Stays in Biarritz

Beaumanoir is an old manor house in the Winter Park district of Biarritz, with a heated swimming pool that gives children a swim when the Atlantic is too rough. Some suites have a separate lounge, a real advantage when a family shares a room and parents want an evening apart. The Atlantic beaches are a short walk away. Pets are welcome. The Baroque decor and calm atmosphere suit families with older children better than those with toddlers.

Built for Empress Eugénie and set above the Grande Plage, the Hôtel du Palais is a landmark of Biarritz, and it also caters well to families. There are two pools, a children's playground on site, and air-conditioned rooms, some with a separate seating area that gives parents a little space. The spa and fitness centre are there for adults, and the restaurant serves contemporary French cuisine. Pets are welcome, and nearly 800 reviews average an outstanding 9.5.

Hôtel Au Bon Coin is a three-star hotel 400 metres from Biarritz's Grande Plage and the seafront, with the city centre just 300 metres away, which makes everything walkable with children. It offers comfortable, soundproofed rooms and a suite, some adapted for reduced mobility. A daily buffet breakfast, a bar, a terrace and free WiFi throughout complete the picture. I find the location the main strength.

Studio Hôtel-Restaurant LTB La Table Basque has air-conditioned family rooms, each with a kitchen, a fridge, a microwave and a coffee machine, so a family can prepare breakfasts and simple meals in Biarritz. The Grande Plage is a short walk away, which makes beach days with children easy without a car. Rooms have city views and a TV for quiet evenings. WiFi is free. No pool is mentioned, so the beach is the main activity here.

For a family that wants Biarritz without the noise, La Maison du Lierre is a gentle choice. The beach is about 300 metres away, so mornings on the sand need no planning, and rooms look onto an interior courtyard rather than a busy street, which helps light sleepers and nap times. Parents can book time in the small spa, with sauna, massages and facial treatments. Its 9.2 score from 1,089 reviews is excellent for a three-star address.

Alfred Hotels Port-Vieux, formerly the George VI, reopened after a full renovation in 2024. Its address is the main argument for families: 50 metres from the beach and a two-minute walk from Les Halles market, so mornings on the sand and lunch in town need no car. Rooms are newly fitted out and the hotel puts its gourmet breakfast forward. A score of 9.2 from more than 1,200 reviews is remarkable for a three-star hotel.

Hotel Edouard VII occupies a 19th-century residence that once housed the Mayor of Biarritz, and the beaches are only a five-minute walk away, short enough for small legs. I would book it for families who need room: the guestrooms are spacious, air-conditioned and soundproofed, so naps and early nights work. Each has a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV and free WiFi. With a 9.2 rating, it is a reliable family base in Biarritz.

A garden is rare this close to the Biarritz beaches, and the Hotel Saint Julien, a 19th-century family residence, has one. The beaches of the Côte Basque are a few minutes away, and breakfast is served on the terrace. Some en suite rooms look out to the ocean and the Pyrenees. Parking makes arriving with luggage and beach gear easier, pets are welcome, and free Wi-Fi is included. The setting is calm, which suits families after a day at the sea.

Carlina Lodge is a hotel residence right on the Biarritz seafront, and its rooms have terraces with sea views, a lovely spot for children to watch the waves. Breakfast can be served in the room, which keeps mornings relaxed, and restaurants and bars are a short walk away. Free public parking is provided, a real help in Biarritz. Golf is close by for parents who play. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 across 260 reviews.

Hotel de Silhouette sits in the Halles district of Biarritz, 300 metres from the beaches, so a family can walk to the sand and back without a car. A private garden with a terrace offers a quiet spot between outings, rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, and the reception is open around the clock. The restaurant serves regional cuisine, breakfast is a buffet and brunch is offered at weekends. A spa and thalasso offer completes a hotel rated 9.1 by guests.

I would pick Le Garage Biarritz Hôtel for families who want direct beach access. It stands on the beachfront, with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a sun terrace. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, and family rooms are available. A restaurant serves European cuisine, and there is a bar and a fitness room. Yoga classes and walking tours are offered, and the hotel is pet-friendly.

Alfred Hotels Les Halles brings together three fully renovated village houses in the Les Halles district of Biarritz, and I like its relaxed, family-friendly feel. There are 35 rooms over three floors, and some premium rooms offer glimpses of the ocean. The restaurant, La Gambette, on rue Gambetta, is laid out like a village square where locals and visitors mix. Shops and places to eat are all around, which makes evenings with children simple.

Hôtel Le Café de Paris stands on Place Bellevue in central Biarritz, with rooms offering panoramic views over the sea, a memorable sight for children and parents alike. Les Halles market is a short walk away for picnic supplies, and the restaurant's outdoor terrace makes family meals easy. Bathrooms are finished in Italian ceramics, rooms have flat-screen TVs, and Wi-Fi is free. I would choose it for a seaside city stay where the view is part of the experience.

