The colorful balconies on the Marina neighborhood, the mouth-watering pintxos at every bar along picturesque streets, its port, its beaches and 5-minute boat rides to France in summer, its hiking paths to Guadalupe and beyond, its cobblestone historical center surrounded by its imposing fortified walls and hanging bridge, its Michelin-starred cuisine. What is there not to love about Hondarribia?
Hondarribia is located 14 miles from its famous neighbor San Sebastián, yet it is home to the incorrectly named San Sebastián airport, which serves national and international routes: daily to/from Madrid and Barcelona year-round, and to many other destinations over the summer months. In 2022, the destinations served throughout spring and summer are Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Málaga, Sevilla, Mallorca, Menorca and London -yes, you read that right! There will be a direct flight to the London City airport on Fridays and Mondays from July to September 2022.
Hondarribia is an absolutely lovely, quaint town that will win your heart over on the first visit with the incredible abundance of options and riches it has to offer. Hondarribia has the sea: a nice harbor with sailboats and restaurants, a fishermen’s restaurant with fresh-off-the-boat catch of the day dishes, a huge sand beach, where locals and tourists spend their summer afternoons, maritime activities galore -from sailing to windsurfing, open-sea kayaking and more; and it is directly across from France, a 7-minute ferry ride away to be precise, which means you can have a French breakfast of croissants and baguette on the coastal town of Hendaye, and be back in time for lunch at Hondarribia’s Marina.
Hondarribia also has the mountains and direct access through well-marked paths to some of the most breathtaking views in the area. Most walking tracks and hiking routes start here and cover absolutely stunning locations.
With a population of seventeen thousand, Hondarribia is quieter than San Sebastián (187,000 inhabitants) and has a village-like type of feel to it but don’t be fooled by it: it is also home to some of the best restaurants in the area (Michelin stars and all) and it is renown by its gastronomic scene.
Hondarribia’s cobblestone old town is built within the walls of an ancient, fortified castle, complete with a hanging bridge over the moat and rampart lookouts to the rest of the more modern buildings built outside of the fortress. There are a couple of museums, a library and guided tours of the old fort and beyond.
You can easily get around Hondarribia by foot to do some shopping at its boutiques, eat at its picturesque pintxos bars, get groceries at the supermarket, and everything else you might need. It is superbly connected by public transportation (bus) to San Sebastián and Irún (the first Spanish city on the border with France, which is only a 6-minute ride or 20-minute walk away). If you choose to rent a car, you can be in San Sebastián in 20 minutes and you’ll be only 4 miles away from the French coast, with beautiful cities like Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Biarritz and Bayonne along the way.
Want to know more about Hondarribia and its real estate opportunities? Contact me to get started with your house-hunting project in Hondarribia today.
Bárbara Pintos, your REALTOR® in Hondarribia, Spain.
Email. hello@barbarapintosrealtor.com
Ph. (+34) 644 074 958
