San Sebastián

Day Trips

Depart from the beautiful fishing harbour of San Sebastián. Sail through the bay and along the coast of the city on a modern catamaran. Sail out of Bahía de la Concha (seashell bay) and discover various points of interest such as the Oteiza sculpture, Paseo Nuevo Sea Wall, the mouth of the Urumea River, Kursaal, Zurriola Beach, Mount Ulia, Mount Igeldo, and the Peine del Viento (Wind Comb sculpture).  Returning to Bahía de la Concha, see Ondarreta Beach, Miramar Palace, Pico del Loro (Parrot’s Beak), and City Hall. Enjoy beautiful views of the city from the ocean, and enjoy fantastic photo opportunities throughout the tour.

After being picked up from your hotel, make a first stop is Hondarribia. On the border with France, Hondarribia is one of the most beautiful coastline villages in Gipuzkoa. Take a stroll around the port and famous Marina neighborhood which are well worth visiting. Later head to the old fishing village of San Juan (Pasaia), before you hop on the boat and cross the bay to San Pedro, the last stop. These 2 villages are part of Pasajes, which takes the name from the bay that separates them. After the tour ends, your guide will drop you off at your hotel or any other place of your convenience in San Sebastian. The short distance from the city makes this the perfect half day tour; escape from the hustle of Donostia in the morning and still have time to enjoy it in the afternoon.

From Bilbao, leave for San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an islet that can only be accessed by a pedestrian path. Make a panoramic tour of the area and learn the area’s dreamlike cliffs, a feature of the HBO hit series, Game of Thrones. Continue to the Guipuzcoan town of Getaria, where we will enjoy a guided tour of its historic quarter, and where we can admire its traditional fishing port, the church of San Salvador, and the monument in honor of Juan Sebastián Elcano, a sailor who turned the world and that he was born in this small town. Take a moment to eat in one of its many restaurants at Getaria. Enjoy the gastronomy of grilling local fish and seafood. From here, leave for San Sebastián for a guided tour of the city. See the Church of San Vicente and the Basilica of Santa María del Coro before heading back to Bilbao.

Visit the towns along France’s Basque coast on this full-day tour from San Sebastian. Begin with stops in Bayonne and Biarritz, and an opportunity to experience both traditional and modern coastal lifestyles. See harbors with fishing boats as well as popular surfing spots. In Biarritz, enjoy watching the activity of the young surfers in front of the high-end casinos and traditional restaurants. The town appeals to all types of visitors and has been a popular seaside destination for many years. Enjoy a stop for lunch at a local restaurant along the way. The tour ends with a drop off at your hotel.

Hike a section of the legendary Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James) and experience San Sebastian from a fresh perspective. Stroll along the seafront, and follow the path up through the woods of Mount Ulia. Walk in the footsteps of the medieval pilgrims who followed the path to the shrine of St. James in Santiago de Compostela.  Marvel at the beautiful surroundings and get stunning views of the city from the mountain. Learn about the watchtower at the summit, from where whales can be seen in the Bay of Biscay. Make your way over the clifftops and through lush valleys and fill your lungs with the fresh sea air. Pass the remains of a Roman aqueduct, and see the 19th-century La Plata lighthouse that guided fishermen to port. Descend through pine forests to the fishing village of San Pedro, and stop to taste the local seafood tapas with wine, beer, soda, or water. Drive back to San Sebastian at the end of your amazing experience.

