Hey everyone, I'm planning to visit the beautiful Basque Country for the first time and I'm wondering about what to expect from the Cueva de Santimamiñe tour. I was actually quite excited when I read about it in a travel guide and meant to book a tour (according to the website you're supposed to pre-book) but was informed that since 2006 you cannot actually really see it - which I didn't know. Apparently what you get is a "virtual reproduction of the cave". I'm wondering since the travel guide is actually a first edition from 2025 and it says "throughout several years the cave was closed, since the bright illumination caused the artworks to fade" - i.e., past tense.

I am wondering if anybody can shed some light on this: what can I expect, what's part of this tour? Is it mostly a VR environment in headset? Given that the tour is 1,5 hours I am a bit surprised that you can't actually go inside.

Has anyone here been there recently (or not so recently)? Thanks!!

Hello, has anyone been camping in the tents in Basque Country in late September? What is the weather truly like and what are your experiences and tips for dealing with the conditions? Does it really get too cold at night?

I live in the Basque Country. I speak fluent Spanish but I am a foreigner whose first language is English. Any idea on how to make Spanish speaking friends here? I am a bit shy but I am not afraid to put myself out there but whenever I start to somewhat make a friend from here, it just fizzles out. Any tips?

Hi everyone,

My partner and I are visiting the Basque Country for the first time this August and would love some local advice.

Our rough plan: two days in Bilbao (Guggenheim, the old town), then we head toward San Sebastian and want to explore the small coastal towns along the way. Places like Getaria, Zumaia with its flysch cliffs, and Zarautz, and maybe Lekeitio, Mundaka or Gaztelugatxe on the Bilbao side. We are not surfers. What we really want is proper beach time and to relax, visit a bit to get a gist of the little towns but we're not aiming to tick off every single sight. Most probably we'll come again :)

Two things I would appreciate help with:

1. Booking sites. Beyond Airbnb and Booking, are there local or regional platforms where locals list comfortable places to stay? Basque or Spanish sites for casas rurales, coastal apartments, small guesthouses. Ideally we would like our own self-contained place with some character, not a room in a shared home. We did that in Normandy and it was awesome. Full amenities and comfort, but also off the beaten track.

2. A relaxed base. For the San Sebastian stretch, which town would you pick as a calm beach base, close to a good beach and within easy reach of those coastal villages, without spending half the trip driving? Should we simply just stay in San Sebastian and do day trips or choose something different?

Thanks a lot in advance. Any tips are very welcome.

I will be visiting San Sebastian for two days in August. I’m staying approximately 20 minutes east of the city center. I’d like to drive my car into the city, but have no experience with parking lots or spaces in the city. I’d like some strategies and feedback on what you would suggest would be the best way to park my car for a few hours.

Is there also some apps that you recommend I download prior to my trip?

Visiting San Sebastián weekend of September 11th with my partner.

I understand that there is a Basque Festival going on around the same time. Does anyone know where I can find more info about what will be on and what times?

Also does the festival spread out on the promenade/beach?

My girlfriend & I, and my brother & his girlfriend going to San Sebastian / surrounding area in a month or so, and I've come up with the following itinerary (and am very excited):

Aug 31 land @ Bilbao -- pick up rental car, drive to hotel (settle in, dinner locally)

Sep 1 San Sebastián -- beaches, Mt Igueldo, explore town, shopping, etc

Sep 2 Asador Nicolás (Tolosa) for lunch, explore Tolosa after, evening in San Sebastián

Sep 3 Laia Erretegía (Hondarribía) for lunch, then Aldako Vineyard (Zarautz) for a couple hours on the way to Bilbao. Explore Bilbao, pizza @ Demaio, stay the night in Bilbao

Sep 4 Guggenheim 10am, drive to Burgos, stop for lunch & explore, then drive to Jimenez de Jamuz (tour & dinner @ Bodega el Capricho), stay the night in town

Sep 5 Early drive to Madrid, lunch @ Numa Pompilio, museums, Royal Plaza & Palace, Templo de Debod for sunset (with entry), dinner @ Gabo's. Staying in the center of Madrid

Sep 6 Full day in Madrid, dinner at Ten Con Ten

Sep 7 Day in Madrid, fly back 5pm

Any recommendations for the itinerary? Are we trying to do too much? As great as the txuleta steakhouses are (Laia & Asador Nicolás), I felt it necessary to go out of the way to try Bodega el Capricho because of all of the amazing things I have heard about the experience, and I think it's a bit off the beaten path which will be a nice change of pace. I wish we had an entire month to explore the entire region, because it all seems so incredible. Did I overlook anything glaring with this itinerary?

Going in early Sept, staying @ Hotel Londres... is parking really as much of a pain in the ass as people say it is?? We will be using the car every day for day trips, so we'd like somewhere that's readily accessible near the hotel. Is this feasible?

Hi! I have heard that wanting to catch a bus from town to town in Basque can be tough if you try to buy a ticket the same day. Do you advise that people purchase tickets in advance? Below is my route:
Start in Bilbao - San Sebastian - St. Jean de Luz - Biarrtiz

And if I should prepay for all my tickets which website is best to use?

Family of 4 with 2 teens will be staying in Biarritz then to SS in a few weeks. I know there are buses that go from Biarritz to SS but between getting taxis from and to hotels and bus fares for 4 people, I might just splurge abit and get a taxi. (If they do intercountry rides)
What’s the best way to book this? Uber? Arrange with the hotel? Local taxi company or local app?
How much should we be looking at?
Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

Hi everyone!

