5 days of cycling in Basque Country to discover the region’s culinary delights
Awaken your taste buds on this journey along La Vélodyssée. An itinerary of cycling through Basque Country packed full of gourmet tours, tastings, and meals at traditional restaurants. A foodie’s dream on two wheels! Along the way, you will have many encounters where you’ll get to know the unique culture of French Basque Country.
😍 Bayonne, the chocolate capital: a culinary history that began over 400 years ago with the arrival of cacao beans in Europe. In the 19th century, Bayonne became France’s City of Chocolate. To celebrate this sweet treat, Bayonne hosts a big event every year during the Feast of the Ascension: Les Journées du Chocolat (Chocolate Days).
📍 50 km
⏱️ 4 stages
🏁 Bayonne ➡️ Hendaye
🚲 I cycle often
Day 1: Bayonne
Welcome to the capital of Basque Country! After dropping off your luggage at the Mercure 'Le Grand Hôtel', which is certified Accueil Vélo (Cyclists Welcome), head to the Les Halles market (open every morning), an essential stop for all locals and gourmets.
You can have lunch at one of the city’s fine restaurants: the Auberge du Cheval Blanc. Here you can try the cuisine of Chef Jean-Claude Tellechea.
In the afternoon, go ahead and continue your culinary exploration by visiting the Atelier Pierre Ibaïalde artisan ham shop. This ham expert will show you how the ham is salted and dried, then offer you a nice little tasting.
At dinner time, you can immerse yourself in the Spanish ambiance of Ttipia. It’s a traditional cider house where drinks flow freely by the ‘vaso.’
Day 2: Bayonne > Biarritz (16 km)
Have a light repast in the morning because you have some sweet visits ahead of you! You have many options. Bayonne has many wonderful culinary establishments. Among the most famous: the tea room of the chocolatier Cazenave, the Atelier Musée du Chocolat (Chocolate Workshop and Museum), and the boutique Pariès.
Soak in the Bayonne atmosphere one last time and grab a table at the restaurant Le Chistera. The space is decorated in a typical Basque style. The Marmouyet family offers its guests traditional dishes using products from the local market.
Then, get on your bicycles and pedal along La Vélodyssée towards Biarritz. You’ll have to cover around 15 kilometres to reach the Rocher de la Vierge (the Rock of the Virgin Mary).
Spend your night at the Val Flores Hotel (certified Accueil Vélo) in all the relaxing charm of this former residence.
Day 3: Biarritz > Saint-Jean-de-Luz (14 km)
Today, you will have to be careful as you cycle. This portion of the route has few dedicated cycling paths and at times has steep slopes. If you chose electric-assist bicycles, they will come in handy. Now that you’re forewarned, get on your bikes and continue on your La Vélodyssée foodie tour to Bidart. After 8 km, you will reach this authentic Basque village with a lot of character.
Delight your taste buds at the restaurant La Tantina de la Playa. The centre of Bidart offers an incredible view overlooking the beach, as well as sumptuous restaurant specialities, with fish being the special feature.
After lunch, take a moment to relax on the beach before getting back to La Vélodyssée and heading to Guéthary, the smallest village in Basque Country. This pristine natural setting is now a surfer’s paradise. You can also admire the picturesque little fishing harbour with dry-docked boats.
Continue on La Vélodyssée for about 10 km to finally reach Saint-Jean-de-Luz. You absolutely must visit the Maison Adam. Established in 1660, this shop is the quintessential spot for sweets in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. You will find other local specialities in the Pariès boutique if you didn’t get the chance to visit there during your stay in Bayonne.
You can dine at one of the many restaurants in town and take a nice stroll under the stars along Saint-Jean-de-Luz Bay.
🛏️ Get some shut-eye at Les Goélands Hotel, an eco-friendly hotel where you’ll feel at home, and which is also certified Accueil Vélo.
Day 4: Saint-Jean-de-Luz > Hendaye (20.3 km)
Today, after just a few kilometres of cycling through Basque Country on La Vélodyssée, you will reach Ciboure, where you can visit the EgiaTegia winery. There you can discover their surprising method of winemaking. On this stop, you don’t want to miss the Fort de Socoa. (Be especially careful while crossing the bridge between Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure.)
For lunch, check out the restaurant Alaïa. It will take you on a gastronomic adventure where you can try innovative, creative dishes in an enchanting setting with a view over Saint-Jean-de-Luz Bay.
After 10 km of cycling on the Route de la Corniche (a superb road where, nonetheless, you will have to be very careful), you will see the Château Observatoire d’Abbadia ahead of you. Give your bikes a rest and take a tour of this unique site in a Neogothic and Orientalist style. Built facing the ocean, the château was constructed by Eugène Viollet le Duc between 1864 and 1884.
Then, there’s just 4 km more to teach your day’s final destination. You’ll probably be feeling hungry! The restaurant Le Chantier will be more than happy to serve you dinner. This restaurant was created in an old fishermen’s bar. The owners showcase fresh products from Basque Country. You will also get a great view of Txingudi Bay.
🛏️ For an additional night before departure, several accommodations with the Accueil Vélo label can welcome you in Hendaye.
From Michelin-starred tapas to Maîtres Restaurateurs and Assiettes de Pays, the Basque Country offers you South-West cuisine with its specialties, sometimes in the colors of Spain. Treat yourself to our good restaurants or the gourmet markets of our towns and villages.
Discover the gastronomy of the Basque Country
ℹ️ ALL THE PRACTICAL INFORMATION
➡️ Type of route: linear with return by train
🚆 Access to the route and return to the starting point
By train :
- Main and regional lines: Paris / Bordeaux
By car, parking possible:
- Bayonne: station car park (450 spaces, paying)
To return to the starting point: line 51 (Bordeaux <> Hendaye) of the TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine network allows you to reach Bayonne from Hendaye station (35 minutes journey)
⚠️ Due to significant peaks in summer, many services for cyclists will be put in place thanks to a La Vélodyssée / SNCF / Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine partnership (information to come very soon).
🚲 One-way bike rental
For this trip, one-way rental is the ideal solution: see the “one-way” bike rental companies on La Vélodyssée"
📓 Finding your way around
There are a number of paper guides to help you follow this route, find the references.
Tailor-made itineraries
Tailor-made itineraries
36 Bayonne / Biarritz
37 Biarritz / Saint-Jean-de-Luz
38 Saint-Jean-de-Luz / Hendaye-Plage
⚠️ Follow the markings on the ledge carefully to avoid the dangerous part.