Day trips from the studio: the Landes, the Basque Country and Spain

Saint-Martin-de-Seignanx sits where the Landes meet the Basque Country, about an hour from San Sebastián. That makes it easy to vary your days: surf spots to the north, Basque villages to the south, and pintxos across the border.

The driving times below are from the studio without traffic: allow more in summer and at rush hour around Bayonne.

Hossegor and Capbreton

To the north, Hossegor is one of Europe's surfing capitals. Even if you do not surf, watching the waves from the main beach is impressive. Walk around Hossegor's saltwater lake, lined with Basque-Landes style villas, then head to the neighbouring port of Capbreton for a seafood lunch.

Driving time: about 25 to 30 minutes (18 km) on local roads, no motorway.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz

A fishing port and seaside town, Saint-Jean-de-Luz has kept a lot of charm: a sheltered bay that is ideal for swimming, pedestrian streets, and the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where Louis XIV married the Spanish Infanta Maria Theresa in 1660. Try the local macarons and stroll around the harbour.

Driving time: about 35 to 40 minutes (36 km) on the A63 toll motorway.

Without a car: Txik Txak bus line 24 takes you to Bayonne station, where line 3 continues to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. See getting here and around.

Espelette, Ainhoa, Sare and La Rhune

For a change from the coast, head inland. Espelette is famous for its red peppers, which you will see drying on the house fronts from late summer into autumn; the pepper festival takes place every year at the end of October. Continue to Ainhoa and Sare, both listed among the "Most Beautiful Villages of France".

Above Sare, La Rhune (905 m) offers a huge view over the Basque coast and the Pyrenees. The Petit Train de la Rhune leaves from the Col de Saint-Ignace and takes about 35 minutes to reach the summit. It only runs for part of the year, from spring to autumn: check dates and book on rhune.com.

Driving time: about 40 minutes to Espelette (37 km), 45 minutes to Ainhoa and the Col de Saint-Ignace, 50 minutes to Sare.

San Sebastián (Spain)

About an hour away, San Sebastián (Donostia) is a stunning city: the curved bay of La Concha, the old town and its famous pintxos bars. Go for lunch or for the evening and hop from one bar to the next.

Driving time: about 1 hour (68 km) on the motorway, with tolls on both the French and Spanish sides.

Good to know: meal times are later in Spain than in France; pintxos bars get busy from around 1 pm and again from 8 pm.

Our tips

• Avoid rush hour around Bayonne and on the motorway on summer Saturdays.
• Combine: Biarritz in the morning, Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the afternoon. See our Biarritz guide.
• On rainy days, the Basque Museum in Bayonne is a great option.
• Cycling fans can explore the Landes coast by bike too: see our cycling routes.

After a full day out, come back to somewhere quiet: the studio is an ideal base for exploring the region.