Cheese trail · Idiazabal
Idiazábal Cheese Route
Start at the cheese interpretation centre in the village of Idiazabal, half an hour south of San Sebastián. Entry is €3, or €5 with a cheese tasting and €6 with tasting and wine. It opens on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays all year, and every day at Easter, in July and August and at Christmas. Two dairies in the village, Gaztañaditxulo and J. Aranburu, take visitors, and the Idiazábal DOP lists 17 more across the Basque Country and Navarre.
- Centre entry
- €3, with tasting €5
- Guided visits
- 11:15, 12:30, 16:00, 17:15
- From San Sebastián
- About 30 minutes
- Phone
- 943 18 82 03
Dates
The next dates have not been announced yet. It last ran 11 Oct 2026.
The Cheese Interpretation Centre
The centre is a few minutes' walk from the village square at Kale Nagusia 37. A short film narrated by Izal, a cartoon mouse, tells the story of the cheese and how it is made. There is a reconstruction of a shepherd's mountain hut with the old tools for making cheese, a room on the latxa and carranzana sheep whose raw milk goes into Idiazábal, and touch screens that explain the equipment.
Opening hours all year are Saturdays and holidays 11:00 to 14:00 and 15:30 to 18:30, and Sundays 11:00 to 14:00. At Easter, in July, in August up to 15 September, at Christmas and on long weekends it opens Monday to Saturday 11:00 to 14:00 and 15:30 to 18:30, and Sundays the same. On other days you can visit by booking. Guided visits start at 11:15, 12:30, 16:00 and 17:15; booking ahead is recommended, and the centre takes online reservations with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Prices are €3 for the centre, €5 with a cheese tasting and €6 with tasting and wine. Under-6s go free, ages 6 to 14 pay less, and groups of more than 15 get a discount. Any visit can be combined with a visit to one of the village dairies.
Dairies in Idiazabal
Gaztañaditxulo, at Gaztañaditxulo baserria, and J. Aranburu, at Ondramuino baserria, both take visitors. Besides the regular visits run with the centre, you can call them to arrange another time: Gaztañaditxulo on 629 83 47 10 or 618 72 14 73, J. Aranburu on 649 65 59 62 or 628 15 11 25.
Dairies With Guided Visits Across the DOP
The Idiazábal regulatory council publishes a list of shepherd dairies that offer guided visits. Call each one to agree a time and the conditions.
| Dairy (brand) | Village | Province | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azkarra | Galarreta | Álava | 670 519 666 |
| Bostibaieta (Iruri) | Legutio | Álava | 661 536 325 |
| SAT Olano (Eginoko Artzaia) | Egino | Álava | 945 304 244 |
| Maider Unda (Atxeta) | Oleta | Álava | 945 450 167 |
| Adarrazpi | Urnieta | Gipuzkoa | 647 445 641 |
| Ander Barandiaran (Gaztañaditxulo) | Idiazabal | Gipuzkoa | 618 721 473 |
| Baztarrika | Gabiria | Gipuzkoa | 943 883 044 |
| Berastegi Elkartea (Xoxote) | Azpeitia | Gipuzkoa | 943 814 653 |
| Eneko Goiburu (Ondarre) | Segura | Gipuzkoa | 943 801 664 |
| Gomiztegi (Arantzazu) | Arantzazu | Gipuzkoa | 688 689 725 |
| J. Aranburu | Idiazabal | Gipuzkoa | 943 187 492 |
| Joseba Insausti (Otatza) | Ordizia | Gipuzkoa | 661 923 670 |
| Premietxeberri | Azpeitia | Gipuzkoa | 943 810 949 |
| Agoitz Altzugarai (Otxunea) | Lesaka | Navarre | 628 117 132 |
| Arozena Sestorain (Gorritz) | Leitza | Navarre | 948 510 570 |
| San Martin Ibarra (Aldaia) | Lezaun | Navarre | 948 542 273 |
| SAT Antsonea | Uztegi | Navarre | 618 255 041 |
| SAT Bikain | Larraun | Navarre | 948 504 117 |
| SC Kortaria (Infernuko Gasna) | Lekaroz | Navarre | 948 580 427 |
Cheese Days and Contests
Idiazabal holds its Gazta Eguna, a cheese day with a contest, in early May (3 May in 2026), and hosts the Basque Country shepherd cheese contest in October (11 October in 2026). The biggest contest of the year is in nearby Ordizia in September, followed by an auction of the winning cheese. The DOP calendar also lists contests in Azpeitia in July, Legazpi and Bergara in September, and Zegama in November.
Getting There
Idiazabal is in the Goierri district of southern Gipuzkoa, about 30 minutes by car from San Sebastián. Ordizia, with its Wednesday market and the D'elikatuz food centre, is a few kilometres away, and the two make an easy day out together.
Tours in Idiazabal
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Next: 23 Dec 2026Questions People Ask
Can you visit an Idiazábal cheese dairy?
Yes. Gaztañaditxulo and J. Aranburu in the village of Idiazabal take visitors, often combined with the cheese centre, and the DOP lists 17 other shepherd dairies in Álava, Gipuzkoa and Navarre that offer guided visits by phone booking.
How much is the Idiazabal cheese museum?
€3 for the interpretation centre, €5 with a cheese tasting and €6 with a tasting and wine. Under-6s are free.
Where is Idiazábal cheese from?
It is made from the raw milk of latxa and carranzana sheep across the Basque Country and much of Navarre. The name comes from the village of Idiazabal in Gipuzkoa.
Official site: idiazabalturismo.com/es/que-hacer-en-idiazabal/organiza-tu-…. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese trails.