# Hondarribia A walled old town, the Marina quarter and Mount Jaizkibel at the mouth of the Bidasoa, with France seven minutes away by motorboat. One day covers it all. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/hondarribia · Revisado: 2026-11-12 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. ## Dónde está - Zonas: Bay of Biscay - Cerca: French Basque Coast (a 11.0 km · France), Getaria and Zarautz (a 33.0 km), Irati Forest (a 67.2 km), Urdaibai (a 72.0 km) ## Qué hacer - **The walled old town** (1 h 30 · Everyone; slopes and cobbles · Free): Hondarribia's old town keeps its walled enclosure above the bay. Enter through the Santa María gate, climb Calle Mayor (Kale Nagusia), with its stone houses, coats of arms and wooden eaves, and you will reach Plaza de Armas, dominated by the Charles V castle: a military fortress above the Bidasoa, with thick walls, that is now a Parador. Come down by the church of Santa María de la Asunción and walk round the walls. It is an unhurried walk of an hour and a half, with slopes and stone paving: with a pushchair it can be done, but it is hard work. The tourist office is in Plaza de Armas itself, at number 9. The walls and their gates Hondarribia was a frontier stronghold and paid for it with nine sieges. Hondarribia Turismo recounts the main ones: in 1476 the French withdrew after nine days; in 1521 French and Navarrese forces took the town and held it for more than two years; in 1638 a French army of 18,000 men besieged it for 69 days without being able to get in; and in 1794, after seven days, it fell to Revolutionary France, and the fortress stopped functioning. The walls, built of Jaizkibel limestone, were reinforced at the end of the 15th century and in the 16th with towers, bastions and moats. The Santa María gate keeps its arch and a town coat of arms dated 1694; the San Nicolás gate has a Gothic doorway of the medieval wall inside. To see the best-preserved stretches, walk the perimeter from Santa María towards the Gernika tree gardens. Along the way are the Leiva bastion, from the 16th century, with its countermine gallery; the Reina bastion; and the San Felipe bastion, from the 17th, where a casino was installed in the 19th century. Calle Mayor and Plaza de Armas Calle Mayor is cobbled all the way. At number 20 is the Town Hall, Baroque, from 1735; at number 5, the Casadevante house, where the truce of the 1638 siege was negotiated; at number 8, the Zuloaga house, with the municipal archive and library; and at number 2, the Ladrón de Guevara house, with its glazed blue brick façade. On Calle Juan de Laborda, the Eguiluz palace put up Joanna the Mad and Philip the Handsome for three days in 1502. At the top, the castle is attributed to Sancho Abarca of Navarre and was extended by Sancho the Wise in 1190; its sober façade dates from the time of Charles V. It was castle and palace at once, and since 1968 it has been a Parador. Plaza de Armas was used for drilling the troops and also for festivals, bullfights and proclamations. The church The church of Santa María de la Asunción y del Manzano is Gothic with Renaissance additions. Work began around 1474 and the first phase was completed in 1549, when the Bishop of Bayonne consecrated it. The Baroque tower dates from the 18th century. Inside are Baroque altarpieces from the early 18th century, a neo-Gothic high altarpiece from 1914 and a Neapolitan Baroque Virgin that arrived in 1753. Accessibility and tips Bidasoa Turismo warns that the old town has steep slopes, steps and very narrow pavements, and that the parish church is not wheelchair accessible because of the steps at the entrance. Don't drive up: park below, in the Marina. The Arma Plaza office (943 643 677) provides leaflets on the walled town, and there is an official app with a guide in Spanish, Basque, French and English. If you are staying inside the walls, the Palacio Obispo is beside the church. Afterwards, go down to the Marina for pintxos, or have lunch at Alameda. - **La Marina quarter and Calle San Pedro** (1 h · Everyone · Free): Going down from the old town towards the bay you reach the Marina (Portua), the fishermen's quarter. Its houses have balconies and shutters painted green, blue or red, and Calle San Pedro is the street of bars: Gran Sol, Maite, Txantxangorri, Zeria and Itxaropena, one after another. Keep going to the Butrón promenade, beside the water, where the boat to Hendaye leaves from. The second tourist office is on Calle Matxin de Artzu. The quarter of the portuarras If the walled old town is the Hondarribia of soldiers and palaces, the Marina is that of the people of the sea. Its residents are called portuarras, and the quarter grew outside the walls, beside Txingudi bay and the