Biarritz · 64200

Living in Biarritz, between ocean and town

The ocean is always close. But Biarritz is more than its beaches.

From the town centre and Les Halles to the streets of Saint-Charles, from Bibi-Beaurivage to La Milady, Parc d’Hiver and Lac Marion, each area has its own atmosphere and way of life.

Choosing a property in Biarritz also means deciding what you want on your doorstep: shops within walking distance, a nearby beach, a garden, a quieter street or an ocean view.

View from a promenade over a wide sandy beach, the ocean and a seaside town, with a white lighthouse on the headland

A different side of Biarritz in every neighbourhood

Town centre · Les Halles

Enjoying Biarritz on foot

Around Les Halles, the shopping streets and Place Clemenceau, daily life unfolds between errands, café terraces and walks. The Grande Plage, Port-Vieux and seafront paths are all part of living in the heart of town.

Living here means enjoying that convenience while looking carefully at the exact address. A lively street, an inner courtyard or an upper floor can offer very different experiences of the centre. Noise, natural light and access deserve as much attention as the distance to the beach.

A stone bridge connects the beach to a tree-covered rock above turquoise water

Quartier Impérial · Saint-Charles

Architecture and neighbourhood life

Around the Hôtel du Palais and the avenues de l’Impératrice and de la Reine Victoria, Biarritz reveals its heritage as a seaside resort. Villas, historic façades and apartment buildings create a setting quite different from the narrow streets of the centre.

Saint-Charles offers a more everyday atmosphere, with local shops. Take time to compare the seafront with the streets set further back. A prestigious address alone does not tell you what living in a home will be like.

Façade of a grand hotel in red brick and pale stone, behind railings and a bicycle leaning against a low wall

Bibi-Beaurivage

A neighbourhood facing the Côte des Basques

In Beaurivage, neighbourhood life meets the ocean. The shops, houses and streets leading down to the Côte des Basques give the area a character distinct from the grand imperial seafront.

The hills are part of daily life. Before choosing a flat or house, walk the route to the shops and beach, then make the return journey. A short distance on a map does not always mean an easy walk.

The ocean, day by day

In Biarritz, the ocean sets the rhythm. Swell, wind, tides and seasons change the landscape as much as the light does. Walking, surfing and watching the sea gradually become part of everyday life.

Surfing connects generations and helps shape the town’s identity. But you can love Biarritz without ever stepping onto a board: for its walks, its viewpoints or simply the pleasure of seeing the open sea at the end of a street.

Two children run through the surf carrying their surfboards

A surfer in a wetsuit prepares her board on rocks beside the beach

La Milady

Biarritz and its southern beaches

Marbella, La Milady and the coastal walks offer another way of experiencing southern Biarritz. Beaches and open spaces are central to the area, but living directly beside the ocean can feel very different from living further inland.

For a year-round home, the view is only one consideration. Travel, access to shops, parking and the home’s orientation matter too. It is worth seeing the neighbourhood on an ordinary day as well as on a sunny holiday afternoon.

Seafront seen from the ocean, with buildings and villas on the cliff and mountains on the horizon

Parc d’Hiver · Braou

A more residential setting

Away from the seafront, Parc d’Hiver and Braou offer another perspective on Biarritz. The focus shifts to the street, the neighbours, outdoor space and everyday journeys.

When choosing a property, its immediate surroundings remain essential: traffic outside the house, the orientation of a garden or access to the building can make all the difference between two nearby addresses.

Lac Marion

Green space in everyday life

Around Lac Marion, the landscape offers room to breathe. The lake and its surroundings reveal a Biarritz of walks and residential streets, beyond the familiar image of the beaches.

This area may suit those looking for easy access to green space. As elsewhere, the choice becomes clearer when you check actual distances, access and the features of the home itself.

A town to enjoy all year round

Beach tents, walks around the Rocher de la Vierge and the façades near Sainte-Eugénie are familiar images of Biarritz. To live here, look beyond those images too: shopping, everyday routines and getting around when the streets are busier or quieter.

The best neighbourhood is not necessarily the one you prefer on holiday. It is the one that suits your way of life, your daily journeys and what you want from your home.

Yellow, blue, green and red striped beach tents on the sand

Façade of a neo-Gothic church in pale stone, with pink hydrangeas in the foreground

A wooden and metal footbridge leading to a rock topped by a statue above the ocean

Biarritz at a glance

A place to live and a place to stay

Main homes and holiday homes coexist in Biarritz. These figures describe the municipality; they do not determine the value of a flat or house.

26,206residents
Municipal population, 2023

26,457homes
Total housing stock, 2023

40.1%second homes
and occasional residences, 2023

Source: INSEE, 2023 census — Municipality of Biarritz, data published on 27 August 2026.

Where to live in Biarritz?

Shops and life in the heart of town?Town centre · Les Halles
Historic architecture and local shops?Quartier Impérial · Saint-Charles
Neighbourhood life and the Côte des Basques?Bibi-Beaurivage
The southern beaches?La Milady
A more residential setting?Parc d’Hiver · Braou
Green space nearby?Lac Marion

Beach and coastline at sunset, people walking on the sand and a cloudy sky over the ocean

Before choosing a property

The neighbourhood sets the scene. Natural light, views, outdoor space, floor level, a lift and the condition of the building then help refine the choice. Walking around the area and viewing the home itself are complementary steps.

On the coast, the natural environment matters too. Biarritz is among the municipalities affected by coastal retreat. For a specific property, check the information relating to its exact address.

Sources: Légifrance — list of affected municipalities; Géorisques — check risks at an address.

Found a property in Biarritz?

Its neighbourhood matters. So do its features.

Estimate a property in Biarritz