# Biscarrosse

Biscarrosse is a town and beach resort in the Landes region of Southwestern France.

## Understand

Biscarrosse is divided in three separate districts:
* Biscarrosse-Ville is the administrative and commercial centre. It has a population of about 10,000.
* About 9 km west, Biscarrosse-Plage is at the end of the line of dunes, right on the coast. A well-known seaside resort, it is mostly active during summer yet is also popular in winter for walks along the sea front.
* Alongside the North Lake, Biscarrosse-Lac comprises some residential areas and the harbours of Maguide and Navarosse.

## Get in
### By car

From Bordeaux, there are two possible routes:
The first one is toll-free: drive down the autoroute A63, then the A660, and take exit number 1 marked Mios and Biscarrosse. Follow signs for Biscarrosse. The trip takes around 1h30. A big downside is that the road between the highway and Biscarrosse-Ville is usually very congested during summer.
The second one is to stay on autoroute A63 until exit 17 marked Parentis-en-Born and Biscarrosse.
From Arcachon, drive down the D 218 road which runs parallel to the coast.

### By train

There is no railway station in Biscarrosse.
The closest railway station is in Ychoux (15 km east from Biscarrosse-Ville). Ychoux is served only by regional trains running between Bordeaux and the south of the region. Long-distance trains (such as TGVs) usually don't stop at Ychoux. There is a bus route between Ychoux station and Biscarrosse-Ville (XL'R bus route 11).
Other railway stations are in Arcachon and Bordeaux.

### By plane

Biscarrosse has a small landing strip.
The closest international airport is Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD) (60 km (37 mi) north-east of Biscarrosse-Ville, 1h30 by car, no direct public transportation route.)
Domestic flights link it to Paris Orly & CDG, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpelier, Nice and Strasbourg. International destinations include Amsterdam Schiphol, Barcelona El Prat, Basel, Berlin, Bristol, Brussels, Budapest, Casablanca, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Lisbon, London (Gatwick, Luton & Stansted), Madrid Barajas, Milan, Prague, Rome, Tunis and Venice.

## Get around

The districts of Biscarrosse are relatively compact and can be easily explored by foot. However, moving between districts may require motorized transportation means of some sort.
Biscarrosse-Ville and Biscarrosse-Plage are connected by road D 146 and by several well-maintained bike paths.
Public transportation is quite limited as the region is sparsely populated. Local bus routes are operated by Regie des Transports Landais (RDTL) under the name XL'R.
A municipal shuttle called Bisca'Bus$^{[deadlink]}$ runs during summer between Biscarrosse-Plage and Biscarrosse-Ville.

## Do

* Surf. Many surf shops near the beach allow you to rent surfs or body boards for one day or more.
* Musée de l'Hydraviation (Seaplane museum), ☏ +33 558780065. (updated Apr 2018)
* Musée des Traditions et de l'Histoire. (updated Apr 2018)
* Saint-Martin church, Biscarrosse-Ville. (updated Apr 2018)

## Buy

Most shops are concentrated along the main pedestrian street of Biscarrosse-Plage. However their offerings are quite modest and limited to what can be typically found in a beach resort (souvenirs, take-away food, clothes, sports gear, etc.)
Small shopping malls and gas stations can be found in the outskirts of Biscarrosse-Ville.

## Drink

* Casino, Boulevard des Sables, Biscarrosse-Plage. (updated Apr 2018)
* Océana, Rue du Grand Vivier, Biscarrosse-Plage. night club (updated Apr 2018)

## Sleep

* Camping Campéole Le Vivier, Rue du Tit, ☏ +33 558782576. Check-out: 12:00. Pleasant campsite located 800m from the beach. However this camping targets families and does not accept groups with more than four people. From €27 by night.
* Camping Campéole Plage Sud, Biscarosse plage, ☏ +33 558782124. Nice campsite located very close to the center of Biscarosse Plage.

## Go next

* Arcachon