Are you planning to move to Bayonne? Good news! This article will introduce you to the city’s highlights. The following information will help you determine if this is the perfect city for you, whether you’re planning to live there alone or with your family. L’Agencerie, your real estate agency in Bayonne, also provides the latest figures on the local real estate market.
Bayonne: Profile of the City
| 🏠 ZIP Code | 64100 |
| 👪 Population | Approximately 53,312 residents (118th in the national ranking) |
| 📍 Location | Located in southwestern France, 10 km from the Atlantic Ocean and 30 minutes from Biarritz |
| 🌊 Waterways | Crossed by the Nive and Adour rivers |
| 🌞 Weather | Temperate oceanic climate: 14.3°C annual average, 1,278 mm of rainfall per year |
| 💼 Economy | Key sectors: commercial port, agri-food (ham, chocolate), tourism |
| 🏡 Real Estate | Average prices: €4,715/m² (apartment), €5,860/m² (house) |
| 🚆 Transportation | TGV station (4 hours to Paris), Biarritz Airport 10 km away, bus network, and bike paths |
| 🎉 Events | Bayonne Festival, Ham Fair, activities at the ramparts and the Halles |
| 📸 Must-Sees | St. Mary’s Cathedral, Basque Museum, Vauban ramparts, walks along the riverbanks |
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Living in Bayonne: The Capital of the Basque Country
Bayonne is located in southwestern France, on the western border between the Basque Country and Gascony. This magnificent city is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Here are its neighboring municipalities:
- Boucau (to the north);
- Anglet (to the west);
- Bassussarry (southwest);
- Villefranque (to the south);
- Saint-Pierre-d’Irube (to the southeast);
- Lahonce (to the east);
- Tarnos (northeast).
Renowned for its strategic location between the mountains and the ocean, the city offers the best of both worlds: the natural and the urban.
A City Looking Toward the Future
A rapidly developing city, Bayonne serves as the economic, administrative, and cultural capital of the Basque Coast. As part of the BAB (Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz) metropolitan area, it is home to a large number of businesses, particularly in its Technocité zone. With capacity for 250 businesses, this major economic hub currently houses 20 companies.
Bayonne, a young and dynamic city, has 33,836 residents aged 15 to 64, 73.7% of whom are in the workforce, according to theINSEE. The unemployment rate stands at just 8.7%. In 2022, 843 businesses were launched, 75.9% of which were sole proprietorships.
A unique town designated as a “City of Art and History”
Since 2011, the city has held the “City of Art and History” designation, an honor awarded by the Ministry of Culture. This comes as no surprise given the town’s rich history and culture. Indeed, Bayonne is a veritable open-air museum! The uniqueness of its architecture makes it the most iconic city in the Basque Country. Its winding alleyways are lined with “Labourdine houses.” These are characterized by their asymmetrical roofs, their exposed and colorful half-timbering, and their whitewashed walls.
A city steeped in history, Bayonne is home to about twenty monuments, including:
- St. Mary’s Cathedral in Bayonne, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
- Marraq Castle;
- the Jewish Cemetery in Bayonne;
- The Bayonne Synagogue.
An unparalleled hub for the arts, the city also hosts the famous Bayonne Festival every year. It is one of France’s most popular festive events, attracting nearly 1 million summer visitors every August. The festival features traditional music, dance, and cuisine that celebrate Basque heritage.
Bayonne: France’s second-best city to live in by 2025
Bayonne proudly ranks second on the list of cities with the highest quality of life, according to the ranking by theVilles et Villages association. It ranked 2nd out of 34,850 cities nationwide. The criteria included, among other things, quality of life, health, safety, transportation, and more.
A well-deserved ranking, as Bayonne is a city on a human scale that offers a high quality of life to both visitors and residents. With its mild climate and proximity to the mountains, the sea, and Spain, there’s no shortage of opportunities for getaways.
The city is close to all the amenities needed to meet the needs of its residents. It is home to 1,570 small businesses and retail establishments (stores, restaurants, bars, pharmacies, etc.).
In terms of transportation, the city is also well-connected. To get around town, Bayonne residents can choose from 16 bus routes, including the two tram-bus lines, T1 and T2.
Moving to Bayonne: What Are the Best Neighborhoods?
To help you quickly and easily find the best neighborhood to live in Bayonne, here are our top 5 picks:
| Neighborhoods of Bayonne | Distinctive Features |
| Grand Bayonne | The oldest and most commercial neighborhood. |
| Le Petit Bayonne | The city’s youngest and liveliest neighborhood. Located near the Nive River, where you can admire the town’s traditional houses. |
| Marracq-Saint Léon | A quiet residential neighborhood with middle-class homes. The city’s hospital district. |
| Saint-Esprit | A rapidly expanding neighborhood with several new real estate developments. Offers easy access to downtown via the Saint-Esprit Bridge. |
| Foch-Les Arènes | The most expensive in terms of real estate prices, making it one of the best neighborhoods in Bayonne for investing. Quiet and residential. |
Real Estate in Bayonne: Prices per Square Meter in 2025
An unconventional tourist destination, Bayonne has a dynamic real estate market. TheThe city has seen a 22.9% increase in prices per square meter over the past 5 years and a 67.9% increase over the past 10 years. As of February 2025, here is the trend in Bayonne’s real estate prices:
L’Agencerie –
