Your guide to San Sebastian
San Sebastian highlights
Basque bites
No visit to San Sebastian is complete without trying ‘pintxos’, the Basque equivalent to Spanish tapas. These appetiser-like snacks are enjoyed in bars, many of which are located in the Parte Vieja neighbourhood. Unlike tapas, where it’s customary to have several small plates at once, pintxos are ordered and eaten individually before moving onto the next eatery.
World-class architecture
In the late 19th century, Queen Maria Cristina chose San Sebastian as her royal summer home, ushering in a wave of Belle Epoque architecture. Even on a short break to San Sebastian, you’ll see plenty of examples of historic buildings from this time, including the Miramar Palace, City Hall and the Victoria Eugenia Theatre.
Mountain vistas
San Sebastian is surrounded by three mountains, each offering leisurely hikes and beautiful views. Wooden carriages on a cog railway take you to the top of Monte Igueldo. A climb up Monte Urgull brings you to the 12th-century Mota Castle. For one of the area’s best hikes, try the forested trails around Monte Ulia with its rugged coastline panoramas.
San Sebastian: Know before you go
| Language | Spanish, Basque |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) and UTC+2 (CEST) |
| High season | July - August |
| Low season | November - February |
Find the best time to go to San Sebastian
Weather in San Sebastian
March – May: San Sebastian sits on Spain’s northern coast. This means it’s cooler, wetter and cloudier than the country’s Mediterranean beach towns. Pack a jacket and an umbrella.
June – August: Summer is the peak tourist season for a reason. This is when the weather is driest and warmest, with swimmable seas and plenty of outdoor events to fill those balmy evenings.
September – November: The pleasant weather of summer continues into mid-autumn. October is the city’s rainiest month, when flooding is possible.
December – February: Winter is cold and wet in San Sebastian. It rarely snows in the city, but flakes will occasionally dust the nearby mountains.
Events in San Sebastian
La Tamborrada (January): The city celebrates its patron saint with a 24-hour-long drum parade, beginning at midnight in the Plaza de la Constitucion.
Jazzaldia (July): Legends such as Bobby McFerrin, James Brown, Liza Minnelli and BB King have performed at this annual jazz festival over the years.
Semana Grande (August): San Sebastian’s ‘Big Week’ kicks off each year with a bang — it literally starts with cannon fire. There are also concerts, theatre, traditional Basque sports and the International Fireworks Contest exploding over La Concha Bay.
San Sebastian International Film Festival (September): The city hosts one of Europe’s most prestigious film festivals. Come see some of independent cinema’s most exciting features, documentaries and shorts.
The best neighbourhoods in San Sebastian
Parte Vieja (Old Town)
This is the best area to stay in San Sebastian for first-time visitors. Along the Old Town’s cobbled streets, you’ll discover historical buildings like the Santa Maria del Coro Basilica and the San Vicente Church. Bustling Plaza de la Constitucion is the place to grab a drink after dark while the area’s 200 pintxos bars won’t let you go hungry.
Good for: Pintxo bars, historical buildings, plazas
Centro
Sweeping promenades and stately buildings give Centro an elegant feel. The Buen Pastor Cathedral resides here, as well as Reyes Catolicos, one of the city’s best spots for nightlife. After some shopping, stop by Casa Valles, the birthplace of the famous ‘Gilda’ pintxo. This skewer of chilli peppers, anchovies and pickled olives was named after a film character played by Rita Hayworth.
Good for: Nightlife, shopping, pintxo bars
Gros
If you’re keen to make the most of the city’s beaches, this is where to stay in San Sebastian. Stretching from the slopes of Monte Ulia to the River Urumea, Gros is home to Zurriola Beach and a lively surf culture. After a day of catching waves and exploring the area’s boutiques, head to Sagues at the end of the beach for unmatched sunset views.
Good for: Surfing, boutiques, sunsets
Things to do in San Sebastian
Beaches
San Sebastian’s beaches are one of the city’s biggest draws, with crowds flocking to its sands every summer. You’ll find calm waters around popular La Concha Beach. Surfers love Zurriola Beach for its strong waves and laid-back bars. Travelling with kids? Family-friendly Ondarreta Beach has a playground and canoe rentals to keep everyone entertained.
Places to eat
Considered one of the food capitals of the world and holding more Michelin stars per square foot than any other city, San Sebastian is a gastronomic goldmine. Beyond the fine-dining and plates of pintxos, expect freshly caught seafood, ‘nueva cocina vasca’ (Basque new cuisine) and locally produced wines and ciders.
Nightlife
Come nightfall, you’ll always find a bustling atmosphere in Parte Vieja’s Plaza de la Constitucion. And the Reyes Catolicos is a great spot for live music venues. If a laid-back night is more your speed, Gros’ beachfront bars don’t disappoint. Just like their dinner times, nights out in San Sebastian start and end late. Most neighbourhood bars stay open until 2am.
Take in the culture
The Museo San Telmo is San Sebastian’s most famous museum, housed in a 16th-century convent and showcasing more than 26,000 objects related to Basque culture. The Museo Naval is also a great place to learn about the city’s maritime history. Looking for something a little different? Try the Sagardoetxea cider museum, just outside the city centre.
Shopping
What San Sebastian lacks in big department stores it makes up for in one-of-a-kind boutiques. The Old Town’s Calle Puerto and Calle Narrica are great for artisanal crafts and locally made souvenirs. The Bretxa Market has been a local institution since 1870. Want to blend in with the locals? Pick up a traditional Basque beret from Casa Ponsol, Spain’s oldest hat shop.
Family-friendly things to do
With so many parks, playgrounds, beaches and museums, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly fun in the city. The Eureka! Zientzia Museoa is a science museum designed to spark curious young minds with its 170-plus interactive areas and digital planetarium. Monte Igueldo Amusement Park’s vintage rides have been entertaining all ages since 1912.
Get ready for San Sebastian
Budget
San Sebastian is one of Spain’s best-value destinations, especially for foodies. If you’re planning a budget trip, be assured you can easily fill up on pintxos for 14 euros (€). A morning ‘café con leche’ (coffee with milk) is just a couple of euros, and a local beer is only €3. Budget about €5 for a short taxi ride.
Day trips from San Sebastian
In about an hour’s drive from San Sebastian, you can reach Bilbao’s famous Guggenheim Museum. Or check out Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, with its historical city centre. A short bus ride takes you over the border to Saint-Jean-de-Luz for French Basque cuisine. Closer to home, Hondarribia offers beaches and a stunning medieval castle just 30 minutes away.
Getting around San Sebastian
San Sebastian is a small, compact city where most of the major attractions are close to one another. In other words, it’s perfect for walking. For longer trips, take the affordable Dbus public buses. If you plan to use buses often, get a Mugi card from select newsstands for discounted fares on daytime rides.
