Getting ashore
Ships have anchored in the bay at Saint-Jean-de-Luz, with guests tendered ashore. The tender arrangement is not confirmed for the current season, and there is no terminal building to plan around. The harbour is a sheltered mooring protected by sea walls, where the Nivelle river meets the Atlantic. Ask the cruise line where the tender lands and whether it uses the same stage for every call. Step-free routes at the tender stage are not described, so ask the operator about tender boarding and any help for guests with limited mobility. Recent calls included Oceania Marina on 1 October, Le Laperouse on 5 October and Seven Seas Grandeur on 6 October. All of these have passed, so check the calendar for upcoming calls.
For walkers and architecture fans
The old town is pedestrianised and has a Basque-style look, with white, red and green buildings and narrow lanes. Its medieval roots show the influence of Spain and the Moors, and the mix of architecture, old buildings and fishing-port character gives the town its charm. The Church of St John the Baptist is free to enter and open daily outside Mass hours. It is known for its galleries and its 1660 altar, where Louis XIV married. Maison Louis XIV is sometimes open for tours in mid-summer. Ciboure is about 500 m away across the bridge, and its Église St-Vincent is listed. The town has about 14,000 residents and hosts many events each year, including classical concerts, Basque pelota championships and film festivals.
For beach lovers
The main beach lies across the estuary from the old town, east of the water, and it is busy in summer. Its sandy bay and the quality of the light are part of the town’s appeal. The beach is a short distance from the old town, so it can fit into a short call if you do not want a longer trip.
For shoppers
The Thermes and Casino area is where the chic shops are, and Rue Gambetta has small shops, cafés and boutiques. The covered market sells food. Most shops, businesses, museums and banks stay open all day, though smaller shops may close for lunch between 12:30 and 14:00. Big shops are generally open from 8 or 9 am to 6:30 or 7:30 pm, Monday to Saturday, while smaller shops open Tuesday to Saturday and some open on Monday afternoon. Boulangeries and food shops keep longer hours on Sunday, normally until noon. Hours were last reported in 2024, so check them on the day.
For eaters and drinkers
The main square has some of the best seafood restaurants on the Basque coast, along with bars and terraces for the square’s musical events. A Basque choir sings there every Sunday morning in the summer months. Chez Maya serves Basque specialties, and the Pub du Corsaire is open daily from 17:00 to 02:00. The choir is a summer event that was last listed in 2024, so check the current programme before you plan around it.
Getting around and money
Saint-Jean-de-Luz lies about 25 km southwest of Bayonne and roughly 15 km from the Spanish border. The bus stop is beside the railway station, with about ten buses a day running west to Hendaye and east to Biarritz and Bayonne. Trains stop at the station, including TGVs to Paris. For Toulouse and the Pyrenees towns, change at Bayonne. Biarritz Pays Basque Airport lies 5 km southeast of Biarritz. Free parking near the station fills quickly in summer, and the bus timetable is undated, so check it before you go. A little train leaves from the tourist office and runs over the harbour with commentary. The currency is the euro, and the local tourist office at 20 Bd Victor Hugo can advise on internet access. The local emergency number is 112.
Accessibility & mobility
The sources read do not describe step-free routes at the port, so ask the operator about tender boarding and any help for guests with limited mobility. The old town is pedestrianised, but the main beach lies across the estuary.