Things to do in the Basque Country when it rains: 15 ideas to enjoy it whatever the weather

It is no accident that the Basque Country is so green: it rains here in every season. In Biarritz, the reference weather station (Anglet) records an average of nearly 1,470 mm of rain a year (1991–2020 averages); over the period 1971–2000, there were about 13 days of rain in January and still 8 in July. Nothing that need spoil your stay: here are fifteen ideas for grey days.

Culture, in the dry

1. The Guggenheim in Bilbao — 19 galleries to explore.
2. The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum — from El Greco to Bacon.
3. The San Telmo Museum in San Sebastián (Donostia), for an insight into Basque society.
4. The Basque Museum in Bayonne (Baiona), and the Bonnat-Helleu museum, which reopened at the end of 2025.
5. The Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, for fashion lovers.
6. Villa Arnaga in Cambo-les-Bains (Kanbo): 40 rooms decorated by Edmond Rostand.

All the details in our guide to the great museums.

With the kids

7. The aquariums in Biarritz and San Sebastián, with their sharks, and the Cité de l’Océan.
8. The Eureka! science museum in San Sebastián, with its planetarium.
9. Caves: underground, it is 14 °C all year round in Sare (Sara) anyway, rain or shine. Or try the Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves, and Ekainberri in Zestoa.

More ideas in the Basque Country with kids.

Eat, drink and browse under cover

10. Covered markets: the Halles (market halls) of Bayonne, of Biarritz (every day from 7:30) and of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Donibane Lohizune in Basque (every morning), La Bretxa in San Sebastián (Monday to Saturday) or the Ribera market in Bilbao, one of the largest covered markets in Europe. See our guide to markets.
11. A hot chocolate in Bayonne: at Cazenave, on Rue Port-Neuf, they have been serving a frothy hot chocolate, whipped by hand, with buttered toast since 1854. See our foodie souvenirs.
12. The cider house: from mid-January to the end of April, it is txotx season — you taste cider straight from the barrel and dine on salt-cod omelette and rib steak, nice and warm indoors.
13. The pintxos crawl: going from bar to bar, you are never outside for long. See our Donostia crawl and poteo.

Treat yourself

14. Thalasso: Biarritz, Anglet, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye (Hendaia), or La Perla in San Sebastián, overlooking La Concha, open every day 8:00–22:00. See thermal baths and thalasso.

Or why not head out anyway?

15. Sea walking also goes on in winter in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with a wetsuit, water shoes, cap and gloves. You are going to get wet either way… See surfing, paddleboarding and gentle sports.

Our tips

• Check the hour-by-hour forecast before choosing what to do.
• Keep a plan B for each day: an indoor visit close to the walk you have planned.
• Pack a raincoat and shoes that don’t mind getting wet.

Sources

• French Wikipedia — Biarritz, Climate section (Météo-France averages)
• French Wikipedia — Sare caves; Tourisme 64 — Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves; Basque Government — Ekain
• Biarritz tourist office — Markets (in French); Saint-Jean-de-Luz town council — Les Halles (in French); Mercado La Bretxa (in Spanish); Spanish Wikipedia — Mercado de la Ribera
• Les Petites Affiches 64 — Chocolat Cazenave
• Sidrería Barkaiztegi — Txotx and cider house menu (in Spanish)
• Basque Government — La Perla (in Spanish)
• Saint-Jean-de-Luz tourist office — Sea walking
• See also the sources in our guides to the great museums and the Basque Country with kids.

Ongi etorri — and here’s to Basque rain!