MarisGalicia in Urbil 2025: the great seafood festival in Gipuzkoa

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Introduction: the return of MarisGalicia in Urbil

Can you imagine tasting the best Galician seafood without leaving Gipuzkoa? Urbil in MarisGalicia returns from May 16 to June 1, 2025 to transform the outdoor parking lot of the shopping center into an authentic covered Atlantic fish market. For 17 days, the venue will gather 40 tons of live seafood that arrives every morning in pool trucks from the Galician estuaries, ready to go directly to the stoves.

Upon entering the large 1,500m² tent – ​​more than half of a football field – the visitor is enveloped by the smell of the sea, the ringing of bagpipes and the sizzling of razor clams and scallops on the griddle. The atmosphere is reminiscent of the seafood pilgrimages of O Grove, but with the added bonus of having free parking, children’s leisure areas and a direct bus connection with SanSebastian. The result is a multisensory experience that seduces families, groups of friends and curious palates every year in search of authenticity.

For this edition we expect more than 60,000 diners, which represents an increase of 15% over 2024. The organization has reinforced logistics with a third refrigerated truck, contactless payment systems and a WhatsApp pre-order service that avoids queues at peak times. In addition, the daily queimada – with its incantation in Galician and the hypnotic dance of the blue flames – has been scheduled at 10:30 p.m. so that families with children can also enjoy it.

How the party was born

The fair started in 2009, promoted by a group of hoteliers and fishermen from Cambados, O Grove and O Carballiño who wanted to take the seafaring culture beyond the northwest of the peninsula. Inspired by the Munich Oktoberfest, they set up a traveling tent with long tables, octopus counters and a small Albariño wine cellar. The first destination was Valladolid and, despite the distance from the coast, they sold 12 tons of seafood in two weeks. That success confirmed that there was a gap for a popular, quality gastronomic format without intermediaries: the seafood goes directly from the Galician treatment plant to the plate, without large distribution chains.

Over time, improvements were incorporated: their own aquariums, large-capacity steam ovens and the figure of the pulp mills of O Carballiño, recognizable for its copper cauldrons. Today, MarisGalicia has a team of 120 people—cooks, waiters, logistics staff, musicians and leisure instructors—that moves like a small traveling town along the Spanish map.

A tour that covers Spain

The 2024-2025 tour began in Zaragoza (Port of Venice), where in 24 days 200 octopus tapas were served per hour during the weekends. Then they landed in Logroño, coinciding with the Rioja wine days; in Murcia, where they adapted the menu with caldero rice; and in Valencia, launching a system of take away which allowed customers to take seafood in isothermal containers.

In Palma de Mallorca, the tent was located for the first time next to the sea, at the Son Fusteret fairgrounds, which created synergies with nautical tourism. After passing through Gipuzkoa, the tour will continue towards Gijón, Madrid and Seville, closing the season in October with a balance that can exceed 450 tons of product served.

The figures speak for themselves: more than 650,000 annual visitors, 300 supplier companies involved and a media impact that is close to 9 million impressions on social networks. Each stop is complemented with solidarity actions—donation of surpluses to local food banks—and outreach campaigns on sustainable fishing.

Dates, times and venue in Gipuzkoa

• When: from May 16 to June 1, 2025 (17 days long).
• General schedule: Monday to Saturday 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.; Sundays and holidays 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Extended weekend hours: Fridays and Saturdays the tent closes at 11:30 p.m. to accommodate the queimada and live music session.
• Prohibited: free; The visitor only pays for what he consumes. Cards, Bizum and mobile payment are accepted.
• Location: Outdoor parking in Urbil (Usurbil), 5.5km from SanSebastián, with direct access from the N-1 and Lurraldebus stops (lines UK01 and UK05) less than a minute away.

The MarisGalicia tent in Urbil, air-conditioned and with adapted access, accommodates 1,000 seated diners and offers six stands Thematic: grocery store, grill, stews, rice, Galician bakery and wine bar. New for 2025 is the installation of a showroom pairing where sommeliers will explain the differences between albariño, godello and loureiro. Every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. the lights go out for the Burn Spell, a show that combines mystery, folklore, verses in Galician and flaming liquor that is shared among attendees.

In addition, in MarisGalicia in Urbil, an area will be enabled kids friendly with children’s cooking workshops, face painting and miniature sustainable fishing circuits, so that parents can enjoy food while the little ones learn and have fun.

Full letter 2025

Below is the official offer that you will find at MarisGalicia in Urbil (prices valid for the 2025 edition):

Main dishes

Galician empanadas

Cakes and desserts

star seafood platter

Wines and drinks

Takeaway Service at MarisGalicia in Urbil

For those who prefer to enjoy Galician delicacies at home, MarisGalicia in Urbil offers a takeaway service. Customers can place their orders via WhatsApp or by phone and pick them up at a dedicated counter, avoiding queues. This service is perfect for sharing a Galician culinary experience with family or friends in the comfort of your own home.

Contact for orders:

• WhatsApp: +34 604 84 92 31
• Phone: +34 604 84 92 31

Experiences that complete the visit

In addition to eating, at MarisGalicia in Urbil, you can witness showcookings with pulpeiros from O Carballiño, visit the photographic exhibition “Sabores do Atlántico” or participate in raffles for double seafood platters through Urbil’s Instagram account (May 12-20). All this without forgetting the commercial offer of the center: 64 shops, 11 restaurants and 8 movie theaters that allow you to extend the day between shopping, leisure and gastronomy.

Economic and cultural impact of MarisGalicia in Urbil

The organization foresees a direct return of 1.5 million euros for the region thanks to the tourist attraction of MarisGalicia in Urbil. For Galicia, the fair functions as a showcase for its fishing sector, while for Gipuzkoa it reinforces Urbil’s position as a family leisure center.

Environmental commitment

MarisGalicia in Urbil, is committed to reusable cups, compostable packaging and selective waste management. In the 2025 edition, it collaborates with the NGO Baleuko Itsasoa to remove 150kg of plastic from the Basque coast during the campaign.

Practical tips

1. Book a table during the week to avoid lines at MarisGalicia in Urbil.
2. Share portions: a seafood platter and two starters are perfect for four people.
3. Don’t miss the queimada on Saturday at 11:00 p.m.
4. Use public transport (lines UK01 and UK05) or the 2,339 free parking spaces.
5. Download the app from Urbil and activate the coupon for a free bottle of wine with the seafood platter.

Useful information

• Web: marisgalicia.com
• Reservations for groups (+8 pax): 604 84 92 31 (WhatsApp)
• GPS coordinates: 43.264019, ‑2.025531
• Hashtags: #MarisGalicia #MarisGaliciaEnUrbil #FiestaDelMarisco

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Author: Descubre Donostia