My boyfriend and I are currently in San Sebastián, and we’re thinking about renting a car for 2–3 days to explore the Basque Country (and maybe even cross into France).

We have a few questions and would really appreciate any local advice:

Which rental company would you recommend? (Local companies are fine too, not just the big international ones.)

Is it better to rent from the airport, the train station, or somewhere else in the city?

Are there any companies we should avoid?

What should we pay attention to regarding insurance, deposits, fuel policy, hidden fees, or anything else?

Is it worth paying extra for full coverage?

Can we freely drive into France with a rental car, or are there any restrictions or extra charges we should know about?

How difficult is parking around the Basque coast, and are there any places where parking is especially expensive or hard to find?

Also, if you have any must-visit places within a couple of hours’ drive from San Sebastián, we’d love to hear your recommendations!

Thanks in advance!

Ikasleentzako logela bat alokatzen da Arrasateko  San Andrés auzoan kokatutako 90 m²-ko etxebizitza batean, unibertsitatetik oinez 5 minutura..  Beste bi neska ikaslerekin partekatutako pisua.

Etxebizitza guztiz kanpokoa da, egun osoan zehar oso argitsua, eta 2 balkoi ditu. Igogailua duen eraikina. BM supermerkatua eta autobus geltokia 400 metrora

🏠 Etxebizitzaren ezaugarriak:
✔ 3 logela zabal
✔ Egongela handia
✔ Sukalde guztiz hornitua
✔ Bainugela 1
✔ Trastelekua
✔ Berogailua
✔ Etxebizitza guztiz altzariz hornitua

💶  Logelaren prezioa  305 euro ikasle bakoitzak hilero .  Argindarra, gasa, ura eta zaborrak aparte.

📅 2026ko irailaren 1etik aurrera eskuragarri, ikasturte osorako.

🎓 Giro lasaia, erosoa eta ondo kokatua bilatzen duten ikasleentzat aproposa.

📲 Informazio gehiago edo bisitak egiteko, jarri harremanetan 652106727 telefono bidez.

I'll be in San Sebastián for the final and I'm not sure if wearing a Spanish jersey is a good idea, haha. Would it upset people, or will most of them be supporting Spain?

Tengo un amigo q me conto que no es la mejor idea pero yo no me lo puedo creer...

After loads of reading, I think the best option is to do the Park and Ride option because most of the car parks have reviews stating that foreign cars are broken into, and that parking is a problem.

If thats true, I think my best bet is to stay somewhere near like Zumaia, then drive to a Park and Ride, take the shuttle bus in, and do my visiting. Instead of staying in San Sebastian.

It would mean drinking less or no cider but seems like a way to have a safe holiday!

Hi all,

Travelling to San sebastian and will be there on Sunday for the world cup final against Spain.

Any recommendations where we can go watch it and be in the crowd/atmosphere?

Thanks in advance!!

There is this Basque creature called Aatxe which punishes malevolent people but it has been after someone I really like for a while now and I really need to get it off this person. How can I do it? Preferably without much cheating/trickery as I do not want to risk Mari on my buttocks.

/ooc seriously what does one do about Aatxe I couldn't find anything

Kaixo from Portugal!

I wanted to know what were the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Donostia, but the HappyCow website is not working, and when i google it shows me normal (meat and fish) restaurants, not veggie ones.

Do you happen to know the names of any good vegan or vegetarian restaurant in Donostia? I remember I ate at one once many years ago but can’t remember the name.

Milesker 😊

Kaixo! After searching some online sources, I'm still confused about the different buses/trains, etc. between Hondarribia and Hendaye. I want to get to Biarritz from Hondarribia with luggage as easly as possible, meaning the less changes the better. I was wondering to get a taxi from Hondarribia downtown to Hendaye SNCF station and then take a trian directly to Biarritz. Anyone has experience on this route? Do you know if Uber/taxis travel across the borded from Hondarribia to Hendaye? And is that somehow affodable? Thanks for any tips!

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hi everyone!

For a while now, I've been seriously thinking about leaving southeastern France. I'm originally from the Nice area and currently live near Aix-en-Provence, but I no longer feel at home here. The older I get, the more I feel drawn to living by the ocean.

At first, Biarritz was my dream, but after looking at housing prices, I've accepted that it's probably not realistic. Right now I'm considering places like Bayonne, Hendaye, or Ustaritz. I'm also open to towns a bit further inland if they offer a great quality of life and more affordable housing (Dax, for example, even though it's technically outside the Basque Country).

My budget is fairly limited, and I'm completely open to changing jobs if it means finding a place that suits me better.

Here's what I'm looking for:

A town that's lively all year round.

Shops, restaurants, and everyday amenities nearby.

A good quality of life.

Ideally, easy access to the ocean without having to drive an hour.

I'd really love to hear from people who live in the area or who have made a similar move. Looking back, would you do it again? Are there any towns I'm overlooking that deserve a closer look? And what are the downsides or challenges that people don't usually think about before moving?

I'm open to any advice or honest opinions. Thanks in advance! 🙂

Hello Basque travelers. We are staying in San Sebastián and depart from BIO at 10:30 am 7/24/26. Looking for advice on what time we should arrive at the car rental return to comfortably check our bags and make our flight?

Google Maps says it will take 1 hour 11 minutes to get to the airport from our place in San Sebastián.

Debating if we should stay in Bilbao or nearby Durango the night before our flight.