Getaria

Getaria is a fishing port in Gipuzkoa, Spain, about 25 km west of San Sebastian on the Basque coast. The trip takes about 30 minutes by car or 35 to 50 minutes by Euskotren from Amara (Easo) station towards Zarautz and Getaria, paid with a Mugi card; Lurraldebus coastal lines are an alternative. The town is known for grilled turbot cooked over charcoal, for txakoli, the lightly sparkling white wine grown on the surrounding hillsides, for the Balenciaga Museum devoted to the fashion designer born here, and for the mouse-shaped Monte San Anton peninsula that shelters the harbour. A suggested day starts with a morning visit to the Balenciaga Museum, then a walk through the old town along Kale Nagusia to the church of San Salvador, with its sloping interior. From there, the harbour and the fish grills near the port are the natural lunch stop, and the grilled turbot is the signature order. After lunch, the afternoon can include a walk around Monte San Anton, a visit to a nearby txakoli winery for a tasting if booked beforehand, or the coastal path toward Zarautz, about an hour on foot along the sea, which makes a pleasant one-way hike or cycle. May to October gives the best weather, with good conditions for walking and outdoor dining, while winter can be wet and windy. Arriving before midday helps secure a table at the grill restaurants, which fill quickly on weekends and in summer. Paid parking is available at the entrance to the old town, but the train is simpler and avoids congestion. Visitors planning a winery tasting should contact the winery ahead of time to confirm availability.