Hotels and places to stay in Orio

Orio is a small town, so choosing an area is not as complicated as in a big city, but it is worth being clear about what you are looking for. The town centre, around calle Nagusia and the square, is where most of the apartments and the three hotels are concentrated. Here you have everything at hand: the town hall, the bars, the bakery and the access to the port. It is the most convenient option if you are without a car or if you want to go out for dinner without worrying about parking. The other usual area is the one that goes up towards the mountain or approaches the main road, where you will find holiday homes and a few apartment-hotels. These are somewhat quieter accommodations, with more space and, in many cases, with a garden or terrace, but you depend on the car to go down to the centre, especially if you have children or heavy shopping.

The main difference between them is the noise and the slope. In the centre, especially in summer, there is atmosphere until late, and the streets are narrow. On the outskirts, silence is guaranteed, but you will have to go up slopes that, after a day of walking, are noticeable. If you come to surf, the beach of Orio is a five-minute walk from any point in the town, so there is not much difference. If what interests you is the Camino de Santiago, which passes through the centre, you should stay near the church to set off walking directly. Prices drop notably outside July and August, and also outside Easter. In low season, an apartment can cost 86 euros per night, which is the lowest price you will find, while the average is 186 euros. If you can, book on weekdays, because weekends in May, June and September rise almost as much as in the middle of August.

To get there, the simplest way is the commuter train from San Sebastián, which takes about twenty minutes and leaves you two streets from the centre. There are also buses, but they are less frequent. By car, the motorway exit is one kilometre away, and within the town there are several scattered car parks, although in August they fill up quickly. To get around, you need nothing more than your legs, because everything is less than fifteen minutes' walk away. Before booking, look carefully at whether the accommodation includes bed linen and towels, because some apartments charge for them separately. Also check whether it has a lift, because many old buildings do not, and whether the price includes final cleaning. And, above all, check the cancellation policy: in apartments it is usually stricter than in hotels, and some require paying 30% of the amount in advance.