Saint-Jean-de-Luz › Irún

🗺 Stage Map

📖 Stage Description

The stage begins in Saint-Jean-de-Luz and follows the final kilometres of the French Basque coast before reaching Hendaye, the border town on the Bidassoa estuary.

Crossing the border is a powerfully symbolic moment: you cross the international bridge or take the ferry to Hondarribia (Fontarrabie), a 16th-century fortified town overlooking the Bay of Txingudi. Its medieval old town and royal castle are your first Spanish gift.

Irún marks the end of the stage — a modern commercial town, but with an interesting old quarter. This is where the Spanish Camino del Norte truly begins, with its first yellow shell waymarkers.

🌄 Walking Conditions

Sun exposure and terrain type over 22,1 km

☀ Sun Exposure

🥾 Terrain

⏱ Estimated Time for You

Estimate your time based on your profile — calculation based on Naismith's rule.

📍 Villages and Waypoints

• 0km

  Saint-Jean-de-Luz · Start

  Fishing port, beach, all amenities.

  💧 Water🛒 Shops🏕 Accommodations
• 6km

  Hendaye

  Last French town. Three beaches, international train station. Ferry to Hondarribia.

  💧 Water🛒 Shops🏕 Accommodations🚉 Train station
• 10km

  Hondarribia

  Medieval fortified town. Charles V castle, Marina quarter.

  💧 Water🛒 Shops🏕 Accommodations
• 17,5km

  Irún · End

  Modern town centre, near the train station, start of the Spanish Camino Norte.

  💧 Water🛒 Shops🏕 Accommodations🚉 Train station

⚠ Practical Information

• 🚢
  Hendaye–Hondarribia Ferry

  Ferry crossing (txalupa) from Hendaye — just a few minutes, runs frequently

  Alternative: international bridge (+ 2 km)

  Paid crossing, operates all day except in rough seas
• 💧
  Water points

  Saint-Jean-de-Luz (km 0)

  Hendaye (km 6)

  Hondarribia (km 10)

  Irún (km 17,5)
• 💱
  Crossing into Spain

  Currency: Euro (same zone)

  Language: Spanish and Basque (euskara)

  First stamps on your Spanish credencial in Irún