mouth of the Bidasoa. The memory of the fishermen is captured in the documentary Amakiña bat itsaso kontu, which the Sustraia association filmed over several years with interviews with fishermen and harbour people, in collaboration with the town council and Arma Plaza Fundazioa. Calle San Pedro It is pedestrianised and is the backbone of the quarter. Hondarribia Turismo lists its bars with their addresses: Zabala at number 8, Rafa at 10, Sardara at 12, Ignacio at 20, Alcanadre at 26, Txantxangorri at 27, Maite at 35, Itsaspe at 40, Gran Sol at 65, Itxaropena at 67 and Azkenportu at 73. It is a street for going from bar to bar, with a pintxo and a txakoli in each. If it is your first time, start at Gran Sol, which has pintxos with names of their own such as the Jaizkibel or the soft-boiled egg. Each bar has its own day off, and Gran Sol, for example, closes on Sunday and Monday: if you go on those days, check first what is open. Butrón promenade and the bay At the end of the street is the water. The Butrón promenade follows the bay and the boat to Hendaye leaves from it, crossing to France in about seven minutes. On the same promenade there are more bars and terraces. Following the coast northwards you reach Hondarribia beach and, further on, the Higer lighthouse. How to fit it in The Marina can be walked in an hour, but most people stay longer. Combine it with the old town, which is a few minutes uphill: go up in the morning, when it is quieter, and come down to the Marina at vermouth time or for dinner. Park down below, around the Butrón promenade, because there is no room up above. If you need information, the Marina tourist office is on Calle Matxin de Artzu. - **Boat from Hondarribia to Hendaye** (7 min · Everyone · Desde 2.5 € per person per trip): The boat crosses Txingudi bay between the Butrón promenade and Hendaye harbour in about seven minutes. It has run practically every day since 1993 and leaves every 15 minutes; the ticket, €2.50 per person per trip, is paid on board. It takes dogs and up to five non-motorised bicycles per crossing. The timetable changes with the season. In July, August and until 13 September, from 10:00 to midnight. From April to June, in the second half of September and in October, from 10:15 to 19:00, and until 20:00 at weekends. From late October until March, from 10:15 to 18:00. Bad weather can change it. The crossing It is the most direct way to get to France from the Marina without a car. The boat is the Rekalde, a traditional vessel, and the crossing is short: seven minutes over the bay, with views of the three towns of Txingudi, Hondarribia, Irun and Hendaye. From the water you see Hondarribia's walled old town high above and the Marina below, and opposite, Hendaye's harbour and seafront. There is no need to book or buy in advance: you arrive at the jetty, wait for the next boat and pay on board. With a departure every quarter of an hour, the wait is never long. Jolaski's website gives the Butrón promenade as the departure point, although in another section it mentions the Venta car park: if in doubt, ask at the Marina tourist office or call 622 427 388. Price and what you can take Ticket: €2.50 per person per trip, paid on board. The website does not publish a reduced fare for children. Dogs: allowed. Bicycles: up to five non-motorised per crossing. A return costs €5. If you are travelling as a group with bikes, bear in mind the limit of five per crossing: you may have to split up between two boats. 2026 timetables Summer: July, August and until 13 September, from 10:00 to 00:00. 14 to 30 September: from 10:15 to 19:00; weekends, until 20:00. October: from 10:15 to 19:00; weekends, until 20:00. 26 October to December: from 10:15 to 18:00. January to March: from 10:15 to 18:00. April to June: from 10:15 to 19:00; weekends, until 20:00. Bad weather can change the timetables. Check the time of the last boat back, especially in winter, when the service ends at 18:00. What to do on each side With a boat every quarter of an hour, it is easy to spend an afternoon in Hendaye and be back for dinner. In Hondarribia, the boat leaves next to the Marina and Calle San Pedro, so the perfect plan is to cross in the afternoon and come back for pintxos at Gran Sol. If you want more boat, the same company runs the trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs. To see the bay from land, try the Higer lighthouse or Plaiaundi park, in Irun. - **Boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs** (1 h 30 · Everyone · Desde 15 € per adult): For an hour and a half, the boat follows the Jaizkibel coast, the wildest in Gipuzkoa: cliffs, layers of flysch and the paramoudras, sandstone formations with rounded outlines that can only be seen properly