See villages trapped in between mountains like the villages of Durango, Eibar and Elgoibar! Arrive at the core of the province, and after the industrial village of Azkoitia, you will arrive at your first stop, the Sanctuary of Loyola, hometown of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Here you will visit the Basilica and the tower house where he was born and lived. Depending on the time, you may wish to attend a ceremony. Next you follow the route towards the coast on the north, passing through Azpeitia. You will also pass through Zestoa, a famous natural spa village with healing waters that attracted the royalty of Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. Later you will arrive to the coast at Zumaia, a beautiful village very much appreciated by Basque summer tourists. Following the coastal road you will arrive at your next stop, Getaria. A unique medieval fishing village and hometown of famous figures like captain Juan Sebastian Elcano (the first man to travel around the world by sea), and Cristobal Balenciaga, the famous designer. Then you will pass by Zarauz, a beautiful tourist spot with the largest beach in the province of Gipuzkoa. You will arrive finally to San Sebastian (or Donostia) where you will do a panoramic tour of the city. After lunch, you will do a walking tour into the old quarter visiting the most interesting streets and locations before returning to Bilbao in the evening. Follow the highway towards the east, into the province of Gipuzkoa. On the way to the Sanctuary of Loyola, you will be able to admire the areas of inner Basque Country, combined with rural valleys and industrial

After being collected from your hotel, your tour kicks off and heads toward Gernika. Your first stop will be to the Guernica Peace Museum, where you will learn all about the tragic bombing that took place there during the Spanish civil war. Following this, you will advance towards Mundaka. Once there you will discover a quaint village on the coastline, famous for it's surfing waves that attract professional surfers from all over the world. Your final stop will be Bermeo, a traditional fishing village that showcases the Basque coastline lifestyle at it's best. Your tour will then end as you are dropped off at your hotel or other location of your convenience in San Sebastian.

This tour is designed to guide you into one of the oldest traditional "cave-cellars" in the area, dug 7-8 meters (23-26 feet) deep under the houses. This is a fabulous experience not to be missed! This activity also includes  tasting wines in one of the most famous local wineries. You can also tour 'Marques del Riscal' winery cellar/hotel, which was designed by Frank Gehry, the architect who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. You will also walk along the medieval streets of Laguardia, one of the most charming towns in La Rioja area, before discovering local home-made food for lunch in an off the beaten track, non touristy restaurant.

Delight in the renowned beaches of Biarritz, meander through the narrow streets of Saint Jean De Luz, taste local cuisine at the fishing village of Hondarribia, and marvel at the architectural beauty of San Sebastian on this full day tour from Bilbao. Follow the highway towards the east, through stunning natural landscapes, to arrive at Biarritz. Known as the Beach of Kings, it was a magnet for famous and royalty such as Napoleon III, Gary Cooper, and Frank Sinatra, and is still nowadays a very important tourist destination. Stroll through the old port, the Virgin on the Rock, and the scenic streets of this sea-side village. Next, following the panoramic coastal road views, you will continue onto Saint Jean De Luz, a lovely small village located on the French Basque coast. The house of Louis XIV, the Church of Saint Jean Baptist, and charming narrow streets are tourist highlights. Onwards to the next stop, Hondarribia, a village full of history that holds a medieval fortress and the remnants of an area that in the past was a pirate and whaler port. There will be free time for lunch and your guide will suggest a selection of recommended local restaurants.  Continue the last leg of journey to San Sebastian, the most beautiful city in the Basque Country. Enjoy the magnificent views of the mountain Igeldo as you are led on a walking tour into the old historical quarter. Afterwards, take advantage of free time to explore the city at your leisure before returning back to Bilbao in the evening.

Experience the best of the French section of the Basque Coast on this day trip from San Sebastián. Explore Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Hondarribia, and Guethary. Discover quaint fishing villages, Michelin-starred cuisine, and breathtaking views.  After getting picked up from your hotel, travel to the city of Biarritz. Here, learn about the city's history as a surfer mecca and enjoy a walk along the seaside promenade. Stop by Les Halles market to experience the best of French cuisine including its cheeses, its charcuterie, and its bakeries and patisseries. Continue to Guethary and learn why Madonna was so captivated by the charming and peaceful seaside village. Next, head to the birthplace of the macaron, the Maison Adam patisserie in Saint Jean de Luz, and learn about the town's pirate history. Travel along the Route de la Corniche to reach Hondarribia, a city at the forefront of world cuisine. Stop for lunch and choose from pintxos or Michelin-starred dining. On the way back, take in views of the Basque coast and Mount Jaizkibel.