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
Saint-Jean-de-Luz cruise ships anchor in the bay, with passengers tendered ashore.
The cruise terminal is very near downtown St. Jean de Luz, typically a short 500 meters to 1 kilometer walk from port to the town's heart.
A printable map is available to take with you.
On the Basque coast, Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a fishing port turned famous resort, known for architecture, a sandy bay, light quality and cuisine. It lies south of Biarritz, opposite Ciboure across the port.
St Jean de Luz's town centre has a medieval background and strong past Spanish and Moorish influence, creating a mixture of architecture, old World charm, old buildings, fishing port and narrow lanes.
Getting around
Place Louis XIV is the town's charming heart, surrounded by cafes and shops, and lovely for coffee or a meal in the local atmosphere.
For a leisurely walk and shopping, Rue Gambetta is a lively street of boutiques, bakeries and restaurants.
The little train by the city-centre tourist office overlooks the harbour and gives a relaxing, commented overview of the city's main points.
Food and shopping
Wander the lanes and shop windows to reach the Thermes and Casino, where chic shops are located.
Around the town-centre main square are some of the Basque Coast's best sea-food restaurants, plus bars and terraces for enjoying regular square music events, including a Basque Choir every Sunday morning (in the summer months).
Money
Currency: Euro.
Staying connected
For Internet, check with the local tourist office, located at 20, Bd Victor Hugo.
Call 112 for local emergencies.
Opening Hours and
In France, most shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks remain open all day. Smaller shops and enterprises may close for lunch between 12.30pm and 2pm. Big shops generally trade Monday to Saturday from 8 or 9am to 6.30 or 7.30pm; smaller shops trade Tuesday to Saturday, though some open Monday afternoon. On days when others close, boulangeries and food shops can still be found open, normally until noon on Sunday.