La Grande Plage
La Grande Plage
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience La Grande Plage and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
565 within 5 kms
Attractions
120 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
295 reviews
Excellent
150
Very good
99
Average
33
Poor
6
Terrible
7
euan c
camberwell, london9 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I would not recommend August as a good time to visit this beach unless you love crowds and lifeguards shouting out warnings on tannoys across the beach.
The sea is very rough and the area designated for swimming was very small which meant a concentrated bobbing soup of humans in a very small area. The sand was packed with people and it didn't feel very clean.
We preferred Milady Beach - further away and less busy. Sea still rough though. Take care.
The sea is very rough and the area designated for swimming was very small which meant a concentrated bobbing soup of humans in a very small area. The sand was packed with people and it didn't feel very clean.
We preferred Milady Beach - further away and less busy. Sea still rough though. Take care.
Written 29 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
acasasnovasg
Heathrow, FL3,164 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
La Grande Plage
Biarritz
Beautiful, like ...Une Carte Postale,
As mentioned before; Biarritz is a long time due place to be visit by us.
Biarritz is a place -regrettable- overlooked before in all our previous Gastrotour and Tours to South-Western France and North-eastern Spain...which is to say; both -Basque country- on the pyrenees sides of la France and Spain.
That’s why, on this long time planned and cherished Gastrotour of (almost” all Spain and Northern Portugal...Biarritz was highly located in our Agenda of places to be enjoyed.
But and again; Who are this people on both sides of the border on 2 Countries?
That’s an interesting question that we learned...not this time, but when we went to visit, famous Chef Michel Guerard, and his “minceur cuisine”, on his archifamous “La Pres de Eugenie” in those AQUITAINE areas nearby Biarritz.
The Basques, as it called in french...or Vascos in Spanish are indigenous ethnic group characterized by the Basque language, common culture and shared ancestry among both country areas. Both on Bizcay Bay. Basques are indigenous to and primary -old inhabitant- of that area traditionally known as the Basque Country. Since that Basque language (euskera in spain) is clearly unrelated (by DNA studies) to those of Indo-European ancestors, they has long been thought to represent the people or culture that occupied Europe, long time before the spread of Indo-European cultures and languages. All comprehensive analysis of Basque DNA and genetic patterns indicates that, the Basque genetic uniqueness predates way before the arrival of agriculture in the Iberian Peninsula...as long as 7,000 years ago !
After those info, dilettanti moments, lets find more on that touristing to Biarritz.
Being located just some 45 minutes from our “Aquelarre Hotel”, west Donostia, we enjoyed our road trip from there; crossing those opened borders were not to be -in anyways- a problem to us...as French and Spaniard citizens...our second countries. Those areas are kind of pristine and -almost- magical; views to those Pyrenees and driving around are as good as it can be in both sides.
When we arrived to Biarritz we had a glance at it modernist sculpture at its entrance areas, but it is kind of old time looking town around the city center and la “Grande Plage” (the BIG BEACH) as it called it famous beach esplanade.
After parking nearby we strolled down street, but not before enjoying those FANTASTIC BEACH VIEWS from above it nearby its famous Casino... which was under renovation and adaptations to modern times.
The Beach itself is framed among several Big Rocks on its lefter, south-western, side and that old Lighthouse farther North side. Its huge yellow, but fine sandy Areas are heavily knocked by its extremely -frightening- rough and continuos waves...better, as we thought, rather for fanatic-intrepid Surfers than not-to-expert swimmers, but the beach itself has perfect and clearly signed flags, indicating all areas; from its easy and pleasant ones...to those with red flag !
Among those extremes framing the Beach itself there is plenty of sandy areas perfect for sunbathing plus a nice esplanade, perfect for families and people watching and views gazing enjoinment. On that esplanade they are several, always crowded, Cafe style places...as crowded that we, after long waiting, couldn’t find seating for us.
Regrettable they weren’t any of those nice -colorful- striped Big Tents, like the ones showed in postal cards. Our guess was that, even the beach was very crowded to be early days of May, its was not proper Beach Season. Regardless that; we saw it as full as it can get, while we were wearing our coats -just observing all ages people- enjoying it...Similarly to “La Kontxa” in Donostia.
That’s why we ended up in “Le Passy Brasserie” to have a bierrot lunch moment of “Moules Aquitaines”, paired with a nice and proper Sancerre white wine. A Loire white wine, considered by many as the perfect for those moments.
TO-RESUME it; it was a Beautiful, clean large beach, with that nice boardwalk along it and its great, fantastic views. Although there are plenty of nice beaches nearby, this one here is central to all of the others as the one “To Be On It’.
