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Bayonne – Tips

Transport

Getting there

By Car
By Train
FromViaTimeTime
CalaisA28, A107:30 hoursvia Paris (change of station)
7:20 hours
ParisA107:15 hoursDirect TGV
4 hours
DieppeA28, A108:15 hoursvia Rouen then Paris (station change)
7:30 hours
Le HavreA28, A108 hoursvia Paris (change station)
7:20 hours
CherbourgA108 hoursvia Paris (station change)
8:20 hours
MarseillesA626:30 hoursvia Toulouse (station change):
7:50 hours

Air: The Biarritz airport is an international airport serving mostly French and European flights (it’s also Bayonne’s airport). The big operators all fly here; EasyJet, Ryanair, Air France, Lufthansa, SAS, SwissAir etc.

Click here to access the airport web site for more information.

Bus: There are several long distance bus operators going to this city from different cities in France (and Europe). Click on one of the links below to see which departure city is covered.

Flixbus Logo Flixbus
Ouibus logo Ouibus

Ferry: There are no ferry operators in the area. The closest ferry to the UK would be in Bilbao, Spain.

Within Bayonne

The Bayonne inner city is small and narrow. There are almost no buses operating here, except those that take you to the outer limits of Bayonne.

However, inside the old city of Bayonne, there is a FREE electric bus shuttle that brings you through the city.

Bayonne free electric shuttle bus
Bayonne free electric shuttle bus

You can download a free app for your smartphone that will tell you where and when the next shuttle is coming. The shuttle bus operates Monday to Saturday, from 07:30 in the morning until 19:30 in the evening.

Click here to download the iPhone or Android apps (it’s in French, but scroll down to see the QR codes for the download page).

For the rest, all buses are operated by Chronoplus in an inter-regional bus network that links up cities like Bayonne and Biarritz.

Click here to access the Chronoplus web site in order to find out which bus/tram you need to take to get to your destination.

Cars

Driving a car into the city centre is not advised. There are only a very few parking spots available, and the roads are narrow. Just outside the fortified/rampart walls are several large parking areas. There is the free shuttle bus that will pick you up and bring you back from these parking areas.

Restaurants

There are some 255 restaurants in Bayonne, giving you a good selection of food styles and price ranges. There are no Michelin starred restaurants.

Hotels

Hotels are Bayonne are not expensive, more moderately priced. You will find a good offering of hotels spread around the city and suburbs.

Things To See/To Do

  • Walk the old city and its narrow streets, admire the old buildings

    Narrow streets of Bayonne centre
  • Visit the cathedral

    Inside the Cathedral of Bayonne
  • Attend a Rugby or Basque pelota game
  • Buy and eat Bayonne hams and chocolates
  • Go to the Bayonne Festival (Fete de Bayonne) it always starts the Wednesday before the first Sunday of August and lasts 5 days.

    Click here to access the web site for more information (and many photos) Web site is in French only
  • Visit the Tourist Office on the outskirts of the old city centre
Photo 1Map
Bayonne Tourist OfficeBayonne Tourist Office

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