Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

bay, you’ll see lots of paddle boarders, swimmers, and motor boats gliding over the smooth water. La Grande Plage is the picture of summer in France: a mosaic of striped rainbow beach umbrellas, topless women, and men in speedos framed by turquoise water.

       i Free; limited wheelchair accessibility

      MUSEUMS

       PLANÈTE MUSÉE DU CHOCOLAT

      14 Ave. Beau Rivage; 05 59 23 27 72; www.planetemuseeduchocolat.com; open July-Sept daily 10am-7pm, Oct-June M-Sa 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-6:30pm

      You could be like everyone else and go to the aquarium or Cité de L’ocean, but if you aren’t feeling particularly aquatic, we recommend heading to this adorable and hilarious chocolate museum. Upon arrival, you’ll be handed a bag of chocolates (if that’s not already enough of an incentive, we don’t know what is). The tour begins with an educational video of the cacao bean, tracing its history from legend of the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl to King Louis XIII obsession’s with hot chocolate. All of the descriptions are in French, but the close-up shots don’t need translation. The second half of the visit includes a trip to a sculpture gallery, some of which are quite scandalous (read: a chocolate rendition of Désir by Rodin), and cabinets full of bizarrely-shaped chocolate molds (read: rifles and llamas. How appetizing!).

       i Admission €6.50, students €5, guided tour groups of 15+ €4.50; ticket office closes at 6pm; wheelchair accessible

      OUTDOORS

       BIARRITZ BEACHES

      Open daily 24hr (weather permitting)

      You already know that Biarritz is famous for its beaches, but you may not know which one is best for you. Le Grande Plage, the closest one to the center of town, is popular among surfers and bathers alike for its easy access, broad swatch of sand, and huge waves. There is a narrow swimming area delineated by two flags; if you venture outside of it, lifeguards will yell at you and chase you down (believe us, we tried). To the northeast is Plage Miramar, close to the rocky area just south of the Phare de Biarritz. Plage Miramar is also great for surfing, but a little more dangerous. Sandwiched between of the Port des Pêcheurs and Le Grand Plage is the quiet, small Plage Port Vieux. This protected spot is popular for families because it has no waves or wind, and it also boasts a convenient location adjacent to Biarritz’s diving clubs and seafood bars. Around the Pointe Atalaye is the long, open Plage Côte des Basques—the ultimate surfing beach where you can rent a board or take a lesson. Note that during high tide, the beach is not open for lounging as the water brushes up against the cliffs.

       i Free

       FOOD

       EDEN ROCK CAFÉ ($$)

      6 Pl. Port Vieux; 659681824; open daily 11am-2am

      Located just north of Le Plage Port View, this cliff-side restaurant dangles right over the shimmering ocean, with direct views of the Rocher de la Vieux. Eden Rock Café’s menu is simple—chipirons (cuttlefish), chili, fries, beer, sangria—but extensive, and the food is much cheaper than other restaurants in the area. The true draw of Eden Rock, however, is not the food, but its canopied outdoor patio. Arrive early enough and you’ll be able to snag a table on its perimeter, one of the best places, in our humble opinion, to watch the sun set in Biarritz.

       i Sangria from €3, cocktails from €7.50, appetizers from €8, entrées from €12; vegetarian options available

       IL GIARDINO ($$$)

      5 R. du Ctre; 05 59 22 16 41; www.ilgiardino-biarritz.com; open Tu-Sa noon-2pm and 7pm-11pm, Su 7pm-11pm

      Come to Il Giardino to treat yourself to an exquisite meal that won’t break the bank. This Italian restaurant serves homemade, melt-in-your-mouth pasta, along with all sorts of freshly-prepared meat, fish, and vegetable dishes. Take your pick of linguini, spaghetti, gnocchi, or risotto—we loved the linguine nero di sepia (squid in its ink)—in the “simple” or “complete” size. For dessert, soothe your sweet tooth with the tiramisu and panna cotta—they’re both delicious.

       i Appetizers from €6, entrées from €14, wine €5; vegetarian options available; wheelchair accessible; reservation recommended

       MIREMONT SALON DE THÉ ET PATISSERIE ($)

      1bis Pl. Georges Clemenceau; 05 59 24 01 38; www.miremont-biarritz.fr; open daily 9am-8pm

      This tearoom and pastry shop is truly the king of all bakeries. Dating back to the nineteenth century, the shop was frequented by European royalty like King Edward VII of England and King Alphonso XIII of Spain, the latter of which loved it so much that he appointed its founder to the country’s Royal House. And the pastries truly do live up to their royal heritage. Miremont’s display case features layered millefeuilles, macarons, lemon tarts, chocolate mousse delicacies, éclairs, and more, all topped with edible gold and Miremont’s confectioner crest. The interior of the shop is equally over-the-top, featuring baby pink walls, crystal chandeliers, and grand siècle ceilings. Pastry prices are a bit steep, so we recommend ordering yours to-go, which will automatically knock €2 off the top.

       i Cakes to-go from €3.50, to-stay €5.50

       NIGHTLIFE

       DUPLEX

      24 Av. Edouard VII; 05 59 24 65 39; www.nightclub-biarritz.com; open daily 7pm-6am

      The population in Biarritz consists of two very distinct crowds: posh vacationers and young surfers. As its name suggests, Duplex accommodates both by leaning into the city’s naturally-occurring dichotomy, funneling anyone above the age of 25 upstairs to the “Cotton Club” and anyone below that age downstairs to “Pulp.” Despite their absurd names, both floors are surprisingly lit. Cotton Club may be more chic with its arched ceilings, glowing blue bar, and VIP lounges, but Pulp is where the real party happens. Here, you can order a vodka and orange juice concoction that’s almost as sugary as the daddies upstairs, and dance the night away to the rapid thumping of house music.

       i Cover €12 (includes one free drink), cocktails from €1; wheelchair accessible

       NEWQUAY BAR

      20 Pl. Georges Clemenceau; 05 59 22 19 90; open daily 9am-midnight

      A student hideaway in the middle of glitzy Biarritz, Newquay Bar is consistently packed with English-speaking Australians, Americans, South Africans, and tons of non-French-speaking Europeans. Unlike its neighbors, this pub is unpretentious, serving cheap beers, salty food, and ciders imported from Cornwall, England. It’s the perfect a relaxed environment to meet other travelers, listen to live music, or watch the latest football match.

       i Beer from €2, drinks from €5; wheelchair accessible

BORDEAUX

      Coverage by Kristine Guillaume

      Welcome to Wine Country. A city loaded with culture and, perhaps obviously, wine, Bordeaux has truly earned its place as the epicenter of beauty and sophistication in southwestern France. Years ago, when the city rose to fame for its bustling Chartons district, where wine merchants perfected blends of reds and whites, merchants and owners of the renowned châteaus