France · Pyrenees-Atlantics
Grande Plage Nord (Palais)
Pyrenees-Atlantics, France
On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 24.1 | 1.2 |
| Thu 3 | 24.0 | 0.6 |
| Fri 4 | 24.3 | 0.7 |
| Sat 5 | 24.2 | 1.3 |
| Sun 6 | 24.1 | 1.5 |
| Mon 7 | 24.2 | 1.2 |
| Tue 8 | 24.2 | 1.2 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Excellent2015
- 2016: Excellent2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Excellent |
| 2016 | Excellent |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 16 |
| Feb | 15 |
| Mar | 16 |
| Apr | 17 |
| May | 20 |
| Jun | 22 |
| Jul | 24 |
| Aug | 24 |
| Sep | 24 |
| Oct | 22 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 18 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Miramar243 mPyrenees-Atlantics
- Grande Plage Sud (Casino)348 mPyrenees-Atlantics
- Port Vieux964 mPyrenees-Atlantics
- Cote Des Basques1.2 kmPyrenees-Atlantics
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: Le Palais, about ~270 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Biarritz, about ~500 m away.
- 7 places to eat within 1 km Closest is OPIOM, about ~200 m away.
- 2 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Hôtel du Palais, about ~150 m away.
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
Is the water clean at Grande Plage Nord (Palais)?
Grande Plage Nord (Palais) is a coastal bathing site with an official EU Bathing Water rating of Excellent for the 2025 season — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That annual classification comes from the EU Bathing Water Directive: national authorities test for two indicator bacteria, intestinal enterococci and E. coli, throughout the bathing season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency (EEA) the following spring — the 2025 season's rating was published in spring 2026, and the 2026 season won't be rated until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. On site you'll find Sandy shore, Toilets, and Beach bar. There's parking about ~200 m from the beach.
Looking to avoid the busiest weeks? The water is typically warmest around August, with the most reliable swimming window running July–September; outside that stretch you'll find a cooler sea but a quieter beach. That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The nearest town, Biarritz, is about ~500 m away.
Worth remembering: “Excellent” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Pyrenees-Atlantics. There are 7 places to eat within a kilometre — OPIOM is the closest, about ~200 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Should you swim at Grande Plage Nord (Palais)?
Yes, without much reservation. Grande Plage Nord (Palais) holds the top EU Bathing Water classification, Excellent, for 2025, and 11 of 11 classified seasons here have rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 11 straight years.
What temperature is the sea at Grande Plage Nord (Palais) right now?
The most recent reading for Grande Plage Nord (Palais) shows the sea at around 24°C. For live, up-to-the-hour conditions, see the “Right now” panel above. That's the reading right off Pyrenees-Atlantics. On the modeled climatology here, August usually runs warmest.
When should you plan a swimming trip to Grande Plage Nord (Palais)?
For swimming, July–September is usually the best call — that's the modeled window when the sea here runs warmest. That applies to the water around Pyrenees-Atlantics. Within that window, August is typically the single warmest month.
How is bathing water quality actually assessed?
It's based on official water samples: authorities test for intestinal enterococci and E. coli through the season, then report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency each spring, which assigns one of four grades — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. A few national authorities, including Croatia's IZOR, also publish individual samples during the season itself, ahead of that annual report — that isn't yet available for Grande Plage Nord (Palais).
Is there parking near Grande Plage Nord (Palais)?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Le Palais, about ~270 m away. The nearest town is Biarritz, about ~500 m away.