Château du Clair de Lune is a 19th-century manor house set in a large park about 5 km from the centre of Biarritz. Families can choose between rooms in the main house and in the former hunting lodge, where some rooms open onto private terraces overlooking the gardens. The park, planted with roses, magnolias and rhododendrons, leaves room for children to stroll, while the lounge and library suit quieter evenings. The on-site restaurant, Marius, avoids a drive back into town.

Port Vieux beach is a two-minute walk from Le Gamaritz, and its small sheltered cove suits younger swimmers. Rooms are air-conditioned with walk-in showers, practical after a day of sand. I like starting the morning with breakfast on the terrace before heading down to the water, and the many restaurants and tapas bars nearby make dinner with children easy to sort out. An 8.9 score from over 1,500 reviews is a good sign.

Hôtel Barnea is a three-star hotel in central Biarritz, three minutes on foot from the beach, shops and restaurants, and I recommend it to families who want to leave the car behind. Rooms are soundproofed, which helps children sleep in a lively town, and each has a private bathroom, a TV and free WiFi. A continental breakfast is served every morning, and the Centre de Congrès is also within walking distance.

Ama Hôtel is a three-star in the centre of Biarritz, 200 metres from the beach and the casino, so a family can walk to the sand in a few minutes. A thalassotherapy centre is close by for parents who want a treatment. Rooms are air-conditioned, with free WiFi, a minibar and a flat-screen TV. There is no on-site parking, but public parking is available nearby. More than 700 reviews give it 8.8, a high score for its category.

Hotel Villa Koegui is a design hotel in central Biarritz, five minutes on foot from the beach and the covered market, with an underground car park a short walk away. Rooms are air-conditioned, with private bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and free WiFi. Breakfast is a homemade buffet, a good start before a morning on the sand. In the evening, the lounge with its fireplace and the outdoor terrace give parents a quiet place to sit. Guests rate it 8.8.

Set on a cliff above Biarritz Bay, the Regina Experimental gives families ocean or golf course views from its 72 rooms, and I would book it for a family stay that mixes the sea and some golf. The large restaurant has an ocean-facing terrace, which makes meals with children easy, and parents can take turns at the spa. Pets are welcome too. The mix of neo-Basque and Art Deco styles gives the building real character.

I would consider Hôtel Mirano for families who like a design hotel with a 1970s look and a modest price tier. The air-conditioned en suite rooms have free WiFi. There is a bar and a shaded terrace for a calm hour after the beach. It stands 15 minutes on foot from the city centre and the beach, and a short drive from Lake Marion, so a car or bikes make the most of it.

Hotel Plaza sits directly opposite La Grande Plage, Biarritz's main beach, so families are on the sand by simply crossing the road. The building has Art Deco character with contemporary comfort inside, and the stay has a city-apartment feel that suits parents who like space and independence. Pets are welcome, which helps families travelling with a dog. Being in the centre, the shops and seafront promenade are on foot. I would book it for a beach-and-town summer break.

For families in Biarritz, this residence solves the two usual headaches: distance to the sand and the cost of eating out. La Grande Plage is about 400 metres away, close enough for several trips a day with buckets and towels, and the apartments come with kitchenettes for simple meals. Many units have balconies, which gives everyone a little air after the beach. Pets are welcome too. Its 8.6 score across 811 reviews reflects a practical stay.

Résidence Haguna gives families a full kitchen, with a dishwasher, fridge and microwave, plus a separate living area, so meals and quiet time with children are easy to organise. The beach is about 300 metres away and the apartments are in the centre of Biarritz. I would add the optional Comfort Formula, which brings beds made on arrival and mid-stay cleaning. A wellness centre with sauna and hammam is on site, and pets are accepted.

ibis Styles Biarritz Plage is a seafront hotel a few minutes' walk from the main beach, and I like it for families who want the sand close by and the town centre within a 10-minute stroll. Rooms are air-conditioned, with a flat-screen TV and a walk-in shower, and you can choose a sea view or a city view. Le Ponton restaurant serves traditional dishes from seasonal produce, with a terrace in summer. WiFi is free throughout.

Surf Club Hôtel by Akena is 300 metres from the Grande Plage, Biarritz's main beach, and close to the town centre, so a family can walk to the sand and to the shops. Rooms are air-conditioned, with wooden floors and free WiFi, and private parking is available, which helps in a town where spaces are scarce. Pets are accepted. There is no spa on site, but a spa and thalassotherapy centre is nearby. More than 1,600 reviews give this three-star 8.5.

I would pick Hôtel Maïtagaria for families who want a central Biarritz base with an ocean view. It stands 200 metres from Place Clemenceau, with modern rooms that have private bathrooms, free WiFi and flat-screen TVs. Public parking is available on site, which is useful in a busy resort town. The train station and the airport are a short drive away, so arrival and departure days are simple.

Hôtel Kemaris blends Basque architecture with modern comfort, and its bright, spacious rooms suit families who need a little more room. Decor mixes contemporary design with natural touches, and every room has a flat-screen TV and free WiFi. Some rooms open onto large terraces, worth requesting with children. Breakfast is a buffet built around regional products, and a bar serves drinks in the evening. More than 2,100 reviews give this three-star 8.4.