Oñati

A historic town in the Basque interior known for its striking Renaissance university building and as the gateway to the sacred Arantzazu sanctuary and Aizkorri mountains. It offers a glimpse of traditional Basque architecture away from the coast.

Things to do

• Universidad de Sancti Spiritus — Wander the arcaded Renaissance courtyard of this 16th-century university building, the first in the Basque Country and one of Spain's finest civil Plateresque monuments.
• Foru Plaza and Town Hall — Admire the baroque facade of the Ayuntamiento with its balconies and coats of arms, then linger at a terrace on this arcaded main square.
• Santuario de Arantzazu — Visit this striking modernist mountain sanctuary with a spiky facade by Sáenz de Oiza, doors by Chillida, and frescoes by Oteiza, perched dramatically above a gorge.
• Hike into Aizkorri-Aratz Natural Park — Set off from Arantzazu toward Aizkorri, the highest peak in Gipuzkoa, through beech forests and limestone karst scenery sacred to Basque shepherding culture.
• Explore the old quarter's bridges — Cross the small stone bridges over the Deba's tributary streams while strolling Kale Zaharra and Bidebarrieta, lined with noble houses and coats of arms.
• San Miguel Church and hanging bridge — See the church built partly over the river, with a curious enclosed bridge-passage crossing the water beside it.
• Oñatiko Ihauteria (Carnival) sites — If visiting in season, look for traces of Oñati's unique carnival characters like the Zaldiko and Ziripot, among the most distinctive in the Basque Country.
• Day trip to Idiazabal cheese country — Explore the surrounding hills where shepherds still produce smoked Idiazabal cheese, a protected Basque specialty.

Food to try

• Idiazabal cheese — Sample this smoky sheep's-milk cheese from local flocks, often served with walnuts and quince paste.
• Alubias de Oñati — Try the town's hearty red bean stew, traditionally cooked with chorizo, pork, and cabbage.
• Talo con txistorra — Eat a warm corn-flour flatbread filled with grilled txistorra sausage, a favorite snack at local festivals.
• Sagardo (Basque cider) — Visit a nearby sagardotegi to drink natural cider poured from height, paired with cod omelette and grilled steak.
• Goxua dessert — Finish a meal with this layered Basque sponge, cream, and caramel dessert popular in Gipuzkoa's inland towns.

Local customs & good to know

• Basque language is strong here — Euskera is widely spoken day-to-day, so greetings like 'Kaixo' and 'Eskerrik asko' are appreciated.
• Sunday closures — Many small shops and some restaurants close on Sunday afternoons and Mondays, especially outside peak season.
• Pilgrimage etiquette at Arantzazu — The sanctuary is an active place of worship, so dress modestly and keep voices low inside the basilica.
• Festival timing — Carnival and the Corpus Christi 'Corpus' processions with flower carpets are major local events worth planning a visit around.