The city of San Sebastian stands at the eastern end of Spain’s north coast, so it’s only around 15 miles from the border with France. The city airport is even closer to France. If you hire a car at San Sebastian Airport you’ll find it is on a flat strip on the west bank of the River Bidasoa; the border runs down the river so it’s France on the opposite bank. The airport stands alongside the ancient Spanish town of Hondarribia, which is also a beach resort. The town of Irun is just to the south, while the French resort of Saint Jean de Luz is to the east.
If you have hired a car at San Sebastian Airport you’ll be able to explore the immediate surroundings of the Bidasoa estuary, tour around this hilly coastal area on the Franco-Spanish border or drive straight to the city of San Sebastian. You may pop into the old fortified border town of Irun, which is renowned as the spot where the narrower gauge French railway meets the wider Spanish railway. San Sebastian itself stands in a spectacular spot around sandy bays with mountains behind. It’s a popular seaside resort with interesting landmarks too. Look out for the cathedral, basilica and historic bridges over the Urumea River.
