More compact and manageable than its popular neighbor, San Sebastián, Hondarribia offers many attractions:xa0 a sandy beach at Txingudi Bay, an old fisherman’s quarter where antique houses sport colorfully painted shutters and flower-filled balconies, and a fortified medieval quarter with a hilltop castle and a labyrinth of cobbled lanes. Foodies come here for the celebrated epicurean delights served in eateries ranging from casual to sleek to the Michelin-starred.
Stay the night, or visit Hondarribia on a day-trip from San Sebastián or Bilbao. Most tours combine travel by van and boat to explore the French coast, dipping into quaint towns such as Hendaye and Saint Jean De Luz before encountering the bohemian glam of Biarritz.
Hondarribia is about 12 miles (20 kilometers) east of San Sebastián along the Atlantic Coast; expect about a half-hour on the road. Buses and trains run regularly between the two towns and take approximately an hour to an hour and a half.
Peak tourist season is August, when swarms of European travelers holiday along the coast. Beat the crowds and come during the spring (April - June) and fall (September - October) when the weather is temperate and not so rainy. September 8 is Virgin of Guadalupe Day, celebrated with a military procession.
Just across the Bidasoa river estuary is the French basque beachtown of Hendaye. From Hondarribia, take a ferry, hike (about 1.5 hours), or bike (30 minutes) over the Spanish/French border. Here, you’ll find a beautiful 2-mile (3-kilometer) beach heaven for watersports including surfing, coastal walking trails to see the otherworldly flysch rock formations, and the fabulous neo-Gothic Château Abbadia.