They think and said that this is a beautiful beach on a pleasant sea, but for those that hasn’t others nicer beach close-by. For us, as Caribbean natives, we rather had our pristine, cristal clear waters and white sandy beaches with gentle waves of our native, classic beaches, framed with palm tress...were colored little fishes seems to sing “Burbujas de Amor”, that popular song from Juan Luis Guerra.
Now...that’s is for another moment. We were here to properly enjoy those places. Basque Places that, from Donostia-Bilbao up to Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz and, farther north, to Saint Malo and even England...Pirates and Corsairs called it “home”, while kind-of bierrots Corsairs, like Lavernis, remembered on the street next to “Passy Brasserie” and, even guys, like “Sir” Francis Drake (among others)...were seeking treasures, destroying old cities in our Caribbean Countries, but those were older times...NOW we have, all over the world, different kind of Pirates, Buccaneers and even new kind of Corsairs, like those old “privateers” ones...paid by newer, modernist governments !
Thanks god; we found kind-of Heaven in this, our long time-due-visit to this fantastic areas were, before sunset, we headed back to our base hotel....
That evening, “Martin Berasategu” was waiting for us at his eponymous Place
Biarritz
Beautiful, like ...Une Carte Postale,
As mentioned before; Biarritz is a long time due place to be visit by us.
Biarritz is a place -regrettable- overlooked before in all our previous Gastrotour and Tours to South-Western France and North-eastern Spain...which is to say; both -Basque country- on the pyrenees sides of la France and Spain.
That’s why, on this long time planned and cherished Gastrotour of (almost” all Spain and Northern Portugal...Biarritz was highly located in our Agenda of places to be enjoyed.
But and again; Who are this people on both sides of the border on 2 Countries?
That’s an interesting question that we learned...not this time, but when we went to visit, famous Chef Michel Guerard, and his “minceur cuisine”, on his archifamous “La Pres de Eugenie” in those AQUITAINE areas nearby Biarritz.
The Basques, as it called in french...or Vascos in Spanish are indigenous ethnic group characterized by the Basque language, common culture and shared ancestry among both country areas. Both on Bizcay Bay. Basques are indigenous to and primary -old inhabitant- of that area traditionally known as the Basque Country. Since that Basque language (euskera in spain) is clearly unrelated (by DNA studies) to those of Indo-European ancestors, they has long been thought to represent the people or culture that occupied Europe, long time before the spread of Indo-European cultures and languages. All comprehensive analysis of Basque DNA and genetic patterns indicates that, the Basque genetic uniqueness predates way before the arrival of agriculture in the Iberian Peninsula...as long as 7,000 years ago !
After those info, dilettanti moments, lets find more on that touristing to Biarritz.
Being located just some 45 minutes from our “Aquelarre Hotel”, west Donostia, we enjoyed our road trip from there; crossing those opened borders were not to be -in anyways- a problem to us...as French and Spaniard citizens...our second countries. Those areas are kind of pristine and -almost- magical; views to those Pyrenees and driving around are as good as it can be in both sides.
When we arrived to Biarritz we had a glance at it modernist sculpture at its entrance areas, but it is kind of old time looking town around the city center and la “Grande Plage” (the BIG BEACH) as it called it famous beach esplanade.
After parking nearby we strolled down street, but not before enjoying those FANTASTIC BEACH VIEWS from above it nearby its famous Casino... which was under renovation and adaptations to modern times.
The Beach itself is framed among several Big Rocks on its lefter, south-western, side and that old Lighthouse farther North side. Its huge yellow, but fine sandy Areas are heavily knocked by its extremely -frightening- rough and continuos waves...better, as we thought, rather for fanatic-intrepid Surfers than not-to-expert swimmers, but the beach itself has perfect and clearly signed flags, indicating all areas; from its easy and pleasant ones...to those with red flag !
Among those extremes framing the Beach itself there is plenty of sandy areas perfect for sunbathing plus a nice esplanade, perfect for families and people watching and views gazing enjoinment. On that esplanade they are several, always crowded, Cafe style places...as crowded that we, after long waiting, couldn’t find seating for us.
Regrettable they weren’t any of those nice -colorful- striped Big Tents, like the ones showed in postal cards. Our guess was that, even the beach was very crowded to be early days of May, its was not proper Beach Season. Regardless that; we saw it as full as it can get, while we were wearing our coats -just observing all ages people- enjoying it...Similarly to “La Kontxa” in Donostia.
That’s why we ended up in “Le Passy Brasserie” to have a bierrot lunch moment of “Moules Aquitaines”, paired with a nice and proper Sancerre white wine. A Loire white wine, considered by many as the perfect for those moments.
TO-RESUME it; it was a Beautiful, clean large beach, with that nice boardwalk along it and its great, fantastic views. Although there are plenty of nice beaches nearby, this one here is central to all of the others as the one “To Be On It’.