from the sea. It costs €15 for adults and €11 for children, with a discount from 10 people. Scheduled departures are at 16:00 on the days marked on Jolaski's booking calendar. It leaves from Hondarribia marina on the Higuer catamaran, which holds 64 passengers; confirm the exact meeting point when you book. What you see from the water Jaizkibel runs parallel to the coast between Hondarribia and Pasaia, with a ridge of about 545 metres. On the sea side, the cliffs drop sheer for up to 240 metres, according to Bidasoa Turismo, and the rock is flysch, the same layered formation that runs through Ulia and Igeldo. From the ridge road you can peer over at the viewpoints, but the whole wall only makes sense from below, from the boat. The strangest things are the paramoudras: Jolaski describes them as geological sandstone formations, spherical in shape, that exist in only a few places in the world. This coast has coves such as Los Frailes, Kapelaundi and Artzuportu, several of them hard to reach by land according to Bidasoa Turismo, and yellow-legged and lesser black-backed gulls nest on the cliffs. Prices and booking Adults: €15, or €13.50 in a group. Children: €11, or €9.50 in a group. The group price applies from 10 people. The website does not say up to what age the child fare applies: ask when you book. You book online, choosing the day, time and number of passengers on the calendar, or on 622 427 388 and at info@jolaski.com. Outside the scheduled departures, Jolaski organises private trips, mostly for groups, schools, associations and companies, and hires out its boats from €250 an hour. Tips The boat goes out on open sea, beyond the bay: if you get seasick, take something beforehand and stay on deck looking at the horizon. Bring a jacket even if it is sunny, because it blows harder on the water. The website does not say whether dogs are allowed on this trip; check. In bad weather the departure may change: Jolaski's confirmation is what counts. Before and after The afternoon fits well after a morning in the old town and a lunch in the Marina. If you then want to see Jaizkibel from above, drive up the Guadalupe road to Mount Jaizkibel. The same company runs the boat to Hendaye, which crosses the bay in seven minutes. - **Walk to the Higer lighthouse** (2 h · Everyone · Free): The Higer lighthouse stands at the tip of the cape, where Jaizkibel runs into the sea opposite Hendaye. From the Marina, follow the beach promenade and then the Higer road (Higer Bidea) to the lighthouse: allow a couple of hours there and back at an easy pace. You can also get there by car, with little room at the top. From the point you see Txingudi bay, Hendaye beach and, on a clear day, the French coast towards Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The cape and the lighthouse At Higer, Mount Jaizkibel ends in the sea, beside the mouth of the Bidasoa, which marks the border with France. The lighthouse has lit this coast since 1881 and is still working. Today it is seen from outside: it is not open to the public. In May 2026 Hondarribia town council announced an agreement with the Pasaia Port Authority to recover the site and make it accessible, although a project must first be drawn up and works carried out, so it will not open before 2027. From the point you have Txingudi bay on one side, with Hondarribia, Irun and Hendaye; ahead, Hendaye beach and the French coast; and on the other side, the open Bay of Biscay and the outline of Jaizkibel. It is a good place to watch the sunset. The walk Set off from the Marina and walk along the promenade beside Hondarribia beach to the end of the sands. From there, the Higer road climbs the slope of the cape to the lighthouse. It is an easy walk on tarmac, well suited to children who already walk; watch out for cars, because it is a road open to traffic. Allow about two hours there and back, plus whatever time you spend at the top. Take water in summer and a jacket: at the point, exposed to the sea, the wind is stronger than in town. Beyond the lighthouse Higer also gives its name to a long route: Bidasoa Turismo points out that the trans-Pyrenean Higer–Endara route starts on the Bay of Biscay, crosses Hondarribia and Irun and climbs towards Peñas de Aia, and that the Talaia path follows the Jaizkibel coast to Pasai Donibane. If you fancy the mountain, go up afterwards to Jaizkibel and Guadalupe. If you would rather see the cliffs without walking, the boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs leaves from the harbour and covers them in an hour and a half. Eating nearby On the Higer road itself, Bidasoa Turismo places the restaurant Arroka Berri. Otherwise, go back to the Marina: Calle San Pedro has pintxo bars such as Gran Sol. Without