San Sebastián is well worth spending several days exploring, but venture just a little beyond the city and you’ll discover some of Gipuzkoa’s most fascinating landscapes and towns. Fishing villages, mountains overlooking the Cantabrian Sea, beaches and towns along the French Basque coast offer a wide variety of day trips without the need to change accommodation.

From Gamongoa, you can combine a visit to San Sebastián with different trips around the surrounding area. Here are seven places well worth including in your stay.

1. Pasai Donibane

Pasai Donibane is one of the most distinctive places in Pasaia Bay. The village lies between the mountains and the water, creating a unique setting of traditional houses, narrow passageways and corners shaped by its maritime history.

The best way to discover it is simply to explore on foot, without too much of a plan, following the street that runs alongside the bay and continuing towards the harbour entrance.

It is an easy visit to combine with Jaizkibel or Hondarribia.

2. Jaizkibel

Mount Jaizkibel offers some of the most spectacular scenery along this part of the Basque coast.

Its slopes descend towards the Cantabrian Sea, offering numerous viewpoints and routes where the sea takes centre stage. You can explore it on foot along one of its trails or drive along the road that crosses the mountain, stopping at different viewpoints along the way.

A perfect option for those looking to add nature and beautiful scenery to their stay in Gipuzkoa.

3. Hondarribia

Hondarribia combines history, architecture and a strong maritime atmosphere.

Its historic quarter invites you to wander through its streets at a leisurely pace, while the La Marina district offers a different atmosphere, with its characteristic houses and lively gastronomic scene.

Thanks to its location, a visit to Hondarribia can easily be combined with a trip through Jaizkibel.

4. San Sebastián

Although Gamongoa is an ideal base for discovering many other places, San Sebastián remains an essential visit.

Walking along La Concha, exploring the Old Town, visiting the Peine del Viento or enjoying the city’s famous pintxos are just some of the experiences that can easily fill an entire day.

Staying outside the city centre allows you to enjoy San Sebastián during the day and return afterwards to a more peaceful setting.

5. Getaria

To the west of San Sebastián lies Getaria, a small coastal town with a deep connection to the sea.

Its harbour, the streets of its historic centre and the surrounding landscape make it well worth spending a few hours here. The journey along the coast also offers the opportunity to discover another part of Gipuzkoa and see how the landscape changes as you travel west.

It can easily be combined with other towns along the Gipuzkoa coast for a full-day excursion.

6. Hendaye

Crossing the border gives you the opportunity to include the French Basque coast in your trip.

Hendaye is particularly known for its long beach and its location opposite Hondarribia, on the other side of the Bidasoa estuary.

It is a great choice for a relaxing day by the sea and also an interesting starting point for discovering other towns in the French Basque Country.

7. Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Saint-Jean-de-Luz retains the character of a traditional Basque coastal town and offers a pleasant walk through its historic centre, harbour and bay.

Its shopping streets, traditional architecture and close relationship with the sea make it a very different experience from San Sebastián, despite being relatively nearby.

It can be combined with Hendaye for a full day exploring this part of the coast.

A starting point for discovering the surroundings

One of the advantages of staying at Gamongoa is the freedom to plan each day differently.

San Sebastián can fill an entire day; Pasai Donibane, Jaizkibel and Hondarribia can make up another excursion; while the Gipuzkoa coast and the French Basque coast offer plenty of alternatives for continuing your journey.

There is no need to try to see everything. Gipuzkoa and its surroundings are best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, leaving time to explore, take in the scenery and, of course, enjoy the local gastronomy.

From Gamongoa, every day can begin with a different destination and end back in the peaceful surroundings of the farmhouse.