We are also staying put taking a trip to the interior of the country! If you are also making your plans and intend to spend the Summer in Tolosa, or simply wish to take a day trip there, our practical guide should help make it easier than ever. Thanks to being just a stone’s throw from all the Basque capitals, you will not regret checking out our town! Family, couple, group, or solo getaways.

 

 

In this guide you will find:

How to make the visit

What there is to see

Where to eat out

Where to stay

How to get there

 

 

HOW TO MAKE THE VISIT

 

You have several options, depending on what you wish to do when you take a trip.

On your own: If you wish to walk around on your own, we recommend doing so while listening to our podcast on our channel on Spotify with 18 episodes, one for each place we recommend visiting. You can listen to it by scanning the QR codes at each location of interest, or you else do the whole tour (highly recommended) clicking here or searching “for Tolosa Tourism” on your Spotify app.

 

 

With a guide: This is the best option if you prefer to make the visit with a group and a guide who knows Tolosa like the palm of their hand. We are organising guided tours of the Old Town of Tolosa, the traditional Saturday market and the historic vaults of the Santa Maria parish during Easter week.

 

In both cases, we recommend visiting our renovated tourist office, which will be open throughout the week! We will tell you about the guided tours, timetables, bookings, local products and more things you can do in the region. Click to see where we are located.

 

 

WHAT THERE IS TO SEE ?

 

 

The Old Town with all the charm of Gipuzkoa:

 

Tolosa used to be an island, and the Arch of Castile located in Plaza Triangulo is still the gateway to the old town, which dates back almost 800 years. Wandering through these cobblestone streets is very interesting, as your mind drifts imagining the horse-drawn carousels running through the town, the river on both sides, and looking at the signs of the old palaces that mark Tolosa’s history.

 

Do not forget to visit the market if you come on a Saturday:

 

Saturday is just the right day to visit. The traditional market of Tolosa is held every Saturday of the year in three different squares: el Tinglado, Plaza Berdura and Plaza Euskal Herria. Take the opportunity to stroll and browse all the exceptional products that are key in Basque cuisine. Try out the cheese tasters offered by the producers, ask how to cook the seasonal vegetables, and don't forget the beans, the essential product of Tolosa you have to try. You can read more about the Tolosa market here.

 

 

 

The parish of Santa Maria, its vaults and the restored paintings of Eugenio Azkue::

 

Did you know that Santa Maria is the second largest church in Gipuzkoa? As if the parish was not impressive enough, you can also visit the vaults, the organ, the old archive, the Santa Maria Church museum and the very recently restored paintings of Eugenio Azkue. It can only be visited during a guided tour booked in advance (information at the Tourist Office or by phoning 943 697 413).

 

 

The TOPIC museum:

 

Find out where puppets from all over the world sleep. An iconic building on the outside, a universe of puppetry on the inside. TOPIC is located at Plaza Euskal Herria (which happens to be the most atmospheric square in the whole town). It is the only comprehensive centre dedicated to puppets in Europe. You can find out more about Topic by clicking here!

 

WHERE TO EAT OUT?

 

The taste of Tolosa will be one of those sensations you will always remember, and it will remain on your palate and your mind. An unbeatable place to experience a gastronomic experience around a table. Fire, embers, T-bone steak, beans, pintxos [titbits],… which one tickles your fancy? Actually, you can try all of them!

 

Grills:

 

Eating lunch or dinner at one of Tolosa’s four grills is the most traditional thing to do. Beef was replaced with veal during the 1960s and it was so successful that it became the star dish. They also work with veal steak, and nowadays mainly heifers. Throughout the year, thousands of visitors arrive from different parts of the world. 

 

Cider-houses:

 

Another (nice) way to enjoy a good steak, and perhaps in a more lively but not less traditional atmosphere, is by eating out at one of the cider houses. Each cask contains different cider (from 5 to 10 or 12), and every time a cask is opened by the cider house owner or manager, a cry of "TXOOOOTX" breaks out: signifying that you have the opportunity to try a new cider (not all casks are open all the time!). If you don't know what one looks like, you can read more about the “las sagardotegis” [cider house] culture in this post.