a car, the Lurraldebus bus from San Sebastián drops you in Hondarribia, and the walk starts from the Marina. - **Mount Jaizkibel and Guadalupe** (2 h · By car, bike or on foot · Free): Jaizkibel is the mountain that separates Hondarribia from Pasaia, with a long ridge above the sea. From the town, the Guadalupe road climbs past Jaizkibel campsite to the Guadalupe sanctuary and the fort of the same name, and continues along the ridge towards Pasaia with viewpoints over the cliffs. You can do it by car, on a road bike or on foot along the paths that leave from Guadalupe. At sunset, in good weather, you see the coast of France on one side and that of Gipuzkoa on the other. The mountain Bidasoa Turismo gives the ridge a height of about 545 metres. Jaizkibel runs parallel to the coast and forms part, with Ulia and Igeldo, of a single flysch formation laid down between 45 and 54 million years ago. On the sea side, to the west, the cliffs drop sheer for up to 240 metres; on the east, the slope is gentler, with small coves and gullies. In the eastern zone there are rare plants, such as some tropical ferns, and yellow-legged and lesser black-backed gulls nest on the cliffs; the Balearic shearwater can also be seen, and reptiles such as the ocellated lizard live here. Guadalupe The Guadalupe sanctuary, on the slope that looks onto Txingudi bay, was built in the 16th century. Hondarribia Turismo notes that its first written mention dates from 1526, when Juan Sebastián Elcano left it six gold ducats. During the French siege of 1638, the image of the Virgin was brought down to the parish church, and the victory of 7 September was attributed to her: ever since, the town has celebrated it with the Alarde and, every 8 September, goes up in procession to the sanctuary. Inside are ship models as votive offerings, a high altarpiece from 1748 and a carving of the Virgin from the 14th or 15th century, one of the seven black Virgins of Gipuzkoa. Next to it is the Guadalupe fort, which Bidasoa Turismo describes as one of the most beautiful defensive buildings of the modern era in the Basque Country. Walking on Jaizkibel Several waymarked routes cross the mountain. The Talaia path (Talaia ibilbidea), a GR, links Hondarribia with Pasai Donibane, following the old whaling lookouts on the coast. The first stage of the Camino de Santiago along the coast leaves from Irun or Hondarribia and crosses Jaizkibel and Ulia. And the trans-Pyrenean Higer–Endara route starts from the Bay of Biscay, passes through Hondarribia and Irun and climbs towards Peñas de Aia. For a short walk, leave the car near Guadalupe and walk along the ridge to the first viewpoint; the full stage to Pasaia is already a day in the mountains. Up there you are exposed to the weather: in fog the views and the path markings are lost. Take water and a jacket. Getting there and what to combine By car, take the Guadalupe road from Hondarribia; it passes Jaizkibel campsite, a good base for going up the mountain. From the sea, the boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs shows the face you cannot see from the road. In the evening, go down to dinner in the Marina or head to the Higer lighthouse, at the tip of the mountain. - **Plaiaundi ecological park** (1 h 15 · 2 km · Families and birdwatchers · Free): Plaiaundi is a 24-hectare wetland in Irun, between the Bidasoa and the Jaizubia stream, opposite Txingudi bay. It has two inner lagoons connected to the tide, an intertidal beach and a freshwater lagoon, and forms part of the Natura 2000 network and the Ramsar list. A self-guided trail of about 2 km with 17 panels leads to the observation points; the pedestrian and cycle walkway of more than 1 km follows the bay to the Santiago district. The Ekoetxea Txingudi interpretation centre, on Avenida Pierre Loti in Irun, organises guided visits by reservation (943 619 389). There is parking. It is about 10 minutes by car from Hondarribia. What Plaiaundi is Plaiaundi is right next to the city of Irun, but it is a protected natural area. The two inner lagoons fill and empty with the tide thanks to a system of sluice gates, and beside them are a beach that the tide covers and uncovers and freshwater lagoons. That variety of habitats is what makes it a refuge for birds. Ekoetxea Txingudi presents the bay as the most important site on the Basque coast for birdwatching, and Turismo Euskadi notes that it is a refuge for migratory birds and forms part of the Txingudi Special Protection Area for Birds. To see them, the park has hides and observation towers. The route The self-guided trail, of about 2 km and 17 panels, is flat and takes a good hour, stopping at the hides. Continue along the Plaiaundi to Santiago district walkway, more than a