Pasaia - San Sebastian (Spain) coastal path.

Superb hike for passing a lovely afternoon and enjoying an evening in old San Sebastien, eating tapas and pintxos.

Technical sheet

121329
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.96 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: No
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 318 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 304 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 144 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

On this route, you will follow the GR®121 (Red and White waymarking). To get to the departure point, take the train called "El Topo" ("The Mole") from Hendaye station and get off at Pasaia station.

(1) On exiting the station, turn left onto the road which goes alongside the national railway and the port where you will find a small bridge on your right. At the bottom of the car park, turn right in the direction of the port (up till now, the terrain isn't too bad). At the port, go along the quayside and pass in front of the Traineras Club. You will arrive at the expo-museum.

(2) Continue on along the quayside until you reach a path on the left (at the end) with steps taking you up to the top of the cliffs. Go past a picnic area, a beautiful viewpoint over Pasaia bay. Continue along the path which goes through a small wood and takes you to Faro de la Plata (lighthouse).

(3) Take the path on the left, sign post for the GR®121. Follow the path along the cliffs and through the woods. You can then stop on the wooden balcony to admire the superb view. Retrace your steps and take the stone path climbing upwards. You are still following the path through the hydrangeas. You will end up above San Sebastien beach.

(4) Make a short stop to take photos. Lower down, take the signposted path on the right which goes downhill towards the "Gros" (big) district of San Sebastian lower down. Note the ancient old building.

(5) Head to the right until you reach San Sebastien beach. Go along the beach until you reach Kursal.

(6) Cross over the bridge. On your right, go into old San Sebastien. You can linger in these streets a while to enjoy the tapas and pintxos bars and the festive atmosphere of this beautiful location. Continue on towards the Town Hall square.

(7) You will reach Concha beach. Continue straight ahead towards Amara station.

(8) Take the Topo train again which takes you back to Hendaye.

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Pasaia Station
  2. 1 : km 3.22 - alt. 17 m - museum exhibition
  3. 2 : km 4.38 - alt. 110 m - Faro de plata (lighthouse)
  4. 3 : km 8.7 - alt. 96 m - view of San Sebastian Bay
  5. 4 : km 9.23 - alt. 17 m - Old house
  6. 5 : km 10.26 - alt. 7 m - Kursaal
  7. 6 : km 10.87 - alt. 8 m - Town Hall
  8. E : km 11.96 - alt. 13 m - Amara station

Practical information

In the nearby area

Pasaia port and its Traineras regattas.
Museum exhibition, construction of a replica whaleboat.
Pintxos and tapas in old San Sebastien at the end of the hike.
San Sebastien Aquarium.
Visit the town and Concha beach.
To see: the Place de la Constitution at the end of the afternoon.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 48 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 9621196

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The route is easy to follow, with around a hundred steps to climb, no water sources and plenty of shade.

Automatically translated

User 10884820

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Perfect route and ideal temperature for the day.

Automatically translated

lavanant
lavanant

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

a lovely walk through the undergrowth, following the coastline of the ocean. an easy route that takes you to sans Sebastien, where you can relax with some excellent tapas.
A lovely outing.

Automatically translated

marchetreve
marchetreve

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

make sure you specify the hendaye via herrera stop on the topo; lack of information at the end of the topo about how to get to the port;

Automatically translated

Christophe RH
Christophe RH

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Walk with 2 children aged 8 and 11. No particular difficulties.
The views are great on this wild stretch of coastline.
We started the walk at the 'HERERA' TOPO stop. This section is shorter and not too interesting.

Automatically translated

Sylolo
Sylolo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice hike with some fine climbs and descents🤪

Automatically translated

Marty12
Marty12

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful walk over the ocean. The paths are accessible to all. From Pasaia, there is a whole series of steps to climb up the mountain, then the route curves around the level and there are fewer ascents. The path is very popular with families, joggers and pilgrims....
The Visorando description lacks clarity on the choice of directions at certain junctions, when the directions are written in Basque. But it's easy to ask walkers on the spot.

Automatically translated

Philippe 71
Philippe 71

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

For the departure from Herrera, start opposite the exit of the station in an easterly/northeasterly direction and not on the left as indicated in the topo!!!!

Automatically translated

Philippe 71
Philippe 71

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

For the departure from Herrera, start opposite the station exit in an easterly/northeasterly direction and not on the left as indicated in the topo.

Automatically translated

y sabourin
y sabourin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Super

Automatically translated

souchez
souchez

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

We started the walk from Herrera station. We found the museum easily, then the climb up the stairs to the cliffs was a bit tough....but there were no more problems until we reached San Sebastien.

Automatically translated

Nany-V
Nany-V

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

It's a very nice walk, but after the viewpoint you have to continue up the paved path, even if at some point the app starts to alert you. Enjoy the flora, such as wild hydrangeas and crocosmias.

Automatically translated

BRIDGET65
BRIDGET65

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It would be wise to inform the public that access to the lighthouse is closed between 01/01 and 31/07 due to vulture nesting.

Automatically translated

CHA VI
CHA VI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk
I recommend it in the shade

Automatically translated

Cristeau
Cristeau
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Magnificent hike that I've done several times
Warning: At the viewpoint, the route veers to the left and no longer follows the Visorando route, rejoining it about 800m further on. This is the only place where there is a slightly greater difference in altitude .... Of course, after the first few steps!
The E09 bus will take you back to the car from SS Gros in less than 15 minutes.

Automatically translated

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.