The walled old town
1 h 30Everyone; slopes and cobblesDog-friendlyAll year
From the Santa María gate to Plaza de Armas and the Charles V castle along Calle Mayor · 1 h 30 · free.
From San SebastiánAbout 25 min by car or bus
To FranceMotorboat to Hendaye, 7 min
Minimum timeHalf a day
Best timeMay · Jun · Sep
What to do
What to do in Hondarribia
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
La Marina quarter and Calle San Pedro
1 hEveryoneDog-friendlyAll year
The old fishermen's quarter, with houses with painted balconies and the street of pintxos · 1 h · free.
Boat from Hondarribia to Hendaye
7 minEveryoneDog-friendlyAll year
Crossing Txingudi bay to France · 7 min · every 15 min · €2.50 per trip · dogs and bikes allowed.
From €2
How to do it
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Hondarribia, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Hondarribia
From May to September, with the motorboat to Hendaye running late and the Jaizkibel boat in operation. Out of season it is quieter, but check the closures of restaurants and the Parador.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Hondarribia your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Car down below, the town on foot
In Hondarribia the car is for getting there and for going up Jaizkibel or to the Arkolla grill; everything else is done on foot. Park in the Marina or on the Butrón promenade and forget about it.
100–200 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepParador de Hondarribia, with paid…
- Getting aroundJaizkibel and Guadalupe along the…
- Where to eatLaia Erretegia, in Arkolla, open…
- ServicesArma Plaza and Marina tourist…
Where to sleep
- Parador de Hondarribia, with paid outdoor parking (closed from 2 January to 28 May 2027)
- Hotel Palacio Obispo, six spaces at €10 with a reservation
- Camping Jaizkibel, on the Guadalupe road, from March to November
Getting around
- Jaizkibel and Guadalupe along the ridge road
- Plaiaundi, in Irun, about 10 minutes away
- San Sebastián, about 25 minutes along the AP-8 or the N-1
Where to eat
- Laia Erretegia, in Arkolla, open on Sunday at lunchtime
- Alameda, in the town
- Gran Sol, in the Marina, Tuesday to Saturday
Services
- Arma Plaza and Marina tourist offices
By bus from San Sebastián and by boat to France
Without a car, Hondarribia is among the easiest places on the coast: the bus comes from San Sebastián, the town is explored on foot and the boat drops you in France in seven minutes.
90–180 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepParador de Hondarribia, in Plaza…
- Getting aroundLurraldebus BI01 from Donostia bus…
- Where to eatGran Sol, on Calle San…
- ServicesArma Plaza tourist office, in…
Where to sleep
- Parador de Hondarribia, in Plaza de Armas
- Hotel Palacio Obispo, next to the church
Getting around
- Lurraldebus BI01 from Donostia bus station or BI02 from Amara
- Boat to Hendaye every 15 minutes, €2.50
- On foot to the Higer lighthouse and the beach
Where to eat
- Gran Sol, on Calle San Pedro
- Alameda, a tavern with no reservations and a restaurant with reservations
Services
- Arma Plaza tourist office, in the old town
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Hondarribia for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
A boat to France and a calm beach
For going with children, Hondarribia has short distances and a boat that everyone finds an adventure. The slopes and cobbles of the old town are the only thing that weighs on you with a pushchair.
- What works bestThe boat to Hendaye: seven…
- Where to sleepCamping Jaizkibel, bungalows for up…
- Where to eatThe Alameda tavern, with no…
- Worth knowingThe old town has slopes…
What works best
- The boat to Hendaye: seven minutes, every 15 minutes
- The boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs, €11 for children
- Hondarribia beach, inside the bay, with calm water
- Plaiaundi, with lagoons and a bird hide on a 2 km trail
Where to sleep
- Camping Jaizkibel, bungalows for up to six, from March to November
- Parador de Hondarribia, with a lift and a garden
Where to eat
- The Alameda tavern, with no reservations
- Pintxos at Gran Sol, Tuesday to Saturday at lunchtime
Worth knowing
- The old town has slopes and stone paving: a backpack carrier is better than a pushchair
- The Palacio Obispo has no lift
What to do as a family
Mountain, lighthouse and a hop to France
The wild side works for teenagers: the Jaizkibel ridge, the Higer lighthouse and crossing the border on their own by boat to wander round Hendaye.
- What works bestThe walk to the Higer…
- Where to sleepCamping Jaizkibel, at the foot…
- Where to eatPintxos on Calle San Pedro
- Worth knowingThe boat takes five bicycles…
What works best
- The walk to the Higer lighthouse, about two hours there and back
- Jaizkibel, on foot or by bike from Guadalupe
- The boat trip along the cliffs, with the sandstone formations
- The boat to Hendaye, bike included
Where to sleep
- Camping Jaizkibel, at the foot of the mountain
- Parador de Hondarribia, for sleeping in a castle
Where to eat
- Pintxos on Calle San Pedro
- Laia Erretegia for a grill feast on Sunday
Worth knowing
- The boat takes five bicycles per crossing
- To climb Jaizkibel on foot, take water and something warm
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
© ParadoresHotelParador de Hondarribia
Why we like it: The Charles V castle, in Plaza de Armas in the walled old town, converted into a Parador; closed from 2 January to 28 May 2027.