kilometre long, which passes under the international bridges between Irun and Hendaye and crosses the mouth of the Bidasoa, with views of the bay and Hondarribia. You can do it on foot or by bike. There is a picnic area and an exercise circuit; camping is not allowed. Bring binoculars and speak quietly in the hides. Visits and activities Ekoetxea Txingudi, at the park entrance, organises guided visits of Plaiaundi and of the Jaizubia marsh, in Hondarribia, for groups and individuals, with prior booking. It also runs workshops: in November 2026, family and adult activities from 11:00 to 13:00, several at €4, and on 28 November a free clean-up day, Plaiaundi Vivo. Some fill up: book on 943 619 389 or at info.txingudi@ekoetxea.eus. The website does not publish the centre's opening hours. With children and how to get there It is an easy plan with children: a flat trail, hides where you can watch without disturbing, and family workshops. From Hondarribia it is about 10 minutes by car to Avenida Pierre Loti in Irun; there is parking. Afterwards, go back to Hondarribia to stroll round the old town or the Marina, or cross the bay on the boat to Hendaye. - **Hondarribia beach** (3 h · Families · Free): Hondarribia beach lies on Txingudi bay, at the end of the Marina, between the breakwater and the Higer path. Being inside the bay, the water arrives calmer than on the open sea, which is why it works with children. It is a few minutes on foot from the fishermen's quarter and 1.5 km from Jaizkibel campsite. What it is like It is a big urban beach: 800 metres long and an average width of 232 metres, with fine golden sand, according to Hondarribia Turismo. Bidasoa Turismo notes that the surroundings were recently redeveloped. It faces the mouth of the Bidasoa, with Hendaye and the French coast opposite, and the water is usually calm: it is not a beach for big waves, but for quiet swimming and walking along the water's edge. It has lifeguards and hondartzainas, the beach wardens, as well as toilets, washbasins, showers, changing rooms, children's play areas, a kiosk, a bar and parking. Lifeguard hours are not published in these listings: check them at the tourist office if you go outside July and August. Accessible Bidasoa Turismo rates the beach as accessible for people with reduced mobility: it has ramps, rigid walkways over the sand, reserved parking spaces, adapted toilets and an assisted bathing service. It also has a public address system for important announcements. With children The calm water of the bay, the wide sand and the play areas make it a comfortable beach for going with little ones. Even so, swim near the lifeguards and keep an eye on the flags. Bring your own shade in summer. Beyond the beach If you are looking for something wilder, on the slopes of Jaizkibel there are coves such as Los Frailes, Kapelaundi, Errota Sein or Artzuportu, but Bidasoa Turismo warns that several have strong waves and wind or difficult access. Others, such as Sisurko or Eretzin Zabala, get hardly any visitors, and Kapelaundi is frequented by nudist bathers. For swimming with lifeguards and facilities, stay on the town beach. To see that coast, you are better off with the boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs, which shows it from the sea. The walk to the Higer lighthouse starts from the beach, and on the way back you have the Marina and Calle San Pedro for something to eat and drink: Gran Sol is one of its pintxo bars. Without a car, the Lurraldebus bus from San Sebastián drops you in the town, and you walk down to the beach. If you are staying nearby, Jaizkibel campsite is 1.5 km away. ## Dónde comer - **Gran Sol** (Bar, Hondarribia, €€). Qué pedir: the salt cod tosta, the soft-boiled egg or the Jaizkibel pintxo, at the bar - **Alameda** (Restaurant, Hondarribia, €€€€). Qué pedir: the tasting menu with the Hondarribia tomato and anchovy, or the tavern, with no reservation - **Laia Erretegia** (Restaurant, Hondarribia, €€€). Qué pedir: the aged txuleta by weight to share, or grilled monkfish, with seasonal chargrilled vegetables ## By car: 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. Presupuesto orientativo: 100–200 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Parador de Hondarribia** (Hotel): The Charles V castle, at the top of Plaza de Armas The Parador occupies the Charles V castle, at Plaza de Armas 14, the highest point of Hondarribia's walled old town, right on the border with France. Paradores dates it to the 10th century: it was a fortress built to defend the mouth of the Bidasoa, hence the very thick walls and the height of the building. According to its listing, Emperor Charles V, Philip IV and Philip V stayed in it, and Velázquez as well. Inside it