Grande Plage
Grande Plage
4.5
About
Big fine sand beach protected by a bay at the heart of the city. Ideal for the bathing in family with young children. Clubs of beach, rents of tents, deckchairs and parasols. Nautical activities on the spot as paddle board, towed buoys, water-skiing ... Handiplage and Audiobeach next to the lighthouse.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
266 reviews
Excellent
143
Very good
96
Average
18
Poor
5
Terrible
4
Trainbleu
Brussels, Belgium28,723 contributions
May 2022
French friends we were visiting in Bayonne took us on an excursion along the coast to Hendaye by car. On the way, we made a stop at the sandy beach in the lovely bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Because the beach is protected by three breakwaters the water is remarkably calm and safe, even for children. On a somewhat chilly day in early May there weren’t many people around but we could see why this beach would be teeming with families in summer.
Written June 6, 2022
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.
seema60
Toronto, Canada912 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
I saw this beach on my walk around Saint Jean de Luz. I regretted not bringing my beach stuff as the water was as calm as a swimming pool. Lots of cabins to rent for shade and the place was full of families enjoying themselves.
Written July 11, 2022
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.
Nina C
Seattle, WA2 contributions
Aug 2018
French families have been coming to this beach for generations. The protected bay means the surf isn't too high for children and the long strip of sand is perfect for morning and evening walks. There are also kids beach clubs that pop up in the summer time and be sure to grab a snack from the guys selling beignets and sugared pralines - it's a tradition! July and August are the busiest times of year. May and September are good times to escape the crowds. September is still warm enough for swimming.
Written August 7, 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.
Francis
Kununurra, Australia10 contributions
Feb 2021
We do appreciate the city officials who have buckled the trend of making high rises neat these best water. Parking could be a problem
Written February 26, 2021
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.
Iz M
Bilbao, Spain75 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
It could be crowded in summer but it is still a great and enjoyable attraction. If you walk 5 minutes to the right side, it would be more relaxed, farther away from the Pergola and de centre of the village.
Written August 3, 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.
offwegoNottingham
Nottingham28 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
Most beaches in the centre of town can be a bit crowded, dirty and not very restful. This one is none of these things. There are plenty of things for little ones (and not so little ones) to do other than just splash in the sea. There are waves enough to add to the excitement for kids, but not too big to make bathing a challenge. The beach is clean and when we went in July (hot) it wasn't ever crowded. There is a little kids club which looks well run and friendly. Lots of toilets and snack bars nearby. Life guards a plenty. We really loved it here.
Written July 11, 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.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland26,248 contributions
Mar 2022
Once mainly known as a fishing port, Saint-Jean-de-Luz became an important 'station balnéaire' as of the second half of the 19th century, especially after the three sea walls (Digue de Socoa, Digue de l'Artha, Digue de Sainte Barbe) had been built, protecting the beaches in the bay, and also with the arrival of the railway in 1864.
The beautiful main beach with fine sand is the about 1km long Grande Plage, just by the town. At its back is the pedestrian only Promenade Jacques Thibaud. At both ends are piers, one just by the narrow harbour entrance with the Art Deco lighthouse, the other, called 'Digue aux Chevaux' in the north, separating the Grande Plage from the 'Plage Nord Digue Chevaux' and the 'Plage Aux Bleus' below the Sainte Barbe hill. These last two beaches have partly rocks in the water, well visible at low tide.
Across the bay, on the Ciboure side, is the smaller, but also attractive Socoa beach. In the summer season here and at the Grande Plage there is a 'surveillance', while at the two beaches to the north of the horses pier there is none. Kite-surfing is allowed just south of this pier, but only off season.
Behind the Grande Plage and the Promenade Jacques Thiers are the Casino La Pergola with a passageway protruding onto the beach, a building from 1928 by renowned French architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, but with several changes from the 1950's. Here are also the 'Grand Hotel', so-called since 1982, previously having been the Hotel Terminus (1904), then the 'Modern Hotel'. The 'Hotel de l'Angleterre' from 1881 is now called the 'Hotel de la Plage'.
The beautiful main beach with fine sand is the about 1km long Grande Plage, just by the town. At its back is the pedestrian only Promenade Jacques Thibaud. At both ends are piers, one just by the narrow harbour entrance with the Art Deco lighthouse, the other, called 'Digue aux Chevaux' in the north, separating the Grande Plage from the 'Plage Nord Digue Chevaux' and the 'Plage Aux Bleus' below the Sainte Barbe hill. These last two beaches have partly rocks in the water, well visible at low tide.
Across the bay, on the Ciboure side, is the smaller, but also attractive Socoa beach. In the summer season here and at the Grande Plage there is a 'surveillance', while at the two beaches to the north of the horses pier there is none. Kite-surfing is allowed just south of this pier, but only off season.
Behind the Grande Plage and the Promenade Jacques Thiers are the Casino La Pergola with a passageway protruding onto the beach, a building from 1928 by renowned French architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, but with several changes from the 1950's. Here are also the 'Grand Hotel', so-called since 1982, previously having been the Hotel Terminus (1904), then the 'Modern Hotel'. The 'Hotel de l'Angleterre' from 1881 is now called the 'Hotel de la Plage'.
Written January 30, 2023
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.
mitch w
Bordeaux, France795 contributions
Oct 2021
This bay is protected by a series of sea walls keeping the large waves from overwhelming the beach. Regardless, the tide varies high/low by about 6-9 feet. The sand some of the most clean I have ever seen and I grew up on the California coast.
Written October 14, 2021
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.
lovemedo
Sutton, UK36 contributions
Oct 2019
Beautiful water color, transparent as we like, located in the city center, it is practical, clean and free
Written April 23, 2020
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.
jdc8mbc
California627 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
This beach is beautiful and can be crowded in sunny weather. It wasn't crowded when we went because dark clouds loomed above indicating a storm (which happened in the middle of the night). There are showers to rinse off sand.
Written August 31, 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.
Thank your for your comment.
Written September 6, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ISABELLE N
Ciboure, France56 contributions
La plage , l'été, est envahie par les clubs....problématique à marée haute pour poser sa serviette. L'eau de mer est de plus en plus sale...quand prendra t'on en compte cette pollution ? Cet été la baignade a été interdite à plusieurs reprises. Il faut continuer cette politique de l'autruche ?
OfficeTourismePaysBasque
29 contributions
La santé des usagers et le respect de notre environnement sont des priorités pour les élus de notre territoire. Les lourds investissements engagés depuis ces vingt dernières années et les efforts de la collectivité se poursuivent en ce sens.
Le suivi de la qualité des eaux de baignade est cadré par la Directive européenne Baignade 2006/7/CE.
La Communauté d’Agglomération Pays Basque assure, en lien étroit avec les communes, un suivi quotidien de la qualité des eaux de baignade du 1er juin au 30 septembre sur les zones de baignade.
L’évaluation quotidienne de l’ensemble des indicateurs (pluviométrie, résultats d’analyses, état des systèmes d’assainissement…) permet aux Maires de s’assurer de la bonne qualité des eaux, et au besoin, de prendre un arrêté municipal d’interdiction de la baignade afin de prévenir tout risque sanitaire pour les baigneurs.
Par ailleurs, la gestion des eaux de baignade fait l’objet d‘un contrôle réglementaire hebdomadaire par les autorités sanitaires. L'Agence Régionale de Santé établit un classement officiel des plages à l’issue de chaque saison. Sur la Côte Basque, sur 35 plages contrôlées : 31 sont qualifiées de qualité "excellente" par l’ARS, et de qualité "bonne" pour les 4 autres.
En été, la Grande Plage de Saint-Jean-de-Luz fait le bonheur des enfants qui peuvent s'y amuser dans les clubs et s'y baigner en toute sécurité.
A cette période, nous pouvons vous suggérer de fréquenter les 4 autres plages de Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Erromardie, Laffitenia, Mayarco et Senix), dont l'environnement pourrait peut-être mieux vous convenir ?
Nous restons à votre disposition, très attentifs à vos remarques, et sensibles à vos préoccupations car elles sont aussi les nôtres, au quotidien.
k.puyou(at)otpaysque. com - 05 59 26 03 16
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Claim your listingGrande Plage - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Grande Plage
- Hotels near Grande Plage:
- (0.03 mi) 3 COURONNES Appartement face à la grande plage et vue mer
- (0.03 mi) Apartment Saint-Jean-de-Luz, 2 bedrooms, 4 persons
- (0.08 mi) Hotel de la Plage
- (0.10 mi) Hotel Helianthal
- (0.07 mi) Hôtel La Marisa
- Restaurants near Grande Plage:
- (0.01 mi) Glaces Lopez Saint Jean de Luz
- (0.03 mi) Le goûter de la plage
- (0.08 mi) Restaurant La Cueva
- (0.09 mi) Toki Goxoa
- (0.10 mi) Piper Beltz
Grande Plage Information
Excellent Reviews | 143 |
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Very Good Reviews | 96 |
Grande Plage Photos | 253 |