Have you ever heard of ventas, these commercial areas at the Franco-Spanish border offering often high-quality products at soft prices?

Enjoy your holidays in our campsite in Bidart to stock up on good deals!

The Basques' Favorite Ventas

The Basques, known for their love of quality products, have their favorite ventas near the Spanish border. In these shops, they shop while enjoying advantageous prices. Among these ventas, the Venta Peio has widely conquered the Basque territory. Besides this low-taxed store at the Spanish border, other popular ventas such as Venta Miguel or Benta Biok can also be found.

Here are the must-visit places for shopping in the Basque Country:

 

 

Dantxaria

This is the most popular ventas zone among the French living in the Basque Country. Located in Ainhoa, 30 minutes from our campsite, Dantxaria brings together numerous brands. In addition to its wide selection of low-priced meat and local products, Dantxaria is a true Ali Baba's cave where you can find all sorts of products at attractive prices (clothing, bags, shoes...).

Col d'Ibardin

Col d'Ibardin in Urrugne (also 30 minutes from our campsite), is captivating with its unique environment in the heart of the Basque Country mountains. After shopping in a low-taxed store at the Spanish border, enjoy a meal or a drink with a view of the mountains, or go hiking up to Lake Ibardin. Col d'Ibardin is also a commercial treasure for lovers of low-priced items and fine food enthusiasts.

Béhobie

This little paradise of shopping on the Spanish side, 10 minutes from Hendaye, gathers several popular ventas. It is one of the first stops for the French looking to save on local products, particularly alcohol, deli meats, and Basque cheeses.

What products to buy at the Spanish border?

Find a wide range of high-quality products at competitive prices. Here are the main products to buy in a low-taxed store at the Spanish border:

  • Meat and charcuterie: enjoy hams, sausages, chorizos, and other Basque specialties, which are known for their quality and affordable prices.
  • Alcohol: buy wines, cavas, and spirits at much lower prices than in France, thanks to lighter taxes.
  • Tobacco: find cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products at advantageous rates due to lower taxes in Spain.
  • Fuel: Spain offers significantly lower fuel prices than in France. So, fill up before you leave.
  • Products from the Basque Country: buy olive oil, Espelette pepper, canned goods, and jars of Basque specialties like axoa or piperade at attractive prices.
  • Other products: you can also find clothing, home goods, and many other products, often at more competitive prices than in France.

How to benefit from tax-free shopping?

In the ventas of the Basque Country, you will find stores offering lower taxes than in France. Indeed, Spain applies a lower VAT than France, which allows merchants to offer more competitive prices on a wide range of products. This is especially true for items like alcohol, cigarettes, fuel, and meat, which enjoy significantly lower prices than on the other side of the border.

However, to benefit from the total tax exemption at the Spanish border, you must be a resident outside the European Union. Tax exemption is possible from a minimum purchase of about €175, depending on the stores. At the checkout, ask to fill out a tax-free form. Once the purchase is made, you will need to have this form stamped by customs before leaving Spain or the EU.