holds tapestries designed by Rubens on the story of Achilles, which give their name to the main lounge. Outside, the castle has a terrace and a garden. Five types of room There are standard doubles, superior doubles, junior suites, suites and one accessible double. All have a flat-screen television, minibar, a safe big enough for a laptop, hairdryer and free wifi. There is a lift, room service and breakfast in the room. The rate changes by day: the Paradores website shows it on a calendar, with room-only or bed-and-breakfast prices, and cheaper rates for members of its Amigos programme. No restaurant: breakfast and a café The Parador has no restaurant. It serves a breakfast buffet and, during the day, an informal café with local produce and handmade pastries. For lunch and dinner you go down into the town: Alameda, the starred house of the Txapartegi family, or the pintxos at Gran Sol, in the Marina. Arriving on foot, by car or with reduced mobility Paradores warns that the building's historic character makes access on foot difficult: if you have mobility problems, call the Parador (943 645 500) beforehand so they can tell you the best way in. For the car there is paid outdoor parking and charging points for electric cars; their listing explains how to get to it. From San Sebastián it is 18 km along the N-1 or the A-8 motorway, towards France. Closed from January to May 2027 Paradores announces that the Parador closes from 2 January to 28 May 2027. If your trip falls near those dates, check them on its website when you book. Lounges with views of the square For meetings or celebrations it has two lounges that look onto Plaza de Armas: the tapestry lounge, of 112 m² and up to 70 people theatre-style or 100 standing, and the Emperor Charles V lounge, of 106 m². On foot from the door You step out into Plaza de Armas and you are in the walled old town: Calle Mayor leads from the Santa María gate to the San Nicolás gate. Outside the walls is the Marina quarter, and from the harbour the boat to Hendaye leaves. - **Hotel Palacio Obispo** (Small hotel): The tower where an archbishop was born The hotel is at Apezpiku Kalea 1, in the Plaza del Obispo, next to the church of Santa María, inside Hondarribia's walled old town. The building began as a 12th-century tower that formed part of the town's defences. After the French sieges, between the end of the 15th century and the start of the 16th, its battery of cannon was pulled down and a major refurbishment gave it the appearance it has today. Cristóbal Rojas y Sandoval was born here on 24 July 1502; he became Bishop of Oviedo and of Badajoz and Archbishop of Seville, and the square and the street take their name from him. The house stood empty for many years until it opened as a hotel and restaurant in 1990. Three types of room Single: about 12 m², a 1.35 m bed, restored classic furniture and the original tiled floor. Double: a double bed or two beds, with an extra bed if you ask for one; some have a small sitting area, and the floor is tile or original wood. Superior double: a large bed or two beds, original wooden floor and a balcony or small terrace with views of Txingudi bay. All have their own bathroom with toiletries, hairdryer, minibar, wardrobe, television, heating and air conditioning. Depending on the room, the window looks onto Santa María or onto the Bidasoa plain. The website does not publish prices: they are shown on its booking engine. Stairs, not a lift The building keeps its medieval structure and so has no lift. If you are travelling with heavy luggage or find stairs difficult, bear this in mind before booking. Breakfast in the sun and a lounge with a fireplace Breakfast is a continental buffet in the café, at €15 per person, and it is brought up to your room if you ask; in good weather it is taken on the large terrace, in the sun. There is a garden and a reading lounge with a fire lit in winter. For lunch or dinner, the hotel works with the bar next door, Tatapas Gastroteka. The room is cleaned daily, there is a paid laundry and ironing service, free wifi throughout the hotel and a meeting room for more than twenty people. Reception staff speak Spanish, French and English. Six parking spaces Check-in from 14:00 and check-out before 12:00. The hotel has only six open-air spaces, unattended, at €10 a day, which are allocated with prior booking: ask for one when you book the room. Pets are not allowed, and smoking is only permitted in outdoor areas. What you have when you step out You are inside the walled old town, a few steps from the Parador in Plaza de Armas. The boat to Hendaye leaves from the town, and for a special meal you have Alameda, the Txapartegi family's house. - **Camping Jaizkibel** (Campsite, desde 84 € / night): At the foot of the mountain The campsite is at kilometre 22 of the Guadalupe road, on the slope of Jaizkibel, next to Hondarribia's old town and 1.5 km from the beach. It rents out bungalows and has pitches for tents, caravans, vans and motorhomes throughout the season. It is a mountain, sea and town campsite all at once: you climb to the Jaizkibel ridge from the gate and go down to the Marina for pintxos at dinner. When it opens It closes from 9 November 2026 to 1 March 2027. High season is Easter (1 to 5 April) and runs from 1 July to 15 September; mid season runs from 6 April to 30 June and from 15 September to 31 October, and low season is the rest of the year. To book, call 943 641 679 or write on WhatsApp to 672 647 612, or to recepcion@campingjaizkibel.com. Bungalows There are three types, all with a living room with a television and an open-plan kitchen (two hobs, microwave, fridge and kitchenware), a full bathroom and a terrace with a barbecue, and with one parking space included. Guests provide their own bed linen and towels. Type 1, detached, up to 6 people: bedroom with a 135 cm bed, sofa bed for two and a loft with two 90 cm mattresses. From €98 to €142 a day in low season depending on occupancy, and €160 in high season. Type 2, detached, up to 4 people: the same, without the loft. From €98 to €123 in low season and €160 in high season. Type 3, semi-detached, up to 4 people: 135 cm bed, sofa bed and a bunk over the sofa. From €84 to €115 in low season and €153 in high season. Prices include VAT. Pitches The standard pitch is 50 m², with grass and shade, and includes two adults, a caravan, motorhome or family tent, one car and 6 A electricity. The reduced pitch is 24 m², for two adults with a basic tent and a car or a van, without electricity (€6.90 a day extra). In high season they cost €47.70 and €33.20 a day. In mid and low season you pay item by item: €7.80 per adult, €7 per child aged 2 to 10, €11.60 per caravan or family tent, €19.30 per motorhome over 5 m, €7.80 for electricity and €4.10 per pet, among others. Facilities and pets It has a bar-restaurant, wifi throughout the campsite, washing machine and tumble dryer, a children's area, hot showers 24 hours a day, a social room with a barbecue, gas for sale, a safe, a first-aid kit and shaded areas. Pets are accepted with conditions: a declaration must be signed, dangerous breeds are not accepted and there are restrictions at Easter and from 15 June to 15 September. What to do nearby From the gate the road climbs to Guadalupe and the Jaizkibel ridge, with climbing and bouldering on its slopes; going down, you are in the old town within a few minutes and at the beach on a short walk. The Camino del Norte passes through Hondarribia towards Pasaia and Donostia, and the boat crosses to Hendaye. ## Car-free: 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. Presupuesto orientativo: 90–180 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Parador de Hondarribia** (Hotel): The Charles V castle, at the top of Plaza de Armas The Parador occupies the Charles V castle, at Plaza de Armas 14, the highest point of Hondarribia's walled old town, right on the border with France. Paradores dates it to the 10th century: it was a fortress built to defend the mouth of the Bidasoa, hence the very thick walls and the height of the building. According to its listing, Emperor Charles V, Philip IV and Philip V stayed in it, and Velázquez as well. Inside it holds tapestries designed by Rubens on the story of Achilles, which give their name to the main lounge. Outside, the castle has a terrace and a garden. Five types of room There are standard doubles, superior doubles, junior suites, suites and one accessible double. All have a flat-screen television, minibar, a safe big enough for a laptop, hairdryer and free wifi. There is a lift, room service and breakfast in the room. The rate changes by day: the Paradores website shows it on a calendar, with room-only or bed-and-breakfast prices, and cheaper rates for members of its Amigos programme. No restaurant: breakfast and a café The Parador has no restaurant. It serves a breakfast buffet and, during the day, an informal café with local produce and handmade pastries. For lunch and dinner you go down into the town: Alameda, the starred house of the Txapartegi family, or the pintxos at Gran Sol, in the Marina. Arriving on foot, by car or with reduced mobility Paradores warns that the building's historic character makes access on foot difficult: if you have mobility problems, call the Parador (943 645 500) beforehand so they can tell you the best way in. For the car there is paid outdoor parking and charging points for electric cars; their listing explains how to get to