Luxury hotel holiday Parador de Hondarribia Hondarribia, Spanish Basque country

The Parador de Hondarribia is a 4-star hotel occupying the 10th century Castle of Charles V. A stay here takes you back in time to the Middle Ages. Thick stone walls protect a magnificent interior of arches, coffered ceilings and historical decorations of swords and armour. Outside the hotel, guests will find cobbled streets, colourful houses, lively bars and restaurants and beautiful sea views.
Included in your Expressions holiday
  • Accommodation in a double or twin room on bed and breakfast
  • Scheduled flights with British Airways London to Bilbao
  • Hire of a group A car for the duration of the holiday
  • Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
  • Choice of upgrades available - rooms, flights and board basis

Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Hondarribia, in Spanish Basque country

The Parador de Hondarribia is a 4 star hotel occupying the 10th century Castle of Charles V in this Franco-Spanish seaside border town. The castle’s thick, stone walls closely guard elegant interiors in keeping with the building's majestic past.

Facts in brief

Official star rating 4

Location The hotel is located the Plaza de Armas, about 500m from the seafront.

Annual opening Open all year

Closest airport Bilbao

Distance from airport 120 km

Closest railway station Irun

Distance from railway station 5 km

Hotel facilities and services

Bar, garden, gift shop, parking facilities.

Out and about nearby

Hondarribia is a seaside town located on the border between Spain and France. The town has a beautiful walled old town, ancient fortress, port, historic sailor’s district, San Telmo castle and the Santuario de Guadalupe with its natural spring. Within the surrounding area of Bajo Bidasoa you will also find Irun, Hendaya, Monte Jaizkibel natural park, the uninhabited Pheasant Island on the Bidasoa River and the Chateau d’Abbadie. Across the border, guests staying longer might also like to visit St Jean de Luz and Biarritz.

Sports nearby

Mountain biking, horse riding, golf, boat rides, fishing, canoeing, rowing, hiking.

Special offers for this holiday>

I just wanted to thank you for putting together our recent trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it, We were happy with all the hotels.
Mr and Mrs S, June 2023

Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 5 nights

From about

£1,480

Holiday Code EXH1643

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Hondarribia, in Spanish Basque country

Room descriptions

Parador de Hondarribia has 34 rooms, each with private bathroom, air conditioning, heating, safe and mini-bar, internet connection, television, telephone and hairdryer. The hotel has one accessible room.

Single room
Double or twin room
Superior room
Junior suite

Special offers for this holiday>

I just wanted to thank you for putting together our recent trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it, We were happy with all the hotels.
Mr and Mrs S, June 2023

Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 5 nights

From about

£1,480

Holiday Code EXH1643

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Hondarribia, in Spanish Basque country

The journey and how you get there

For a holiday to the Parador de Hondarribia, our clients usually hire a car from Bilbao airport and include the hotel as part of a fly-drive or fly-rail touring holiday. We include flights from London and a hire car, depending on what you would like to do and what is most appropriate to your overall journey.

Additional information

Children: An extra bed for a single child can be added in most room types.

Other information: The Parador de Hondarribia only offers bed and breakfast. There is no restaurant for lunch or dinner although there are plenty of pintxo bars and high quality restaurants in the town.

Special offers

Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.

I just wanted to thank you for putting together our recent trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it, We were happy with all the hotels.
Mr and Mrs S, June 2023

Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 5 nights

From about

£1,480

Holiday Code EXH1643

The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.

Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Hondarribia, in Spanish Basque country

Cultural highlights of Spanish Basque country

Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, a Frank Gehry-designed landmark which transformed the city. The charming old town of San Sebastian, located between the beach and the river. Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country which is home to a mediaeval old town and two cathedrals. Guernica, a small town which was bombed during WWII and inspired a famous painting by Picasso. Fishing villages between Bilbao and San Sebastian including Bakio, Bermeo, Zumaia and Lekeitio, some of which are home to wonderful beaches and are also popular surf spots. Hondarribia, a historic town situated on the border with France. Pelota, a traditional ball game which is played throughout the region on a two-walled court. Numerous bars across the region which serve ‘pinchos’ (a Basque version of tapas), including those in Logroño. Wine-producing towns across La Rioja where visitors can enjoy cellar tours and wine tastings, which can also be enjoyed at the luxury vineyard hotels which we feature. Yuso and Suso Monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in La Rioja. The fortress city of Pamplona, renowned for the annual bull running festival.

Gastronomy of Spanish Basque country

The Basque Country is renowned for its varied and innovative cuisine, with numerous Michelin-starred restaurants found across the region. San Sebastian alone is home to eight Michelin-starred restaurants, two of which have been included within the top ten of Restaurant magazine's list of the world's 50 best restaurants. Wine is of course an incredibly important product, primarily in La Rioja which is known for its high-quality reds as well as a number of good white and rosé wines. A regional variation of tapas called ‘pinchos' can be found throughout the Basque Country and Navarre, frequently eaten as a snack in bars. Regional cooking varies according to location, with plenty of fresh fish and shellfish to be found along the coastline and a greater use of meat and game further inland. Local dishes include ‘Bacalao' (salt cod), ‘Marmitako' (fresh tuna stew), ‘Cordero al Chilindron' (spicy lamb stew) and ‘Txangurro relleno' (stuffed spider crabs).

Festivals in Spanish Basque country

19 to 20 January: San Sebastian Drum Festival, 29 June: Haro Wine Festival, 6 to 14 July: Los Sanfermines Bull Running Festival (Pamplona), July: San Sebastian Jazz Festival, 4 to 9 August: Festival of the Virgin Mary (Vitoria-Gasteiz), August: Bilbao's Big Week, September: San Sebastian International Film Festival, September: San Mateo Wine Festival (Logroño).

Climate in Spanish Basque country

The Basque Country's climate is generally quite mild and wet, although there is some variation between coastal and inland areas. The Basque coast experiences relatively high levels of rainfall, cold winters and warm summers where temperatures regularly reach 25 degrees, whilst some areas further south enjoy a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and little rain.

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