Making the most of Saint Jean de Luz
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
In Saint-Jean-de-Luz the cruise ships will anchor in the bay and you will tendered ashore.
The cruise terminal is very close to downtown St. Jean de Luz. It’s typically a short walk—around 500 meters to 1 kilometer from the port to the heart of the town
Printable map to take along.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a fishing port on the Basque coast and now a famous resort, known for its architecture, sandy bay, the quality of the light and the cuisine. The town is located south of Biarritz and opposite Ciboure across the port.
The town center of St Jean de Luz has a medieval background, with no doubt, a great deal of influence in the past from Spain and the Moors, and with this mixture of architecture, old World charm, old buildings, fishing port and narrow lanes.
Getting around
Place Louis XIV: This charming square is the heart of the town, surrounded by cafes and shops. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a coffee or a meal while soaking in the local atmosphere.
Rue Gambetta: A lively street filled with boutiques, bakeries, and restaurants. It’s perfect for a leisurely walk and some shopping.
Take the little train ride by the tourist office in city center overlooking the harbor; it give you an overview of the entire city main points in a relax trip with commentaries.
Food and shopping
When you wander through the lanes looking at the shop windows, you will arrive at the Thermes and Casino and were the chic shops are located.
Around the main square in the town center, you can find some of the best sea-food restaurants on the Basque Coast, as well as other bars and terraces from which to see and enjoy the regular musical events in the square - including a Basque Choir every Sunday morning (in the summer months).
Money
Euro
Staying connected
For Internet check with the local tourist office at 20, Bd Victor Hugo.
Local emergency number: 112
Opening Hours and
Most shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks in France stay open all day. The exceptions are the smaller shops and enterprises, which may close for lunch sometime between 12.30pm and 2pm. Basic hours of business are from 8 or 9am to 6.30 or 7.30pm Monday to Saturday for the big shops and Tuesday to Saturday for smaller shops (some of the smaller shops may open on Monday afternoon). You can always find boulangeries and food shops that do stay open, however, on days when others close – on Sunday normally until noon.