it. From San Sebastián it is 18 km along the N-1 or the A-8 motorway, towards France. Closed from January to May 2027 Paradores announces that the Parador closes from 2 January to 28 May 2027. If your trip falls near those dates, check them on its website when you book. Lounges with views of the square For meetings or celebrations it has two lounges that look onto Plaza de Armas: the tapestry lounge, of 112 m² and up to 70 people theatre-style or 100 standing, and the Emperor Charles V lounge, of 106 m². On foot from the door You step out into Plaza de Armas and you are in the walled old town: Calle Mayor leads from the Santa María gate to the San Nicolás gate. Outside the walls is the Marina quarter, and from the harbour the boat to Hendaye leaves. - **Hotel Palacio Obispo** (Small hotel): The tower where an archbishop was born The hotel is at Apezpiku Kalea 1, in the Plaza del Obispo, next to the church of Santa María, inside Hondarribia's walled old town. The building began as a 12th-century tower that formed part of the town's defences. After the French sieges, between the end of the 15th century and the start of the 16th, its battery of cannon was pulled down and a major refurbishment gave it the appearance it has today. Cristóbal Rojas y Sandoval was born here on 24 July 1502; he became Bishop of Oviedo and of Badajoz and Archbishop of Seville, and the square and the street take their name from him. The house stood empty for many years until it opened as a hotel and restaurant in 1990. Three types of room Single: about 12 m², a 1.35 m bed, restored classic furniture and the original tiled floor. Double: a double bed or two beds, with an extra bed if you ask for one; some have a small sitting area, and the floor is tile or original wood. Superior double: a large bed or two beds, original wooden floor and a balcony or small terrace with views of Txingudi bay. All have their own bathroom with toiletries, hairdryer, minibar, wardrobe, television, heating and air conditioning. Depending on the room, the window looks onto Santa María or onto the Bidasoa plain. The website does not publish prices: they are shown on its booking engine. Stairs, not a lift The building keeps its medieval structure and so has no lift. If you are travelling with heavy luggage or find stairs difficult, bear this in mind before booking. Breakfast in the sun and a lounge with a fireplace Breakfast is a continental buffet in the café, at €15 per person, and it is brought up to your room if you ask; in good weather it is taken on the large terrace, in the sun. There is a garden and a reading lounge with a fire lit in winter. For lunch or dinner, the hotel works with the bar next door, Tatapas Gastroteka. The room is cleaned daily, there is a paid laundry and ironing service, free wifi throughout the hotel and a meeting room for more than twenty people. Reception staff speak Spanish, French and English. Six parking spaces Check-in from 14:00 and check-out before 12:00. The hotel has only six open-air spaces, unattended, at €10 a day, which are allocated with prior booking: ask for one when you book the room. Pets are not allowed, and smoking is only permitted in outdoor areas. What you have when you step out You are inside the walled old town, a few steps from the Parador in Plaza de Armas. The boat to Hendaye leaves from the town, and for a special meal you have Alameda, the Txapartegi family's house. ### Servicios - **Lurraldebus from San Sebastián**: BI01 from Donostia bus station, BI02 from Amara and others via Irun ## As a family: 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 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 ### Qué hacer as a family - The walled old town - La Marina quarter and Calle San Pedro - Boat from Hondarribia to Hendaye - Boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs - Walk to the Higer lighthouse - Plaiaundi ecological park - Hondarribia beach ## With teenagers: 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 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 ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Boat from Hondarribia to Hendaye - Boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs - Walk to the Higer lighthouse - Mount Jaizkibel and Guadalupe ## Consejos ### Walk up to the old town Leave the car below and go in through the Santa María gate: the old town is not for cars. ### Take the motorboat without booking It leaves every 15 minutes from the Butrón promenade and the ticket is paid on board. ### Pintxos at midday Gran Sol, on Calle San Pedro, is open Tuesday to Saturday and does not take bookings: arrive early. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### 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.