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Pasaia, what to see in one of the most beautiful towns in Euskadi.
Pasaia, formerly Pasajes, is one of the most interesting and welcoming villages of the Basque coast. A small town, which, protected by the Ulía and Jaizkibel mountains, offers one of the most charming spots in the Basque Country. We are not exaggerating. This urban center located just a few minutes from Donostia San Sebastian, capital of the Historical Territory of Gipuzkoa, has a clear seafaring flavor. The fishermen’s houses, the bay, the trawlers, the port, the walks along the coast, the motorboat and the museums that we find here attest to this. 
Pasaia is a town that has always lived facing the sea. Next to the port. It is here, around the bay, where we find the 4 districts that form Pasaia: San Juan (Donibane in Basque), San Pedro, Antxo and Trintxerpe. Of all of them, San Juan (Donibane) and San Pedro bring together the greatest number of attractions of the municipality. San Juan (Donibane) is the most visited of them all. Would you like to visit Pasaia with us? 
Information about Pasaia.
- Population: 16,100
- Attractions: Nature, history and gastronomy.
- Location: Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Euskadi.
The extensive cultural and historical heritage of Pasaia is highlighted in spaces such as Albaola or Mater. 2 museums, which have rescued from oblivion historical facts and traditions closely linked to Pasaia and Euskal Herria. Although the popular architecture and the colorful houses of Pasai Donibane attract your attention at first sight, we are sure that they will not be the only places in Pasaia that will be engraved in your retina. 
Pasaia, a town with a lot of charm.
Ulía and Jaizkibel, the two mountains that border Pasaia, offer us a unique view of the town. A panoramic view that combines sea and land to offer us a spectacular view. Unique. A perspective that allows us to get a global idea of each and every one of the corners that we are going to visit during our stay in Pasaia. Shall we start? 
Districts of Pasaia.
Although most travelers only focus on the district of San Juan (Donibane), all of them have great importance in the daily life of this Basque town. Here is a brief summary of what each of them has to offer.
- San Juan (Donibane in Basque)Located on the slope of the Jaizkibel mountain, the district of San Juan is one of the most charming. This fishermen’s village has all the necessary requirements to be one of those places that nobody forgets. Its colorful houses, its layout between the mountain and the sea, its narrow streets and its good people attest to this. This district is sectioned by a single cobbled street that runs along the shore of the Bay of Pasaia until it practically reaches its mouth. A highly recommended walk.
- San PedroLocated in front of San Juan (Donibane), San Pedro has similar characteristics. A district, in which, as in the previous one, we find fishermen’s houses next to the bay and a beautiful coastal route that takes us to know Albaola. A highly recommended visit.
- AntxoIn Antxo we find a great part of the infrastructures. Thus, Antxo has evolved along with the railroad, the Madrid-Paris road, the topo (Hendaye – Donostia railroad) or the port itself.
- TrintxerpeTrintxerpe: Due to its proximity to the capital of Gipuzkoa, many confuse Trintxerpe, the most populated district of Pasaia, with a neighborhood of Donostia San Sebastian. However, it is the residential area par excellence of this Basque town. A space, which lived its golden age with the boom of the fishing industry.
What to see in Pasaia.
If you are looking for what to see in Pasaia, if you want to know what are the most precious treasures of this small earthly paradise, you are in luck. In this section we are going to show you some of the attractions of this town. We hope you like them. 
Albaola: A very active museum. A living, dynamic space of great historical interest. This is how we can describe what is today one of the most important historical-cultural projects in the Basque Country. It is here, where we are encouraged to learn more about the construction techniques used by our ancestors, to know an important part of the history of the Basque people through the construction of the replica of the Nao San Juan, a Basque whaler sunk off the coast of Canada in 1565. More information in our Albaola article. 
Mater Museoa: Mater, the last wooden fishing boat of Pasaia, has been converted into a museum. It is, however, an atypical museum. And the fact is that, like Albaola, Mater has a dynamism that is difficult to find in today’s museums. This is how this ship-museum travels through the ports of the Basque Country, making known our maritime culture, teaching new generations a way of life deeply rooted in Euskadi, fishing. More information in our article about the Mater Museum. 
Victor Hugo House: Victor Hugo’s house allows us to contemplate the Pasaia of 1843 through the permanent collection “Victor Hugo, trip to the memory”. A nice way to get to know one of the bridge houses of the town while enjoying the landscape that this writer fell in love with. The interior of the house has been decorated with period furniture to show visitors the home of Victor Hugo. This small museum also serves as a tourist office, a space that we recommend you to visit if you have any questions about this destination. For more information: Victor Hugo House Museum. 
Bocana de Pasaia: The natural entrance to the port is, without a doubt, another of those spaces that make us fall in love with Pasaia. A narrow maritime passage, which, protected by the cliffs of Ulía and Jaizkibel, welcomes the thousands of boats that visit this port throughout the year. 
Faro de la Plata: The Faro de la Plata, represents one of the most emblematic lighthouses of the coast of Gipuzkoa. A structure of great importance, which is located between Donostia San Sebastian and Pasaia, on Mount Ulia. An environment of great beauty that allows us to enjoy the sea in all its splendor. In case you want to know in first person this lighthouse, we recommend our article on the route to the Faro de la Plata. 
Motorboat of Pasaia: The motorboat of Pasaia is the most emblematic means of transport of the town. This boat that connects San Juan and San Pedro is essential for the daily life of Pasaia. A transport, which offers regular routes daily and that we recommend you to use to move between the different districts of Pasaia. Good, nice and cheap. 
Bridge house: As far as the popular architecture of Pasaia is concerned, we have to make special emphasis on the bridge houses. A type of building very characteristic of Pasai Donibane (San Juan). And it is that due to its nature, limited by the bay and the Jaizkibel mountain, without hardly space to build houses and road, the bridge houses represent the best solution to the problematic that its geography presented. 
Trawlers: Pasaia’s seafaring tradition is legendary. An aspect that still endures. In this sense, the trawlers that ply the Bay of Pasaia are witness to this. Brave men and women, who, dressed only with their technique and strength, row against wind and tide as their ancestors did. This is how the formula once used to hunt whales has become a sport. 
Old Town Hall and Plaza de Santiago: The historic center of Pasai Donibane has a very cozy space, a meeting place, the Plaza de Santiago. It is the typical rectangular square protected on 3 of its sides while one of its sides is open to the sea. It is here, facing the sea, in the middle of a row of houses, where we find the old Town Hall of Pasaia (1735). 
Routes along the coast: Both from San Pedro and San Juan we have a great option to walk along the Basque coast. Mount Ulía and Mount Jaizkibel will help us to have magnificent views from its slopes, a perfect route to stretch our legs. 
Boat routes in Pasaia: The regular routes of the Motora de Pasaia are not the only ones we find in these parts. There are several boats that make maritime routes between Pasaia, Donostia San Sebastian and Hondarribia. 
Gastronomy: The gastronomy of Pasaia is known throughout the Basque Country. A destination where a good table is always available to the traveler. A good example of this is the restaurant Ziaboga. An establishment, that, located in Pasai Donibane, in the Plaza de Santiago, next to the bay, makes the diners fall in love with its dishes, its raw materials and its attention towards the client. Recommended. Especially for a good hamaiketako on the terrace, enjoying the sea. Recommendation: Fish and chips (seasonal fish and potatoes). 
These are some of the most important corners of Pasaia but we must not forget others such as the Church of San Juan Bautista, the birthplace of Blas de Lezo, the Humilladero de la Piedad or the Porcelain Factory. All the above mentioned spaces are less than 10 minutes away from each other, around the bay. 
Guided tours in Pasaia.
