a row of multi - story buildings with balconies and balconies on

Hondarribia

Hondarribia is a Basque border town in Gipuzkoa, with a walled old town, painted fishermen's houses and a beach, about 20 km from San Sebastián.

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Hondarribia is a Basque town in Gipuzkoa, in northern Spain, about 20 km east of San Sebastián. It sits on a headland facing Hendaye in France, and the Bidasoa estuary forms the border between them. Inside the walls, the old town has stone-paved streets and ironwork balconies. Outside them, La Marina was the fishermen's quarter, with houses painted in bright colors.

Visitors come for the walls and gates, the Guadalupe shrine and fort on Mount Jaizkibel, and the beach near Cape Higuer. A service boat crosses the bay to Hendaye. The town is about 20 km from San Sebastián, so it works as a day trip. Spring and summer suit a visit best. The Alarde parade on 8 September falls within the town's main festivities, which run from 7 to 11 September. Plan half a day for the old town and La Marina, and a full day if you add the mountain and beach.

Hondarribia in five

Eat pintxos along Calle San PedroLa Marina's main street is lined with pintxo bars. Order one or two at each, a small glass of wine or cider, and move on, as locals do.
Walk the walled old townThe Parte Vieja rises behind stone walls, with cobbled lanes and the castle that is now a parador. Plan 1 to 2 hours, plus a coffee in the main square.
Take the small boat to HendayeA short passenger crossing links Hondarribia with Hendaye, in France, across the Bidasoa estuary. Check the seasonal timetable and carry your passport.Schengen 90 in 180 explained
Use the bus from San SebastiánRegional buses link San Sebastián and Hondarribia in roughly 35–45 minutes, and the airport sits in town. Check where the stop is before you leave San Sebastián.San Sebastián travel guide
Drive or hike the Jaizkibel coast roadThe ridge road above town gives cliff and sea views toward Pasaia. Go on a clear day and keep a layer, because the weather turns quickly.

Things to do in Hondarribia

See all attractions in Hondarribia

Sight · HondarribiaHendaye

Shrine · HondarribiaHermitage of Guadalupe

a large building with a clock tower on top of it

Church · HondarribiaJasokundeko Andra Mari Eliza

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to HondarribiaPut the places you like in Hondarribia on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: San Sebastián (EAS) is in Hondarribia itself; Biarritz and Bilbao are alternatives
Getting there: Bus from San Sebastián in about 35–45 min, or by car in about 25 min
Getting around: Walkable; the old town and La Marina are about 10 minutes apart on foot
Best base: La Marina or the walled old town
Time needed: Half a day; one night for a calmer pace than San Sebastián

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Mild, wet
FebruaryRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Mild, wet
MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Showers
AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Showers, Easter
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°Mild, green
JuneRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh21°Low16°Beach, fiestas
JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Warm, busy
AugustClear12 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Peak, crowded
SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Warm, Alarde
OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, quieter
NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet
DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Wet, quiet

Average daily high and low in San Sebastián, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Hondarribia

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 2°
Humidity: 92%
Wind: 6 km/h
Chance of rain: 15%

Hondarribia

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today13°10°15%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 15%.
Tue12°8°25%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 25%.
Wed14°7°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 8%.
Thu17°7°10%Thursday: Clear. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
Fri16°4°13%Friday: Clear. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 13%.
Sat14°5°17%Saturday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 17%.
Sun21°12°40%Sunday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 40%.

Updated 09:31 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Hondarribia

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Pamplona, SpainSan FermínJul 6 – 14, 2027 · Read the event guide

Every year

JanTamborradaSan Sebastián, a day trip
Feb–MarCarnivals of LantzPamplona, a day trip
JulVitoria-Gasteiz jazz festivalBasque Country, a day trip
JulSan Sebastian Jazz FestivalSan Sebastián, a day trip
AugQuincena Musical de San SebastiánSan Sebastián, a day trip
AugGreat Week of BilbaoBilbao, a day trip

Day trips by train

San Sebastiánabout 35–45 minutes by busLa Concha bay, the old town's pintxo bars and Monte Igueldo.Read the guide
Hendayeabout 10–15 minutes by boatA French beach town across the estuary.
Biarritzabout 50 minutes by carSurf beaches and a grand seafront across the border.

Before you go to Hondarribia

Basque coast day tripsSan Sebastián, Hondarribia and HendayeCompare day trips

Car hire near San SebastiánJaizkibel and the French sideCompare car hire

eSIM for Spain and FranceRoaming across the border ferryRead the guide

Insurance for a Basque tripRain days and a hop into FranceRead the guide

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Rules for Hondarribia, checked

Spain and France are both in the Schengen Area, but border checks can still happen, so carry a passport or national ID card.
Non-EU travelers are registered under the EU Entry/Exit System; check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
Check entry requirements on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.

Plan around Hondarribia

All of Spain

Cities, coast and trains across the country

Read the guide San Sebastián

Pintxos, La Concha and the city 20 km west

Read the guide Bilbao

Guggenheim and the Basque capital, about 1.5 hours by road

Read the guide Pamplona

Navarre's old town, about 1.25 hours by road

Read the guide Schengen 90 in 180

Day trips into France count under the same stay

Read the guide

Hondarribia FAQ

Is Hondarribia worth visiting?

Yes, for a half-day or one calm night. It has a walled old town, a colorful fishing quarter and good pintxos without San Sebastián's crowds. It is small, so do not plan more than a day.

Can you visit Hondarribia from San Sebastián?

Yes. Buses take roughly 35–45 minutes and run several times an hour in the daytime. A day there fits an old-town walk, a pintxo lunch and an hour at the beach.

Should I stay in Hondarribia or San Sebastián?

Stay in San Sebastián for nightlife, more restaurants and easier transport. Choose Hondarribia for a quieter, smaller base with a beach, then take the bus into the city for the day.

What is Hondarribia known for?

A walled old town, the fishing quarter of La Marina with painted wooden balconies, pintxo bars and a parador in the castle. The Alarde procession each September is its biggest festival.

Can you walk to France from Hondarribia?

Not directly. A small passenger boat crosses to Hendaye, and you can also walk or take transit through Irun to the bridge across the Bidasoa. Carry ID, as there may be spot checks.