As a kid who visited the Basque region a few times, I remember my mom speaking often of the cool surf town of Guéthary. I never made it down there during previous visits, so this summer during our long stint in Biarritz, I made a point to go spend a day in Guéthary.

Guéthary is a gem of a town, and in fact, I think many don’t realize that this small town packs a punch. I certainly didn’t, but after arriving and strolling through the historic town down to its centuries-old port, I saw just how much is going on here. A big draw to visiting Guéthary is its restaurant scene, and frankly the ocean views here are some of the best for the region. My French cousins even told me, “Head to Guéthary for sunset. This is where all the cool restaurants are right now.” And they were right.

Guéthary has wonderful restaurants, it’s a world-class surfing destination, and it’s also listed as a Site Patrimonial Remarquable village, which means its heritage is remarkable and notable for the region. With roots as a fishing port, it’s retained its cultural heritage with Basque architecture (peep all the red shutters!) and has established itself as a premier surfing stop today.

I’ve taken all of our favorites from our day exploring, alongside more recommendations to plan a visit to Guéthary. It’s well worth a visit, paired with a meal to enjoy a charming, quieter town on the Basque Coast.

Short on Time? Here’s My Quick Guide to Guéthary, France:

Things to Do

1. Stroll Down to the Port of Guéthary
2. Explore the Few Shops in Town
3. Enjoy its Beaches
4. See the View from Terrasse Pierre-Lious

Where to Stay

• Hotels: Hôtel Briketenia ($$), Les Frères Ibarboure ($$), Hotel Villa Catarie ($), Hôtel Balea ($)
• Airbnbs: Stunning 1 Bedroom Apartment with Ocean View Terrace, Chic Studio Space with a Private Garden and Outdoor Shower, 3 Bedroom Modern Elevated Home with Parking

Helpful Guides to Plan Your Trip

For more time along the Basque Coast, read my guides for Biarritz (things to do and where to stay) and my San Sebastian (things to do, where to stay, where to eat, and best day trips).

The Complete Guide to Visiting Guéthary, France

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Where to Stay in Guéthary, France

Editor’s Note: While many visitors to the region stay in Biarritz (see our travel guide!) or even further south to San Sebastian (our travel guide), I could easily make a case for staying in Guéthary after visiting. It’s a smaller village with a handful of restaurants in a quiet seaside location. What’s lovely about it is that you’re super close to all of the main places from Saint-Jean-de-Luz to Biarritz, but have a quiet place to stay come night.

Best Hotels in Guéthary

1. Hôtel Briketenia ($$) — An updated, chic hotel close to the center of Guéthary. The rooms here are very cute, well designed, and the hotel offers bikes for rent.
2. Les Frères Ibarboure ($$) — Just inland from Guéthary is the new Michelin-rated hotel Les Frères Ibarboure, a four-star hotel with a pool and spa. This is the spot to book if you want more amenities.
3. Hotel Villa Catarie ($) — A standout elevated boutique hotel with airy rooms and a stunning patio for dining. This is an absolute gem of a stay for this area.
4. Hôtel Balea ($) — An affordable, modern boutique hotel that has all the bells and whistles of a hotel stay and a good location closer to the beginning of the town to explore the region.

Best Airbnbs in Guéthary

1. Stunning 1 Bedroom Apartment with Ocean View Terrace
2. Chic Studio Space with a Private Garden and Outdoor Shower
3. 3 Bedroom Modern Elevated Home with Parking
4. 2 Bedroom Updated Apartment, Well-Furnished with Garden

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Best Things to Do in Guéthary

Stroll Down to the Port of Guéthary

While we visited, one of our favorite things to do was strolling down to the Port of Guéthary. As you descend through the village and into the port, you’ll come to this area where a lot of fishing boats are set up on the dry dock.

The fishing boats are pulled out of the water each time, and getting to see the historic port that dates back to the 11th century is a big part of the charm here. On the map it’s called Le Vieux Port, and you’ll find about a dozen small colorful fishing boats pulled up on the docks.

Travel Tip: Want to experience more of Guéthary’s history? A few important historical stops in the city include the Mairie de Guéthary with its famous exterior, the Musée de Guéthary for regional Basque art, and the nearby Église Saint-Nicolas.

