The Best Museums And Galleries In Biarritz France

Biarritz is ideally situated on the beautiful Bay of Biscay, in the Basque region of southwest France. With stunning coastal landscapes and temperate weather, the city also benefits from an array of museums and galleries. Here are Culture Trip’s favourites.

1. Musée Asiatica

Museum

France, Pyrenees Atlantiques, Biarritz, Musee dArt oriental Asiatica (Oriental Art Musuem)

Perhaps not the obvious choice for enjoying a day out in this luxurious coastal town, the Musée Asiatica hosts an incredible array of artefacts and artwork illuminating Asian cultures, including India, China and Tibet. The exhibitions are so expansive and engaging that you might forget you’re in the South of France and feel like you’re in the Himalayas or the temples of Kathmandu.

2. Musée Historique de Biarritz

Museum

The Musée Historique de Biarritz, which lies inside a picturesque former Anglican church, is a great choice if you’re looking to expand your general knowledge and widen your cultural understanding of the city. Its displays delve into the history of the area, from its days as a fishing village to its development as a seaside resort after Napoleon III chose it as his summer residence and its dramatic transformation after World War II bombings brought the city to its knees.

3. Biarritz Aquarium (Musée de la Mer)

Aquarium

France, Pyrenees Atlantiques, Bask country, Biarritz, the main facade of the Musee de la Mer built in 1933 by the architects Hiriart, Lafaye and Lacoureyre

The Biarritz Aquarium, also known as the Musée de la Mer, lies inside a beautiful art deco building and makes for a great day out. The museum features 20 aquariums containing a wide variety of fish and other colourful and exciting marine life from the Bay of Biscay and oceans around the world. There is even a seal pool, offering an underwater viewing platform where visitors can watch the seals being fed every morning, as well as a shark tank for up-close views of the predators. It has knowledgeable and energetic staff on hand to ensure you’re well informed.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.