Hotel Palacio Obispo
Why we like it: A hotel in the medieval tower where Archbishop Rojas y Sandoval was born, next to Santa María in the walled old town; garden, terrace and no lift.
Camping Jaizkibel
Why we like it: A campsite at the foot of Jaizkibel, on the Guadalupe road, with bungalows for up to six and pitches; closed until 1 March 2027.
From €84
View details
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Historic old town | Walls, Parador, Calle Mayor | |
| La Marina | Pintxos, fishermen's quarter, motorboat | |
| Jaizkibel and Higer | Mountain, lighthouse, campsite |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Hondarribia
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Gran Sol
What to order: the salt cod tosta, the soft-boiled egg or the Jaizkibel pintxo, at the bar
Alameda
What to order: the tasting menu with the Hondarribia tomato and anchovy, or the tavern, with no reservation
Laia Erretegia
What to order: the aged txuleta by weight to share, or grilled monkfish, with seasonal chargrilled vegetables
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Hondarribia
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
43.39° N · 1.66° W
French Basque Coast
By carCar-freeLuxuryCampingBy campervanBy plane
43.29° N · 2.19° W
Getaria and Zarautz
By carCar-free
43.00° N · 1.14° W
Irati Forest
By carBy bike
43.37° N · 2.68° W
Urdaibai
By carCar-free
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Walk up to the old town
Leave the car below and go in through the Santa María gate: the old town is not for cars.
- 2Take the motorboat without booking
It leaves every 15 minutes from the Butrón promenade and the ticket is paid on board.
- 3Pintxos at midday
Gran Sol, on Calle San Pedro, is open Tuesday to Saturday and does not take bookings: arrive early.
Hondarribia is at the mouth of the Bidasoa, the border with France, at the foot of Mount Jaizkibel. It has two faces you can see on one stroll: above, the walled historic old town, with Calle Mayor, the Plaza de Armas and the castle of Charles V, now a Parador; below, beside Txingudi bay, La Marina, the old fishermen's quarter, with houses with painted balconies and Calle San Pedro full of bars. From its quay, a motorboat crosses to Hendaye in seven minutes. And behind the village begins Jaizkibel, with the Higer lighthouse on the point.
How to get there
From San Sebastián it is about 18 km, according to the Parador, along the AP-8 motorway or the N-1 towards the border: about 25 minutes by car. From Bilbao, about an hour and a quarter along the AP-8 (estimated). From Pamplona, a little over an hour along the N-121-A towards Irun (estimated). From Vitoria-Gasteiz, nearly an hour and a half along the A-1 and the AP-8 or the N-1 (estimated).
Without a car, Lurraldebus links Hondarribia with San Sebastián on several lines: the BI01 goes from Hondarribia (airport) to the Donostia bus station and the BI02 to Amara; others pass through Irun, Errenteria and Pasaia. San Sebastián airport is in Hondarribia's own municipality, at the entrance to the village.
Where to park
The historic old town is narrow and almost entirely pedestrian-only: don't try to drive up. Park below, in the Marina area or next to the Butrón promenade, and walk up through the Santa María gate; it is five minutes uphill. The Parador has a paid outdoor car park for its guests and the Palacio Obispo six spaces that must be reserved. In summer and at weekends, the earlier you arrive, the easier it is.
What to see in a day
Start in the morning in the historic old town: go in through the Santa María gate, climb Calle Mayor to the Plaza de Armas and the castle, and come down by the church of Santa María de la Asunción. At midday, pintxos in La Marina, on Calle San Pedro, or a long lunch at a grill restaurant. In the afternoon take your pick: the motorboat to Hendaye to stroll on the other side of the bay, the boat along the Jaizkibel cliffs, or a walk to the Higer lighthouse. If you are with children or like birds, the Plaiaundi ecological park, already in Irun, is a quiet afternoon beside the bay.
How much time
Half a day is enough for the old town and La Marina. A whole day lets you add the motorboat or the Jaizkibel boat and an unhurried lunch. A night makes sense if you sleep at the Parador or the Palacio Obispo, inside the walls, and walk down to dinner in La Marina; from Hondarribia, San Sebastián is half an hour away and Saint-Jean-de-Luz is across the border.
When to go
From May to September is the best season: the motorboat to Hendaye runs until 19:00 or 20:00 in spring and until midnight in July and August, and the Jaizkibel boat has more departures. In winter the motorboat still leaves every 15 minutes, from 10:15 to 18:00. Out of season, expect closures: the Parador closes from 2 January to 28 May 2027, the Jaizkibel campsite from 9 November to 1 March, and Alameda announces a holiday until 24 January.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Hondarribia to Hendaye?
On the Jolaski motorboat from the Butrón promenade: 7 minutes, every 15 minutes, €2.50 each way, with dogs and up to five bikes.
Can you go to Hondarribia by bus from San Sebastián?
Yes, with Lurraldebus: the BI01 from the bus station and the BI02 from Amara, among others.
Where do you park in Hondarribia?
Below, in La Marina or next to the Butrón promenade, and you walk up to the historic old town.
Can you sleep inside the walls?
Yes: at the Parador, in the castle of Charles V, or at the Hotel Palacio Obispo, next to the church.
How long do you need to see Hondarribia?
Half a day for the old town and La Marina; a day if you add the motorboat, the Jaizkibel boat or the Higer lighthouse.