What to see in Pasaia, one of the most beautiful fishing villages

Well, when we talk about Pasaia, we are actually referring to Pasai Donibane, Pasajes de San Juan in Spanish, which is one of the four districts of Pasaia and is where the main monuments are found, being the most picturesque and touristic district.

Strolling through the streets of Pasai Donibane and admiring its colorful houses is an experience that you must live if you find yourself spending a few days in neighboring San Sebastián, since it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful fishing villages that you will find in the area.

Here we tell you the most important things to see in Pasaia. And if you don’t want to visit it on your own because you prefer to be told what you see, we recommend this free tour of Pasaia in which they will tell you very interesting secrets of the town.

What to visit in Pasai Donibane

If you come by car from Mount Jaizkibel, this will be the place where you end up.

We recommend you leave your car in the car park next to the port and start walking around this town with a seafaring atmosphere that has managed to adapt perfectly to the passage of time.

Here begins the Historic Center of Pasai Donibane, the true jewel of Pasaia, which is practically pedestrian (only residents can enter) and therefore you can enjoy without stress.

Right at the entrance to the Historic Center there is an old chimney that has remained a symbol of the intense industrial activity that, in the past, was the engine of Pasaia.

Right at the beginning of the walk we find the Church of San Juan Bautista, patron saint of the town, a mixture of baroque and neoclassical styles.

From there, you have to enjoy every corner of its narrow streets and stone houses that lead you little by little to its heart, the Plaza de Santiago.

But before reaching it is Casa Gaviria, known as Casa de Víctor Hugo because the great writer lived there for a few days.

The Pasaia Town Hall is located in this beautiful square, surrounded by beautiful Basque-style houses with great color, something very typical of the area.

There are numerous bars and restaurants with their terraces, if the weather is good, from which to admire the end of the Ría de Pasaia, which connects the Port of Pasajes with the Cantabrian Sea.

From this square you can even take a small barge that takes you to the other shore, or continue walking forward and visit the Basilica of Santo Cristo de Bonanza, already very close to the mouth of the estuary, which you can reach through the Paseo of Bonanza, a very nice route. There you have the lighthouse and several viewpoints.

The other districts of Pasaia

The other three districts of Pasaia do not have many points of interest from the tourist point of view.

At most, we could highlight Pasai San Pedro, located just opposite Pasai Donibane and where the Church of San Pedro is located.

From this district, we can have the best views of the houses that overlook the estuary on the opposite shore and we can also take a walk to the mouth of the Cantabrian Sea.

The other two, Pasai Antxo and Pasai Trintxerpe, have a more urban environment and no tourist attractions and are considered by many to be a continuation of the city of San Sebastián.

You can find more information on the official tourism page of Pasaia and its region.