They think and said that this is a beautiful beach on a pleasant sea, but for those that hasn’t others nicer beach close-by. For us, as Caribbean natives, we rather had our pristine, cristal clear waters and white sandy beaches with gentle waves of our native, classic beaches, framed with palm tress...were colored little fishes seems to sing “Burbujas de Amor”, that popular song from Juan Luis Guerra.
Now...that’s is for another moment. We were here to properly enjoy those places. Basque Places that, from Donostia-Bilbao up to Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz and, farther north, to Saint Malo and even England...Pirates and Corsairs called it “home”, while kind-of bierrots Corsairs, like Lavernis, remembered on the street next to “Passy Brasserie” and, even guys, like “Sir” Francis Drake (among others)...were seeking treasures, destroying old cities in our Caribbean Countries, but those were older times...NOW we have, all over the world, different kind of Pirates, Buccaneers and even new kind of Corsairs, like those old “privateers” ones...paid by newer, modernist governments !
Thanks god; we found kind-of Heaven in this, our long time-due-visit to this fantastic areas were, before sunset, we headed back to our base hotel....
That evening, “Martin Berasategu” was waiting for us at his eponymous Place
Written 8 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick_Goold
Nottingham, UK155 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
I was staying at the Hotel du Palais and had brought my "Boogie Board" with me.
I noticed that the Life Guards appeared to only monitor the swimmers at the far end of the beach.
I selected to use the beach near the hotel where there were long and boogie board surfers.
The sand at the edge of normal sand and wet sand was very soft and you sank into it up to a foot. The wet sand was stable.
While surfing my leg and foot came into contact with a submerged rock cutting both. There was no notification of this hazard. BEWARE.
I noticed that the Life Guards appeared to only monitor the swimmers at the far end of the beach.
I selected to use the beach near the hotel where there were long and boogie board surfers.
The sand at the edge of normal sand and wet sand was very soft and you sank into it up to a foot. The wet sand was stable.
While surfing my leg and foot came into contact with a submerged rock cutting both. There was no notification of this hazard. BEWARE.
Written 10 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hbf_melb
Melbourne, Australia191 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
How many amazing places can one pack into one holiday? How many amazing sights can one see? A beach is a beach is a beach, right?
Wrong! Beauty never gets old, and neither does the fresh shock of new fabulousness. I wish we could have spent longer than a day here, but I guess that is incentive to come back. The beach, the food, the carousel, the views.
So much to love.
Wrong! Beauty never gets old, and neither does the fresh shock of new fabulousness. I wish we could have spent longer than a day here, but I guess that is incentive to come back. The beach, the food, the carousel, the views.
So much to love.
Written 29 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterSilvainMooij
Alexandroupoli, Greece639 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
What a adventure is this, there will be probably the biggest waves in Europe for this surfers paradise.
Many many many beach clubs bars and restaurants will serve your very need.
Perfect beach.
Many many many beach clubs bars and restaurants will serve your very need.
Perfect beach.
Written 3 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
litCopenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark320 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Great to walk along in the evening and during sunny day, watching big waves and many surfers. Many restaurants to stay for lunchs and diners.
Written 7 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciarrai2014
County Kildare, Ireland718 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
You need to be ready for the power of the waves. Went swimming and body boarding (which was great fun) - make sure to swim & board between the appropriate lifeguard flags or you will be whistled!
Written 19 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IAN D
Wigan, UK25,852 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Fabulous big beach that lives up to its name
Lovely views and a very busy beach. Not as crowded ad the beach in St Sebastian.
Lovely views and a very busy beach. Not as crowded ad the beach in St Sebastian.
Written 29 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca T
Vancouver, Canada849 contributions
May 2018 • Family
This beach is amazing, the view is beautiful. Lots of people surfing, and areas to sit and have some food and a drink. Highly recommend
Written 10 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skeney57
Sydney, Australia24,416 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
After Portugal, Spain & Italy this was a real good beach ! A famous site and I can see why as it has all the good attributes of a proper beach. Good surf, good sand and a steady stream of sun lovers ! Plus there was enough off sand eateries & bars to keep us happy ! Pity our hotel didn't match the vibe ?
Written 31 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Est ce que les çhiens sont autorisés
Written 8 August 2019
Toutes les plages de Biarritz sont interdites aux chiens. Sur le promenoir, tenus en laisse, oui.
Bon séjour malgré tout.
Written 9 August 2019
La Grande Plage est l’ancienne côte des Fous, où les malades mentaux recevaient le choc salutaire de la mer déchaînée (les détonations violentes causées par le choc de l’eau dans les grottes de ces bords) Elle fut dénommée également par la suite Côte du Moulin, en référence au Moulin de Blaye qui y était jadis adossé.
Written 9 August 2019
Kan je hier parasol en strandstoel/ligbed huren of moet je dit zelf voorzien?
Written 30 July 2017
Showing results 1-3 of 3
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing