What to do in Bayonne in 48 hours?
No doubt you're already familiar with this city, whose streets are flooded with Festayres in red and white during the festive season. But perhaps you didn't know that you can get there by night train from Paris, and from just €29! In any case, one thing's for sure: Bayonne is well worth a visit outside the summer season, whether for a few days or just for the weekend. We've put together a 48-hour program to make the most of your stay in this emblematic Basque town.
Buy local specialities at Les Halles de Bayonne
Photo © Visit Bayonne
There's no better way to start your Bayonne experience than at Les Halles de Bayonne. Situated on the banks of the River Nive, you'll find plenty of shops inside, as well as a multitude of cafés and stalls outside. This gastronomic market is renowned for its quality, diversity and atmosphere. In fact, one Saturday each month, Bayonne residents gather on the balconies of Les Halles to sing Basque songs, adding charm and authenticity to the experience! It's the perfect place to start your day. Above all, if you want to do some gourmet shopping and take home some fresh local produce, like Bayonne ham or Espelette pepper, now's your chance.
Address : 2 quai du Commandant Roquebert, 64100 Bayonne
Tasting at the Musée du Chocolat
Photo © Atelier du Chocolat
As well as ham, the Basque Country is also famous for its chocolate production! This know-how, imported from Spain in the 17th century, is on display at the Musée du Chocolat in the form of a fun-filled 90-minute tour accessible to all ages. Not only will you learn about the processing of cocoa beans and the work of chocolate makers (whom you'll see at work during the tour), but your taste buds will be delighted by the chocolate tasting session at the end of the visit! The little ones can even take part in a chocolate painting workshop. And at the end, you must pass through the "route of temptation," also known as "the gift shop."
Address : 7 allée de Gibéléou, 64100 Bayonne
https://www.atelierduchocolat.fr/fr/page/2-le-musee-du-chocolat
Wonder in Grand Bayonne...
Photo © Visit Bayonne
The city's oldest district, Grand Bayonne, is home to its most emblematic monuments: the town hall and theater, the Vauban fortifications... As soon as you arrive by train, you're sure to catch a glimpse of the spires of the impressive Cathedral Sainte-Marie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll be stunned when you step inside, I guarantee it. The building also boasts a cloister dating back to the 13th-14th centuries, one of the largest in France. Around the cathedral, you can wander through the medieval streets of this old district, ending up at the pretty Place Bernard de Lacarre, for example, or on Boulevard Lachepaillet to observe the city's famous ramparts. To find out more about this historic part of Bayonne, the Tourist Office offers a selection of guided tours throughout the city, including several in the Greater Bayonne area.
https://www.visitbayonne.com/vos-envies/que-faire-et-que-voir-a-bayonne/visiter/visites-guidees/
... then party in Petit Bayonne
Photo © Visit Bayonne
After "Grand," it's time for "Petit" Bayonne, as ancient and historic as it is popular and lively. After all, this is where the city's universities are located. Renowned for its brightly-colored facades and narrow medieval streets, this is the area where we recommend going out at night! The streets quickly fill up with a festive atmosphere from early evening (especially on Thursdays), and offer a multitude of bars and restaurants, each more convivial than the last. Will you be tempted by Basque specialties?
Awaken your artistic soul in the Saint-Esprit district
Photo © Visit Bayonne
Finally, we invite you to discover the Saint-Esprit district, the cradle of Bayonnais street-art. You can discover the beautiful murals on almost every street, on foot or by bike... or even by tuk-tuk. To learn more about the past and the arrival of street-art in the city, the Kaxu Galerie offers guided tours of the district, tracing its history and giving you the backstory behind some of its finest works. What's more, in October, the gallery organizes the Points de Vue festival, when artists from all over take over the city with increasingly wild murals. The Saint-Esprit district is itself an “open-air museum”!
https://www.kaxu.fr/visitesguidées
Riding a scooter along the Nive river
Photo © Izirider
Discover Bayonne in a different way with scooters from Izirider. Get on an all-terrain two-wheeler and ride along the banks of the River Nive through a superb protected natural area. The ride lasts two hours and includes a gourmet break at the Pasarella Guinguette for tapas. If you've never handled such a vehicule before, don't panic! An instructor will give you all the explanations you need to drive it as well as protective gear; and of course, all this is included in the price. All in all, it's the perfect plan for a family outing (ages 14 and up).
Meet at the Tourist Office: 25 place des Basques, 64100 Bayonne
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