This Basque border town connects Spain and France, with a historic center, local tapas bars, and the nearby Sanctuary of Our Lady of Roncesvalles housing Saint James' remains.
Irun sits at Spain's northernmost edge in the Basque Country, where the Bidasoa River marks the French border. In this transport hub, you can walk across Santiago Bridge into France, explore Roman thermal baths at the Oiasso Museum, or join 8,000 locals during the annual Alarde de San Marcial parade - a recreation of a 1522 battle that takes place every June 30th.
Getting to and Around Irun
Trains connect Irun to San Sebastian every 30 minutes, with a journey time of 20 minutes. As northern Spain's main railway terminus, the city has direct connections to Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris. You can reach French coastal city Biarritz in 15 minutes by car or cross Santiago Bridge on foot to the French town of Hendaye.
Local Markets and Shopping
The main shopping districts - Paseo de Colón, PÃo XII, and San Miguel - contain over 1,200 stores with underground parking. Two covered markets sell fresh local produce daily from 8 AM to 2 PM. The Mendibil and Txingudi shopping centers house major Spanish retail chains and restaurants.
Natural Spaces and Parks
Walk the three kilometers of trails at Plaiaundi Ecological Park in Txingudi Bay, where the interpretation center runs guided tours and bird watching sessions. The surrounding Aiako Harria mountains contain 300-million-year-old marine fossils among beech forests and oak groves. Follow marked hiking paths ranging from 2 to 15 kilometers in length.
Religious Architecture
The Santa MarÃa del Juncal church displays three architectural periods: late Gothic in its pillars, Basque Gothic in its vaults, and Baroque in its altar. Built between 1508 and 1606, it houses Gipuzkoa's oldest Romanesque statue - the Virgin of Juncal. Near the town square, Santa Elena Chapel stands on a Roman necropolis where excavations revealed burial grounds from the 1st and 2nd centuries.
Roman History at Oiasso Museum
The Oiasso Museum displays artifacts from Irun's time as a Roman port city. You'll see items from ancient thermal baths, port structures, and a collection of 100+ funerary urns. The exhibits explain the relationship between Romans and indigenous Basques, and show how maritime trade shaped the region.
Mining Sites
The slopes of Aiako Harria contain remnants of old iron mines. At Irugurutzeta, walking paths lead past former quarries, transport systems, and a mining camp from the 19th century. Information panels along the trails explain the mining operations that ran here until the early 1900s.
The Unique Pheasant Island
Between Irun and Hendaye lies Pheasant Island, a 5,000-square-meter territory that alternates between Spanish and French control every six months. While closed to the public, you can view this diplomatic curiosity from both riverbanks. The island hosted the signing of the 1659 Treaty of the Pyrenees and several royal marriages between Spanish and French monarchs.
