Irun

Javi Guerra Hernando, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Border town just over the border from Hendaye on the French side, It's a practical place which is usually passed through by tourists on their way to San Sebastian. Nevertheless, there are things to see and do including watching the annual Alarde (military review) commemorating vitory over the French in 1522. The ajoining town of Honarribia is a charming tranquil little resort & port. However the battered town walls reveal a dark past of conflict between the kingdoms of France, Castille and Navarre.

It's a bit nippy in winter and very busy in August with French holidaymakers so Spring and Autumn are perfect.

To help appreciate the town, I'd recommend getting a copy of A Basque Diary by Alex Hallett which recounts her time living in Hondarribia.

Highlights

pretty walled town
Nature trails

Station stroll ideas

It's perfectly possible to walk to and around Honarribia from Irun Eustotren station or even Hendaye station, but only really worth the 5km of shoe leather if you like looking at airport runways.

The Honarribia app is a good guide to help you navigate around the town:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alambre.net.hondarribia.es&hl=en_GB&gl=US

There are a series of walking trails out of town are available here: https://www.bidasoaturismo.com/en/que-hacer/nature-and-hiking/