If you are thinking about visiting Pasaia, we encourage you to value the possibility of taking a guided tour to know the districts of San Pedro and San Juan. An interesting and economical proposal, which allows us to discover in a pleasant way the history, culture and legends of this charming fishing village. If you are interested in this option we encourage you to read our article about guided tours in Pasaia. You can also check availability or book directly from here. 
What to see near Pasaia.
In the vicinity of Pasaia we find places of great interest. Corners that we are sure you will love. All the destinations below are less than 1 hour by car from Pasaia. Although our recommendation is that you take the opportunity to visit the rest of the Basque provinces, a clear example of this is Bilbao and Vitoria Gasteiz. 
History of Pasaia.
San Juan and San Pedro, the two districts that represent a great part of the beauty of Pasaia, belonged in the past to Hondarribia and Donostia San Sebastian respectively. Urban nuclei from which they were desannexed in 1770 and 1805. Antxo and Trintxerpe, the two missing districts, originated from 1890 as a consequence of the creation of infrastructures related to the port activity. Although the fishing industry has always meant a great contribution for the municipality of Pasaia, the iron and steel industry has been transcendental in the recent history of this town of Gipuzkoa. An industry, that at the moment does not pass by the best of its moments. Thus, today we find a Pasaia trying to recover the essence of its origins, a humble fishing village, full of color and life, a town you will fall in love with. 
Port of Pasaia.
Although the first documented maritime activities in Pasaia date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, the port of Pasaia originated in Roman times, when the minerals obtained from the Arditurri mines traveled by sea to their destination. The port of Pasaia represented a safe refuge from storms of all kinds, while offering the necessary infrastructure for naval construction and armament. Although whaling and traditional coastal fishing were the most representative activities of that time, we cannot forget that it was a point of great interest for foreign trade. 
Video of Pasaia.
We leave you a short video about Pasaia. In it we made a small compilation of all the charming places in Pasaia. We hope you like it. We encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel to discover new destinations and activities throughout the Basque Country.
History of the Port of Pasaia.
The Port of Pasaia has had great importance in the history of Euskadi. In fact, nowadays, it is still one of the most important commercial ports of our territory. A fundamental piece in the development of our industry. Here is a brief summary by periods:
- 16th centuryMost of the port’s activity was focused on shipbuilding for the crown, whaling and cod fishing in Newfoundland.
- XVIII CenturyThe port of Pasaia was the headquarters of the Royal Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas and the Royal Company of the Philippines, the merchant traffic with the colonies occupied a large part of the port’s activity at this time.
- XIXth centuryThe arrival of the railroad and the road to the port of Pasaia gave impulse to the modernization of the port. Creating new infrastructures and new working mechanisms.
- 20th centuryThe industry and deep-sea fishing were the main activity during this century, but unfortunately, at the end of this century, the decline of these two sectors began.
- 20th century onwardsThe fishing industry, in particular the golden age of deep-sea fishing, boosted the port. But this also began to see its activity diminished during the thirties of this century.
Pasaia, besides being the commercial port of Gipuzkoa, is considered one of the most picturesque and charming coastal towns along the Basque coast. Two of its districts, Pasai San Pedro and Pasai Donibane, have very well preserved historic centers, where houses of popular seafaring architecture charm at first sight. 
How to get to Pasaia.
The best way to get to Pasaia is by bus, train or topo. It all depends on the district you want to visit. For example, to get to Pasai Antxo you can do it by bus, train or topo, to get to Trintxerpe or San Pedro it is best to use the bus and to get to Pasai Donibane we can do it in 2 ways From San Pedro, crossing the bay in the motorboat or by bus passing through Errenteria. As you can see, all the districts have some public transport that connects them directly with the capital, Donostia San Sebastian. 
As you have been able to see Pasaia is an impressive, unique town. A space that attracts and enchants, that leaves its mark. We strongly recommend you to visit Pasaia and its port. You will love it. Remember that in case you have any doubt you can use the comment system that you will find under these lines to send it to us. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!
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