Irun Voyage Tips and guide

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Irun is a town in Basque Country, Spain at the border of France. It has about 61,000 inhabitants (2023) and lies on the Northern Way (Camino Norte) of the Camino de Santiago.

The city lies on the Bidasoa River, which forms the border with France here. As a border town with France, the town has repeatedly been the scene of disputes between the two countries. And of diplomatic solutions: Pheasant Island, located in the border river, has repeatedly served as a neutral meeting place for envoys from both countries. Pheasant Island is administered on a semi-annual rotation by the Spanish Irun and the French Hendaye

Irun and Port-Bou on the Mediterranean coast are the two main points for rail freight traffic to and from Spain. Spain, unlike most of Europe, has the Iberian broad gauge of 1668 millimeters, so freight must be "transshipped" at the border in various ways. This occurs through conventional transshipment, by changing the gauge (axle) of the wagons, or by transshipping containers or similar superstructures.

The town lies directly at the airport of Donastia-San Sebastian. Mainly offered are domestic low cost flights and international one-stop flights by Iberia and British Airways.

International low-cost flights you gonna find to the airports of Biarritz, Bilbao, Bordeaux and Vitoria-Gasteiz. From Bordeaux there are direct trains to the sister town Hendaye.

Especially for intercontinental flights it might make sense to fly to Madrid. Direct trains from Madrid to Irun take about 6 hours.

• 43.339514-1.8012431 Irun central train station. It's served by high speed trains from Madrid and by regional trains. (updated Feb 2025)

French high speed trains and regional trains go to the sister town Hendaye. The Euskotren E2 between Hendaye and Irun does not stop directly at the central station of Irun, but nearby.

Intercity buses stop near the train station.

The town centre be walked on foot. There are city buses operated by Gipuzkoako Garraioaren Lurralde Agintaritza (TGG).

• One of its main festivals is the Alarde de San Marcial, a parade recreating an episode of the Peninsular War, held every year on 30 June.
• There are hot mineral springs in the town.

Pilgrims can sleep in the Albergue de peregrinos Jakobi.

There are several hotels in Irun not too far from the train station.

As a pilgrim in the direction of Santiago de Compostela.