Culture, gastronomy, walks…
CHARMING VILLAGES
CHARMING TOWNS AND CITIES IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY
Donostia, Zarautz, Hondarribia… From Hotel Palacio de Atxeaga, as well as a charming hotel near San Sebastian, we offer you an ideal place to discover the most interesting places in the Basque Country, especially its most outstanding towns and villages, less than an hour’s drive from the hotel, which, thanks to the good road connections we have, are visits that can be considered as day trips.
These visits are perfect for discovering Basque culture through its monuments, gastronomy and traditional culture in its villages and the modernity of its cities, which are sure to leave you impressed. These are visits that we always recommend to all our clients to make their stay in Euskadi an unforgettable experience.
VISITS LESS THAN 100KM AWAY
CHARMING TOWNS AND VILLAGES NOT TO BE MISSED
SAN SEBASTIÁN
11km from the hotel
San Sebastian is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
Tradition and modernity coexist in this great little city, with touches of the Belle Epoque, which has a first-class cultural agenda with its international film and jazz festivals and its cutting-edge cultural programme.
San Sebastian is also the world capital of the pintxo. Gastronomy competes for prominence with nature in this city known worldwide for its cuisine and its chefs, with 18 Michelin stars.
ZARAUTZ
15 km from the hotel
The beach of Zarautz is the longest in Gipuzkoa and its 2,500 metres make it a multidisciplinary space, with diverse landscapes and people.
Families, surfers and nature lovers concur at the same time on this sandy area, divided into three zones: the western end, frequented by families and bathers; a central part reserved for surfers and the dunes at the eastern end, which serve as a habitat for numerous species of flora and fauna.
GUETARIA
20 km from the hotel
This town, with a great fishing tradition overlooking the sea, is presided over by two beaches and an imposing mountain by the sea, which gives Guetaria an absolutely spectacular appearance. Moreover, its fishing port is one of the most attractive places to visit on your trip. This medieval walled town is, therefore, another of the most charming towns in Gipuzkoa and on the Basque coast, and also the birthplace of illustrious figures such as the discoverer Juan Sebastián Elkano and the designer Cristobal Balenciaga, who has a museum in the town itself.
And, to add even more charm, Guetaria is surrounded by tremendous meadows, where the grapes for the famous “txakoli” are produced. The most traditional way to taste “txakoli” is to go to the restaurants next to the port.
ZUMAIA
33 km from the hotel
The landscapes and cliffs of the coast between Deba and Zumaia are a reference for the international geological community. Among these landscapes is the large eight-kilometre field that was named a protected biotope.
In addition, Itzurun beach offers properties such as iodine and black debris in its waters, which are very healthy for the skin.
The famous Flysch Route of the Basque Coast Geopark departs from Zumaia, passing through Deva on its way to Mutriku, which runs along the cliffs of the area on a maritime excursion that covers millions of years of geological history.
HONDARRIBIA
30km from the hotel
Hondarribia is a town located at the mouth of the river Bidasoa, on the Basque coast, right on the border with France. It is very well communicated, it has an airport and a few kilometres from the international train station of Irún, as well as a good road network that connects it with the rest of Europe.
Its Atlantic climate is characterised by mild winters and summers, which, together with the beach and the magnificent hotel and sports infrastructures, make it very attractive for tourism.
BIARRITZ
56km from the hotel
Biarritz, which belongs to the neighbouring country, France, is another of the most charming villages on the Basque Coast.
Open, cosmopolitan, Biarritz, pearl of the Basque coast, carries within itself this mixture of styles and unites without problems the most opposite extremes. In Biarritz, music, dance, cinema and the plastic arts have a privileged place in the life of the town.
SAN JUAN DE LA LUZ
41km from the hotel
We continue in France and head north from Hendaye until we reach this small and quiet town, a summer resort for many French and Spanish people, although much less crowded than its neighbour Biarritz.
The main attractions of this charming village in the French Basque Country are its beautiful beach and its promenade, along which you can see such majestic buildings as the Grand Hôtel and the Casino La Pergola.
The Rue Gambetta (the town’s main street) and the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste are also the other major tourist attractions in Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
PAMPLONA – IRUÑA
76km from the hotel
A modern city with a high quality of life. Well-being, walking, history, fiesta, strolls, balance. Pamplona combines all these qualities.
Pamplona and its region are located in a mountainous belt at an altitude of around 1,000 metres. Its monuments, squares, parks and, as in the rest of the area, its great gastronomic offer stand out.
BILBO -BILBAO
92km from the hotel
Bilbao is the heart of a metropolis with more than one million inhabitants. Its important transport infrastructure connects it with the rest of Europe by land, sea and air.
The impressive Guggenheim Museum and the Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall have become the main points of reference for Bilbao’s new vocation, which continues to recover numerous spaces for the enjoyment of its citizens.
VITORIA – GASTEIZ
96km from the hotel
Come and discover the capital of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz. A city that still conserves its own charter, in which the same status is declared for all its inhabitants, converted into a model of urban development, social cohesion and habitability; in short, of quality of life.
The hospitality of its people makes the traveller stop to get to know the harmony between the most modern urban planning, the most extensive heritage and cultural legacy, and the environment. Where the most sophisticated gastronomy is combined with the most traditional Basque culinary arts, all washed down with the best Rioja Alavesa wines.
CIDER HOUSES
The Gipuzkoa Natural Cider Association, created in 1977, currently brings together 50 wineries, all of them producers of natural cider. Its basic functions range from defending the interests of its members to promoting the product. The last few years have been particularly significant for the sector, as it has worked on its professionalisation and the quality of the product.
The wineries that the association hosts are of a very diverse nature, grouping together small and large producers of sagardoa, which is why it must adapt to the needs of each one of them. Today, the associated cider makers produce around 10 million litres of sagardoa. To meet all these needs and to promote new initiatives in the cider sector, the Association has its headquarters in Astigarraga, where it has a training room, as well as a space for tastings, seminars, etc.