Explore the Few Shops in Town

For how small a village it is, I was taken by surprise by the wonderful shops there were to peruse in Guéthary. The first was the classic Boutique 64, a clothing brand that I even wore as a kid from the region, that has stores all over the Basque Coast. The name “64” comes from Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the French department number (and the first two digits of the local postal code) for the Pays Basque.

The next store I loved popping into was STEPART, a chic, curated women’s and art store. The store has lovely posters and a collection of French designers. Across from it is Ederra, another well-curated store to step into as well. The other place I had saved but wasn’t open yet for the season was Yaoya, a Japanese grocery store with ingredients, cheeses, and fresh vegetables. And while visiting, you can also catch the Sunday market, which is held seasonally between May and September right on the Place du Fronton.

Enjoy Its Beaches

There are a handful of beaches that are in Guéthary, each of them considered wild beaches as they often come and go with the tide. The one we went to was the small cove right at the port, which has all of 50 yards of sand to enjoy, but enough for kids to run around, and locals were using it to access the water. If you’re looking for larger beaches, just nearby are places like Plage de l’Uhabia in Bidart and Plage de Senix just south of town.

See the Views from Terrasse Pierre-Lious

Between the village and the port is the large Terrace of Pierre-Lious, which has a terraced garden and then wonderful views up and down the coast of France. It’s a small, reflective area to stop at but well worth coming by to see the views.

Visit Nearby Towns

If you do plan to base in Guéthary, using it as a home to explore the greater Basque region is wonderful. You’re within visiting distance of charming seaside towns like Hendaye, Hondarribia, and the beloved Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Just north is the bustling city of Biarritz, worth a day or two to see the city and enjoy its cultural sights, beaches, and food market. If you go inland, you can visit towns like Bayonne or Espelette. And then further south across the border into Spain is the city of San Sebastian. All of these are wonderful afternoon excursions or even full-day trips.

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Where to Eat in Guéthary

There are more restaurants and cafes than anything in Guéthary, and some of them are outstanding for ocean views. You’ll need to time it for opening hours, so keep this in mind if you plan to come for a meal!

• Providence Guéthary, a wonderful bakery and cafe that has a few breakfast items like granola, homemade breads, and more
• Le Café du Fronton, the town’s main brasserie, which serves all meals from breakfast to dinner
• Le Madrid Guéthary, an elevated restaurant with ocean views off the back terrace
• Paz&Arroz, the famous takeout food truck that serves tacos to burritos. It’s super popular to come here near sunset to get food and then sit out on the jetty for sunset views.
• Pasaia Guethary, a more sit-down style restaurant that is casual but has wonderful views over the ocean. Popular spot to come for lunch and sunset.
• Hétéroclito, a favorite for all things seafood, Hétéroclito has everything from fresh scallops to ceviche, and the ocean views here are fantastic
• Gigi Club, the spot for a coffee to go and a quick snack
• Chez Kutsu, the place to go for ice cream!

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What to Know About Visiting Guéthary, France

Where Is Guéthary?

Guéthary is a small coastal village just south of Biarritz and north of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. It’s tucked right up against the coast on a cliffside as the village descends to the port. Guéthary is a town many miss because it is so small, but well worth a visit while in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

How Much Time to Visit Guéthary?

To visit Guéthary, you’ll only need a few hours to see the town itself and then walk down to the port. I’d combine it with a meal at one of the charming restaurants with ocean views here, or with breakfast at one of the cafes.

Can You Stay in Guéthary, France?

You can stay in Guéthary, as there is an incredible hotel called Villa Catarie right in town and the larger Hôtel Balea at the beginning of town. Alongside hotels, there are wonderful vacation rentals like this Stunning 1 Bedroom Apartment with Ocean View Terrace and 3 Bedroom Modern Elevated Home with Parking. Many people opt to stay in bigger towns like Biarritz for more amenities (see my guide to where to stay in Biarritz), but I’d make a case for a quiet escape in Guéthary, and using that as a base to explore the Basque Coast.

What Time of Year Is Best to Visit Guéthary?

Late June to mid-September are wonderful times to visit for the warmest weather if you want to swim and have beach days. In May, June, September, and October are the best months for smaller crowds and if you don’t mind cooler temps.

Getting to Guéthary

• By Train
  Guéthary has its own train station and several bus routes that service the city. If you’re coming from Biarritz, there are 5-minute direct trains to Guéthary.
• By Car
  Guéthary is easily reached by car as it’s just off the A63, the main freeway through the region. In town, there is limited street parking, and be sure to follow signs accordingly.

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