Hondarribia tourist offices

Hondarribia has two tourist offices, one in each half of the town: Arma Plaza, in Plaza de Armas in the walled old town, and Portua, in the Marina quarter. Both belong to Bidasoa Turismo, which promotes Hondarribia and Irun.

Arma Plaza, in the old town

The main office is at Arma Plaza 9, opposite the Charles V castle, now a Parador. It occupies the building of Arma Plaza Fundazioa, a centre devoted to spreading Hondarribia's cultural heritage and designed as a starting point for exploring the town.

• Ground floor: visitor reception, an exhibition hall and a shop with products by local craftspeople. Staff speak Basque, Spanish, French and English.
• First floor: a permanent exhibition on the relationship between the walled town and the neighbourhoods outside the walls, told through the idea of a "transparent wall".
• Second floor: an audiovisual room with testimonies from residents and a space for temporary exhibitions, talks and gatherings.

The opening hours change with the season:

• November to March: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00; Sundays, 10:00 to 14:00.
• April to June and 15 September to October: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 19:00; Sundays, 10:00 to 14:00.
• 1 July to 14 September: every day, 9:30 to 19:30.

Telephone: 943 643 677 and 943 644 623. Email: [email protected].

Portua, in the Marina

The second office is on Calle Matxin de Artzu, in the Marina, the old fishermen's quarter. It opens from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 15:30 to 18:00, and on Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00. Its telephone number is 943 576 102. Bidasoa Turismo warns that its door is very narrow and not accessible for people with reduced mobility, and that it has no visual signage or tactile guide.

What to ask for

The offices hand out town maps and maps of Jaizkibel and Txingudi bay. It is a good place to ask about the day's timetable for the boat to Hendaye, the departures of the boat trip along the Jaizkibel cliffs or how to go up Jaizkibel and Guadalupe. If you are short of time, ask them to mark a route on the map linking the old town with the Marina quarter; and if you are going with children or like birds, ask about Plaiaundi ecological park.

Accessibility

Arma Plaza has a lift, but Bidasoa Turismo points out that access from it is difficult because of the type of floor, the poor lighting and a heavy door, and that the centre has no tactile guide and its signage is insufficient. If you need help getting in, call beforehand.

Getting there

Arma Plaza is at the top of the old town, next to the Parador, at the end of the walk along Calle Mayor. Portua is down below, in the Marina quarter. If you arrive by bus from San Sebastián or Irun, both can be reached on foot.