Bilbao: Excursion to San Sebastian, Hondarribia, Hendaye and Getaria
Description
This excursion will take you to the heart of the Gipuzkoan coast, where breathtaking landscapes and deep traditions intertwine. ✔ Hendaye A villa to explore its charming corners, enjoy its Basque-French style and its relaxed atmosphere by the sea. ✔ Medieval village of Hondarribia We will continue to one of the most picturesque villages in the Basque Country, with its colored wooden houses and welcoming atmosphere. ✔ Panoramic tour of San Sebastian We will take a scenic walk taking in the iconic beach of La Concha, visiting the gardens of Miramar Palace and crossing the Maria Cristina Bridge, with free time to discover the city. ✔ Getaria, birthplace of Balenciaga We will finish in Getaria, with a guided tour of this charming seafaring village famous for its gastronomy and historical legacy. Experience the magic of the Basque coast in one excursion!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Hendaye awaits you with its wide beaches and charming coastal atmosphere. We will visit the villa to discover its corners, its Basque-French style and its quiet life.
The day begins with a comfortable departure from Bilbao, enjoying a pleasant journey to the Basque coast. Along the route, you will have the opportunity to admire a spectacular landscape, full of panoramic views of nature. We head to Hondarribia, a picturesque historic village near the French border. During the journey, relax and enjoy the tranquility of this coastal tour, surrounded by beautiful green and maritime landscapes that make this trip a unique experience. In Hondarribia, you’ll immerse yourself in its history as you stroll through its medieval old town, with cobblestone streets, vibrantly colored houses and an atmosphere that transports you back to times. Don’t forget to explore the charming port area, full of charm and local life, and visit Hondarribia Castle, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the sea and the city. An unforgettable tour that combines history, beauty and nature.
We arrive in the beautiful city of San Sebastian (Donostia), one of the jewels of the Basque coast. This vibrant city, famous for its elegance and beauty, will captivate you with its combination of beaches, culture and gastronomy. We will start with a panoramic visit looking at the Bay of La Concha and its elegant railings. We will stop at Miramar Palace and its beautiful gardens from where we will have beautiful views of the Cantabrian Sea. En route, we will cross the iconic Maria Cristina Bridge and then enjoy free time, getting lost in the streets of the old town and enjoying the best gastronomy in the north of the country. You can start your walk along the iconic Paseo de la Concha, enjoying the spectacular views of the bay and its golden sand beach. Without a doubt, San Sebastian is a city that offers a unique experience.
Then we head towards Getaria, a picturesque fishing village known for its excellent seafood and rich maritime history. Located on the Basque coast, this charming place will captivate you with its tranquil atmosphere and stunning sea views. Enjoy a brief but beautiful guided tour, with the Basque coast as a backdrop. In Getaria, you can immerse yourself in the coastal beauty and charm of this small town full of history. Visit the Church of San Salvador, a historic building, and the Balenciaga Museum, dedicated to the celebrated designer Cristobal Balenciaga (entrance not included or managed). After a wonderful visit, we started our journey back to Bilbao. Relax and reflect on the day as you enjoy the scenic tour, surrounded by stunning scenery. A day full of history, culture and beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(108)
We visited 4 Basque cities, 1 of them in France! Stefan gave us a lot of interesting history about the cities and about the Basque history, culture, and language. We saw beautiful beaches and countryside. We had time in San Sebastion for a nice lunch and to walk around the city. I thought it was good value for the cost.
It was a really enjoyable trip and experience. Our guide Stefan was very friendly, knowledgeable, and fun. The places we visited were truly fantastic, and what we liked best of all was the small town of Getaria and the story of Juan Sebastian. Stefan recommended the best places in San Sebastian to eat pintxos and Basque cheesecake - definitely worth a visit. Our driver Alberto was also very skilled and drove calmly and safely the whole way. The best thing was being able to buy chilled bottles of mineral water from Alberto - priceless when it was over 30 degrees Celsius! We highly recommend the entire excursion, and Stefan as a guide and Alberto as a driver, any time! Thank you, Buendia! Ewa and Roman
Good trip although the information about the meeting place very imprecise and chaotic. Address given instead of simply saying "meet in front of a Puppy at Guggenheim's". Three groups met at the same place, each guide shouting names on his list at the same time. But when you eventually manage to find the group you belonged to, it was mainly a good experience. The stay in San Sebastian was shorter that promised, two hours instead of 3, which is not enough to see the place and have lunch. This was a bit disappointing. Also, I would expect more information about the life in Basque country, but may be Wallys thought it was unnecessary as many of the group were Spanish. Also, the English explanation and Spanish were mixed, I was fine, but my partner, who has a hearing problem, found it very difficult to extract the information in English from the avalanche of sentences in both languages intertwining.
Great experience, Stefan our guide was great. Bus was comfortable, and driver was great Stefan took lovely photos and was very helpful
I had a really great full day. Armand the tour guide was excellent. All in all no complaints
Positive: great places to visit. Expect the kind of the "highlights" tour - if you are interested in seeing the towns, you won't have time for anything else. Negative: left 20 min late plus the group members didn't adhere to the time which triggered reduction of visit time in the subsequent towns.
Stephen was our guide. Good locations, introductions of different places. Tour was full with 55 people
A nice experience. Luckily it wasn't too hot, otherwise it would have been torture! We visited all the places as planned and on time to return to Bilbao at the time scheduled by the guide. Very friendly and nice guide.
No walking tour as advertised and drop off in San Sebastián was 20 mins walk each way into old town so 30% of free time (2 hours) taken up, drop off should be much closer, one couple had a taxi back to coach!
Well planned excursion, excellent and very knowledgeable guide, very experienced driver.
