San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (not an island, really, it´s more a peninsula or an isthmus) is one of those places that can serve as a sample of how mass tourism produced by GOT has (almost) ended with the significance and symbolism of the place for us Basques. The access to the 249 steps that lead to the hermitage on top have been closed for over a year due to the frequent landslidings in the area (the Basque Country is a very rainy zone), but it´s been reopened a month ago and now you can climb to the top. You can get the free tickets to the place here https://www.tiketa.eus/gaztelugatxe/?lang=en, you need a ticket for every day of the week from June 13 to Sept 11, from Dec 3 to 11; otherwise, it´s only necessary on weekends from March 26 to June 11, rest of the year the access is free and no tickets are necessary (except some festivities).
There are several very good viewpoints from mainland, but please let me keep them "hidden" as I would not want them to become overrun by visitors. One of them is following the old road (ignore the "no pass" signs, it´s only for vehicles), you´ll have a very good view after half a mile or so.
Tomorrow it´s St John´s night and there will be thousands of bonfires all over Spain, very late at night, with lots of celebrations. A very relevant one will take place in SJG, with a romery to the top of the rock (Gaztelugatxe: "the castle on the rock", in Basque).
In Hondarribia, the path along the coast to the Higuer lighthouse offers great views. In Zumaia, the view of the amazing "flysch" from the hermitage of San Telmo is a must (can´t get there on a car, have to park in town), as well as walking on the path along the coast to the actual flysch.
