The Basque Country with kids: 12 family days out for young and old

Biarritz and San Sebastián aquariums, Cité de l’Océan, La Rhune train, Sare and Isturitz caves, Ekainberri, Eureka, Sendaviva: Basque Country family days out.

Sharks, a rack railway, prehistoric caves, horses painted thousands of years ago, waves to learn to surf on: the Basque Country — on both sides of the Franco-Spanish border — is the perfect playground for families. Here are our ideas, sorted by type of outing.

Under the water: aquariums and the ocean

Biarritz Aquarium

Housed in an Art Deco building on the cliffside, on the Atalaye plateau, the Biarritz Aquarium (formerly the Musée de la Mer) showcases the marine life of the Bay of Biscay and an Indo-Pacific area with a large 1,500 m³ shark tank. You can also see grey seals, which have even bred here. Extended between 2009 and 2011, it forms the Biarritz Océan complex together with the Cité de l’Océan. See Biarritz.

Cité de l’Océan, Biarritz

Opened in 2011 opposite Ilbarritz beach, in a building shaped like a double wave designed by the architect Steven Holl, the Cité de l’Océan explains the ocean and surfing over three floors, with plenty of interactive and multimedia displays.

San Sebastián Aquarium

Opened in its current building in 1928, on the harbour in San Sebastián (Donostia), the Aquarium is the second most visited museum in the Basque Country after the Guggenheim. Its underwater tunnel, where you walk among the sharks, is the highlight of the visit. It also has 32 tanks and a touch pool.

On the rails: the La Rhune train

Since 1924, the little rack railway has been climbing from the Col de Saint-Ignace (169 m), between Ascain (Azkaine) and Sare (Sara), up to 905 m, close to the summit of La Rhune (Larrun): 4.2 km in 35 minutes. It runs during the tourist season and carries around 350,000 passengers a year: book ahead in summer. To go up on foot: our guide to La Rhune.

Underground: caves and prehistory

The Sare caves

In Sare, the caves, occupied by humans for at least 45,000 years, can be visited on a sound-and-light tour. On site: a reconstructed megalithic park and a museum devoted to the anthropologist José Miguel de Barandiaran. It is 14 °C all year round: bring a jumper. Booking essential.

The Isturitz and Oxocelhaya caves

In Saint-Martin-d’Arberoue, about thirty minutes from the coast, these two caves, one above the other, tell the story of 80,000 years of human presence. One-hour guided tour (in French, English, Spanish or Basque), from 15 March to 15 November. In 2026: €13 per adult, €6 for ages 4–11, €9 for ages 12–17. Children’s workshops are available.

Ekainberri, the prehistoric horses

Discovered in 1969 in Zestoa, the Ekain cave contains what the prehistorian André Leroi-Gourhan called ‘the most perfect group of horses in all Quaternary art’. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008, it is closed to the public, but its replica, Ekainberri, which opened the same year 600 m away, lets you discover it.

For curious minds: science and museums

Eureka! Zientzia Museoa, San Sebastián

In the Miramón technology park, about ten minutes from the centre, the Eureka! science museum has more than 169 interactive exhibits spread over 8,000 m²: a fakir’s bed of 10,000 nails, a Formula 1 car, a flight simulator, a digital planetarium, an Animalia zone (snakes, lizards, fish) and a 300 m² play area.

Oiasso, the Romans in Irun

The Oiasso museum in Irun brings to life the Roman town of Oiasso, with associated sites (necropolis, mines, baths). See also our guide to the great museums.

A theme park: Sendaviva (Navarre)

Opened in 2004 in Arguedas, next to the Bardenas Reales, Sendaviva combines rides (zip line, carousel, water play, enchanted manor…) with more than 800 animals of 200 species, spread across nine trails over 120 hectares. A circus show rounds off the day. See Tudela and the Bardenas.

At the beach: first waves

The beaches of Hendaye (Hendaia): 3 km of sand, popular with families for the space and the safety.
The Côte des Basques in Biarritz: the La Vague Basque school teaches surfing, bodyboarding and paddleboarding from age 6.
The bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune), sheltered by breakwaters, ideal for family paddleboarding.

More ideas in our guide to surfing, paddleboarding and gentle sports.

Our tips

Alternate one ‘indoor’ and one ‘outdoor’ outing a day: handy if it rains (see what to do when it rains).
Book the most popular sites in summer: the La Rhune train, the Sare caves, the source of the Urederra.
Pack warm clothes for the caves, even at the height of summer.

Sources

Ongi etorri — have a wonderful family holiday!