Quick Details
Please note: This is an 8.5 km hike, designed to take three hours with an extra two hours, in the end, to enjoy the town of Pasaia and come back to San Sebastián by public bus. You’re walking up a steep hill at the beginning that lasts for 1.5 km. The terrain isn’t rocky but there are lots of steps to climb! The rest of the hike lasts for 7 km and while it is more moderate, you need to navigate your way across a few rocks, which can be challenging for some. During each section, the total gain of altitude is about 180 m (360 m in total).
This hike is not recommended for those suffering from heart problems or high blood pressure and should be avoided by those with hip or knee replacements or anyone who is afraid of heights. Please contact us if you have any concerns regarding the physical requirements of the San Sebastián hiking tour; private tours are available for those looking for a slower pace.
Hiking the St. James Way: Walking Tour San Sebastian
Don’t have enough time to walk the entire Camino de Santiago? Join this San Sebastián tour to get a taste of ‘The Way’ in a day. Hike a stunning stretch of coastline, cross an inlet by boat, then kick back in a bar with a wine in hand.
- Discover the breathtaking views of St. James Way in the Basque country.
- Hike along the coastal paths in San Sebastián and take in the beautiful scenery.
- Take the road less traveled with your local guide and explore some secret San Sebastián spots.
- Take a boat ride to a neighboring town to discover another slice of local life.
- Sip regional wine as you soak up your surroundings.
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, a local drink, and the return boat crossing of the sea pass.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature and tips and gratuities for your guide.
Schedule details
- Duration: 5 hours
- Meeting point: Mariaren Bihotza Church. Meet under the clock tower (it can be seen from Zurriola beach). Avenida de Navarra 3 (“Hiribidea” in Basque). There is an AVIA petrol station next to it. (GPS coordinates: 43.326230, -1.971086). View on Google Maps.
- Starting time: 8.30 AM
- Ending point: Mariaren Bihotza Church in the Gros area.
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Be swept away by beautiful Basque Country on this hiking tour in San Sebastián that leads you to epic views and uncovers local hidden gems in this beautiful part of Spain. To kick off this San Sebastián tour, we head out of town and up to Ulia Mountain, where we enjoy a wonderful view before hiking along the coastal St. James Way. (Please be prepared for a steep beginning — but we promise it gets easier as you go! There are several ups and downs along the route, but the hardest part is at the start). As you continue your Basque adventure, your local guide highlights points of interest and gives you all the insider knowledge you need to know, knowledge that only a local would know!
As we continue our San Sebastián walking tour, we make our way to the lighthouse of La Plata and from there we head down the hill to Pasaia San Pedro. Here, we discover some unique cultural traditions and customs before embarking on a boat across the sea inlet. Breathe in the fresh air as your local guide tells you about the phenomenal scenery.
We enjoy more wicked views of the mountains and coast before coming to rest on the terrace of a bar in the beautiful port-side Santiago Square. After taking a moment here to soak up your surroundings and indulge in txakoli (regional white wine), we wander the narrow streets of Pasaia, before returning to San Sebastián by public transport. Your Basque tour ends here, but your local guide is happy to give you some more tips so that you can continue to explore local life, or let you know the best route back to your accommodation.
Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, a local drink, and the return boat crossing of the sea pass.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature and tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Ensure that you are wearing comfortable clothes and shoes that are appropriate for a hike in the hills.
Your Trip: For your adventure, you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: Note: This San Sebastián walking tour cannot run during bad weather conditions. In the case of bad weather, you will be able to exchange this tour for our “Grab Your Pintxo” tour or receive a full refund.
Closure of sites: A phone number needs to be provided with every booking so that San Sebastián Adventures can contact you in case of bad weather conditions.
Child Policy: Children under 12 years of age are not permitted to join this tour.
Local contact
Office phone number: +34 639 267 948
Email address: info@sansebastianadventures.com -
MMo from Charlotte, North Carolina travelled on August 2020:
Excellent experience! So happy we joined this tour! It was a wonderful and educational experience. Excellent Guide!
lmontoya travelled on July 2020:
Americans on a hike! Angel was great. He didn’t just tell us about the sites but gave us a good history of the city. He was friendly and made our hike pleasant.
Louise T. travelled on October 2019:
Very happy we did this walk! What a great tour! It was raining when we started and that made the track quite slippery, however we are still very glad we did the hike as it was amazing! Our guide Lillian was fantastic – she had good english, and not only did she have good knowledge of the tour and the walk, but also of Spain, Basque culture and other places of interest including places to eat. Would highly recommend.
Nicholas T. from Santa Fe, New Mexico travelled on October 2019:
Espectacular mañana en el camino. Gracias a Lillian, nuestra guía, por su paciencia para llevarnos a los viejos a través de la sección del Camino de San Sebastián a Pasaia. La empinada entrada y salida al sendero fueron desafiantes pero no excesivamente exigentes y fueron la única sección difícil de una cresta ondulada con magníficas vistas sobre el Atlántico a continuación. Lillian nos enseñó sobre la historia de esta antigua forma de peregrinación, pero nuestra conversación más interesante fue una reflexión sobre las muchas razones por las cuales los peregrinos eligen hacer esta caminata desafiante. La penitencia, el consuelo, la devoción, la inmersión en la naturaleza y el desafío físico fueron algunos de los que pudimos conjurar. Nuestra caminata terminó con un breve viaje en ferry a través del puerto a Pasaia, un pintoresco y auténtico pueblo pesquero vasco, donde probamos el vino espumoso seco local y pinxtos, la versión vasca de tapas. Este hermoso paseo de una corta sección del Camino es como comer un pinxtos con su sabor concentrado y satisfactorio en comparación con la cena vasca completa de senderismo por todo el Camino. Lillian tuvo la amabilidad de enviarnos un correo electrónico después de la caminata con sugerencias para actividades y opciones gastronómicas en San Sebastián. Qué gran día. No dejes pasar esta oportunidad de experimentar una pequeña pero inmensamente satisfactoria caminata del Camino con Lillian, nuestra talentosa guía.