A tour of Zarautz

The starting point for this hike is located in Zarautz on Bixkonde Street (Bixconde kalea), opposite the Santa Maria la Real Church.
To get to this starting point by car, see the "Practical information" section below.

(S/E) Take the first passage on the left, towards the beach. Admire the superb Zarautz beach, which is about 2.5 km long and a favourite spot for surfers.

(1) Turn right and continue along the promenade. Turn right, take the underpass beneath the avenue, then turn right onto Nagusia Street (Kale Nagusia), one of Zarautz's typical streets with its shops and a few places to check out: the covered market or Merkatua, the 15th-century Torre Luzea and, a little further on, the Plaza Musica. At the end of the street, turn left opposite the church and follow the pavement on the right.

(2) Turn onto the tarmac road that climbs to the right. Continue to the entrance to Vista Alegre Park. Start on the left and then climb up to the right, parallel to the street called Santa Barbara auzoa.

(3) Enter Vista Alegre Park, where clearly marked paths have been laid out. This is a popular local spot for walks. Start on the left, then go up to the right. After leaving the cement path and taking a small dirt path, enter the semi-circular theatre called Zarautzeko Terreoia, more simply known as "torréon". This is the first reinforced concrete building constructed in Guipúzcoa in 1914. It is said that it was built by a father so that his daughter could enjoy the best view, the "vista alegre". It has one floor, which can be accessed by a staircase.

(4) Enjoy the view, then exit on the other side. A little further on, join the paved Camino del Norte, one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela. Take it, going to the left, and climb up. Notice the different crops and vineyards as you go. Then, at the first intersection, turn right to reachthe Ermita de Santa Barbara, built in 1764 and the highest point of this hike: enjoy the view of both the city and the bay.

(5) Pass to the left of Santa Barbara, then follow a dirt track that descends to sea level. This descent is quite steep. When you reach the road connecting Zarautz to Getaria (N634), cross it and follow the footpath along the seafront. Pass by the Palacio de Narros (dating from the 16th century) and return to the starting point.

(1) Take the passage on the right to reach the car park (S/E).

Journey by car to the starting point of the hike. Please note that, exceptionally, the car park indicated is a pay-and-display car park.

Cross the border at Béhobie and take the first exit at the roundabout towards San Sebastián GI636. Continue on the GI636, which becomes the GI-20. On the GI-20, take exit 13 towards GI-11 Lasarte-Oria / N634 Usurbil / N1 Tolosa / A15 Iruña. Then on the GI-11, take exit 1 towards N634 Usurbil / GI-2132 Lasarte-Oria / Hernani and at the roundabout, turn right towards N634 Usurbil. Continue on the N-634 towards Orio-Zarautz then Zarautz-Aia. Enter Zarautz by continuing straight ahead, then turn right opposite Santa Maria Parrokia into the Munoa car park and park there.

For information, from Saint-Jean-de-Luz it is approximately 51 km and takes about 45 minutes.

You can visit the Santa Maria la Real church, built between the 15th and 16th centuries. One of its unique features is that it is not located in the centre of the town but at the foot of Mount Santa Barbara, which protects it from bad weather and brings it closer to the sea.

You can also visit the Palacio de Narros.

For shopping, walk the entire length of Nagusia Street.