Zarautz in 30 seconds
About 23,000 inhabitants (23,370 in 2024, INE), often 45,000 in summer, over 14.3 km², some fifteen kilometres from San Sebastián and next door to Getaria. Facing the Atlantic, a beach 2.5 to 2.8 km long depending on the source — the longest in the Basque Country.
A little history
1237: Ferdinand III of Castile grants Zarautz its town charter (villa status).
19th century: Queen Isabella II of Spain is invited to spend long summer holidays at the Narros Palace, which helps turn Zarautz into a tourist destination.
Today: a seaside resort and surf spot, which hosts a world tour event, the Zarautz Pro, every September.
What to see
The main beach
Between 2.5 and 2.8 km of sand between the Santa Bárbara and Mollarri cliffs, nicknamed ‘the queen of beaches’. At its far end, at the mouth of the Iñurritza, a protected biotope shelters the largest dune system on the Gipuzkoa coast. Very lively in summer.
The Casco Antiguo
The old town, with the Narros Palace, the Torre Luzea (a 15th-century Gothic military tower on three levels) and the church of Santa María la Real (16th century, with the Araoz family altarpiece).
Narros Palace
A 16th-century palace (1536) in Renaissance style, with 19th-century interiors. Summer residence of Queen Isabella II.
Other sights
The Zarauz tower house, the Dotorekua house, the Portu house (now the town hall) and the Franciscan and Poor Clares convents.
Photomuseum
A photography museum, reopened in November 2005 in the Villa Manuela.
Getaria txakoli
Zarautz is part of the historic area of the DO Getariako Txakolina (along with Getaria and Aia), a designation recognised in 1989. See Getaria.
Fiestas
- San Pelaio: in June
- Semana Grande: in August
- Euskal Jaiak: in September
Getting there
- By car: AP-8 from San Sebastián
- By train: Euskotren from San Sebastián (about 30 min)
1-day itinerary
- Morning: surf lesson or a walk on the beach
- Lunchtime: Casco Antiguo + Narros Palace
- Afternoon: Photomuseum, then a walk along the beach to catch the sunset
Famous people linked to Zarautz
- Karlos Arguiñano (born 6 September 1948 in Beasain) — celebrity TV chef (first on screen in 1989 on EITB), who on 13 July 1979 opened his hotel-restaurant on Zarautz beach, which held a Michelin star from 1982 to 1998.
- Queen Isabella II of Spain (1830–1904) — spent her summers at the Narros Palace, helping the town take off as a resort.
My favourite photo
Zarautz beach at dawn — unmarked sand, lone surfers paddling out, an orange-tinted sea.
Sources
- Turismo Euskadi (Basque Government) — Zarautz (in Spanish)
- Wikipedia (es): Zarauz (INE 2024 population), Karlos Arguiñano
Ongi etorri Zarautzera — Welcome to Zarautz.