Reaching out from Pau | Pau Pyrénées Tourisme

Not so far and good too

One of Pau’s key assets is its prime geographical location, making it the ideal base camp from which to explore, between mountains and ocean, hills and valleys. You’re close to Lourdes, Gavarnie, the Gers, the Landes, the Basque country and 2 hours from Spain… So much to enrich your vacation in Pau!

Béarnais, Basques, Landes, Gers, Spanish or Pyrenean, the accents are always strong, the characters assertive but friendly in all circumstances. Just knock on their door and tell them you’re from Pau, their famous neighbor!

1. Westward Towards the Ocean

If the summer heat makes you want to take a dip in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, head for the Basque or Landes coast.

1h15 from Pau, Biarritz is the pearl of the Atlantic coast, with its world-famous downtown beaches.
Saint-Jean-de-Luz retains all the character of a fishing village and all the assets of a seaside town with preserved architecture and landscapes.
Capbreton and Hossegor, the two seaside towns on the Landes coast, are easily accessible from Pau. Ultra-family-friendly, the beaches of the Landes region are renowned for their endless expanses. They’re also a surfer’s paradise.
In San Sebastian, everything exudes vacation and letting go. The tapas bars of the old quarter, La Concha beach and Spanish-style nightlife. A guaranteed change of scenery.

2. Due south The Pyrenees

About 1 hour from Pau, head south to the Pyrenean peaks for a day of skiing or hiking.

Ski resorts, hiking and outdoor sports areas, the Pyrenees resorts await you:

La Pierre Saint-Martin,
Gourette
Artouste

Cyclists will love the Hourataté, Pierre Saint-Martin and Abérouat passes!

Beyond the Pyrenees, there’s Spain. Allow an hour to an hour and a half to reach the Spanish border!

By car

If you come by train, you can rent a car on site. Remember to check traffic conditions before you leave.

When it rains!

If the sun is playing hide-and-seek, here are some ideas for activities that will turn grumpy weather into pretty smiles!

Spain

Don’t forget your passport or identity card, and check the regulations so you can cross the border with peace of mind!

Tourist Office

Prepare your stay with theTourist Office: ideas, advice and tips for your outings!

3. East of Pau Lourdes, Gavarnie, Pic du Midi de Bigorre

In 1 hour, you’re in Lourdes, our famous neighbor and its pilgrimage.

1h30 from Pau, the Cirque de Gavarnie with its majestic waterfall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre cable car takes you even higher.

Lying back on a deckchair at an altitude of 2,877m, coffee in hand, we let you imagine the breathtaking panorama over the Pyrenees and the wider South-West.

4. North The valleys

North of Pau, you’ll find the Landes and Chalosse regions, and a little further east, the Gers, land of the Musketeers and Armagnac, and the summer jazz Mecca of Marciac.

A change of scenery: some say Tuscany… A must-see for a nature getaway.