Camera and drone rental in Biarritz: where to film

Where to film in Biarritz

Five places that sum up the city, between ocean, cliffs and wind.

• The Grande Plage: a wide beach facing the Atlantic, regular rollers and spray that quickly covers an ordinary lens. A waterproof GoPro Hero 12 Black goes the distance in the spray and salt water.
• The Rocher de la Vierge: a metal footbridge set on the rocks, an open view over the Basque coast and, on clear days, the Pyrenees. An Insta360 X6 captures the whole horizon without having to pick a single angle.
• The Côte des Basques: a historic surf spot, short waves and ochre cliffs in the background. Film the sessions from the beach with the same GoPro, which stands up to sand and falls.
• The Biarritz lighthouse: a high point over the city, with an open view of the coast and the ocean all the way to the horizon. A wide shot from this viewpoint rounds off a sequence filmed at water level.
• The seafront and the Hôtel du Palais: a promenade overlooking the ocean, a white façade and slate roofs typical of the Belle Époque. Walk with a DJI Osmo Pocket 4P to keep a steady image into the wind.

Drone in Biarritz: what is allowed

In France, recreational flying is prohibited over built-up areas and gatherings of people. It is also prohibited near Biarritz Pays Basque airport, and in national parks and nature reserves. Flight height may not exceed 120 metres, and the drone must remain visible to the naked eye at all times.

Check the Géoportail map before every flight: it alone shows the areas actually open that day, and the Basque coast includes several restricted zones. Our drones weigh less than 250 grams, but they carry a camera: before the first flight, the renter registers free of charge as an operator (on AlphaTango if resident in France) and displays their own operator number on the drone.

The seafront, the beaches in season and the busy cliffs are ruled out from the start. Farmland inland, away from the built-up area, comes closer, but always check the map before taking off.

What equipment to rent for Biarritz

Wind, sand and spray dominate in Biarritz, even in good weather. For surfing and scenes in the water, the GoPro Hero 12 Black remains the safest choice, waterproof and compact on a wrist or a board.

For an immersive take on the Rocher de la Vierge or the fishermen’s harbour, the Insta360 X6 films the whole scene and lets you reframe the angle afterwards. On the promenade and the seafront, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P steadies your walk into the wind.

For a panorama from an open spot where flying is allowed, the DJI Mini 5 Pro and the DJI Mini 4 Pro both weigh less than 250 grams and pack easily into a bag.

When to film: events and seasons in Biarritz

Autumn and winter bring the biggest swells to the Côte des Basques, with low, raking light late in the day that brings out the shape of the waves. Summer brings calmer conditions, ideal for beginners, and much busier beaches during the day.

The Le Temps d’Aimer la Danse festival livens up the city in autumn, with open-air performances near the seafront. The rest of the year, surf culture is on show at any hour on the Côte des Basques, from the first lines of swell in the morning.

Getting your equipment in Biarritz

The equipment leaves by Chronopost, delivered to your home or to a pickup point anywhere in France, with the parcel arriving the day before the first day of your rental. You are ready for the first lines of swell in the morning, without waiting for a courier. The return is done with the label supplied in the parcel.

In-person pickup is available in Lyon only, for those who prefer to try the camera before leaving.

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