San Sebastian
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Logistics
Getting There
Found in Northern Spain, San Sebastian is a paradise for many as it sits on the water but has access to the mountains. The city of Bilbao has its own airport, and San Sebastian is only a 90 minute drive from Bilbao. Alternatively, Biarritz France also has a small airport which is about 45 minutes from San Sebastian.
It is likely Bilbao will have more flight options for those traveling from outside the area, but either airport can be considered for easy access to San Sebastian. To reach San Sebastian from the airport, it’s recommended to rent a car. Not only does this give you easier transport to and from the city, but also opens up your options to explore around the city.
Getting Around
In order to have more options, it’s recommended to rent a car when visiting San Sebastian. It will make for an easy transfer to and from the airport, noting the roads are very good here. There are a lot of nice areas around San Sebastian to explore, and you’re able to do this more easily with your own car rental.
One point to note, as San Sebastian sits close to the border of France and Spain, if you plan to cross the border, there will be an additional fee on your rental payment. For us, this was worth it as we planned to go over to France, but one to know in advance.
When in the city of San Sebastian, the area itself is very walkable. If staying central, you’ll be able to walk to the beach, explore the Old town, and walk around the city streets.
Accommodations
When in San Sebastian, try to stay somewhat central where you are walkable to the beach and the Old Town. If you’ve rented a car, you may want to consider looking for accommodations with parking available for ease.
Sercotel Hotel Europa (San Sebastian) – Located centrally in San Sebastian, just a 5 minute walk from the beach and 10 minute walk to the Old Town, this is an excellent hotel to stay at when visiting the city. The rooms are nice and the location is key. The hotel also has a parking garage where you can pay to park your car if you opt to drive. Book here
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao, Autograph Collection (Bilbao) – A Marriott Autograph collection, this is a very nice hotel in Bilbao. The hotel has a parking garage available for payment, but there are also other public parking garages nearby if the hotel garage is full (this was the case for our visit). The staff is very helpful, and the hotel has a nice rooftop. Book here
Things to do and see
Old town (parte Vieja)
The Old town is characterized with old architecture. With lots of shops, cafes, restaurants and pedestrian focused streets, it’s a great place to wander around and explore. A few sites to see include:
- Constitution Square – historically, this was a bullring (plaza de toro) and has now been transformed into a charming square. There are still signs of the old bullring as the box numbers can be seen at the top of the buildings around the square
- Alameda del Boulevard – main street in the Old Town
- Donostia City Hall
- Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro
- San Vincete Church
Mercado la Bretxa
Traditional food market
Playa de la Concha
A beach right in the city, something which makes this city so special. Go for a swim during the day, grab a paddle board, or watch a sunset from the beach!
Funicular Monte Igueldo
Take the funicular up to the top for a view over the city and ocean. Be sure to check the schedule (and weather) before heading up. The views at the top are beautiful, and especially nice on a sunny day. You’ll have views over the bay, the city, and back into the mountains.
For those who enjoy a workout, it is possible to walk or run up the hill. This will take a bit longer, but of course quite rewarding at the top. Upon arrival on foot, you’ll have to pay a few euros to reach the viewpoint so be prepared for this in advance. They take card, but make sure you have some form of payment with you.
Miramar Palace
Palace with nice gardens
Gros neighborhood
An area with a lot of cafes, bars and shops
Day trip to Biarritz
Cross over the border from Spain into France and check out the town of Biarritz. It’s a big spot for surfers with its long beaches. Plan at least part of your day here to wander the streets of this cute but very nice town, get out on the beach to relax or surf, and enjoy a bit to eat.
A few points to note:
- La Grand Plage – great for enjoying the beach and sunbatching
- Plage de la Cote des Basques – here’s your beach for surfing
- Biarritz Lighthouse – take a nice walk to the lighthouse
Day trip to Bilbao
If traveling to and from Bilbao, this should be an easy add-on after arrival or before departing. The city is known for its architecture and its food scene. Put on your walking shoes to get out and explore, and book a nice dinner to enjoy a fancy dining experience. Do not miss the Guggenheim Museum
Food and Drinks
La Issla
Breakfast
San Sebastian
A lovely café with great breakfast options from acai bowls to a variety of toast options. Absolutely stop in here for a morning coffee and pastry or bite to eat!
Pepite Cookie
Dessert
Biarritz
Delicious gooey cookies here, great to fill your sweet craving!
Bassk
Dessert
San Sebastian
Selling the local Basque cheesecake
Alabama Cafe
Lunch
San Sebastian
Great spot for a lunch in Gros neighborhood of San Sebastian. They have a lot of healthy, delicious options.
Mina
Dinner
Bilbao
Outstanding dinner restaurant with a 9 or 13 course tasting menu. The experience is bookable at 2pm for lunch or 9pm for dinner. The food is fantastic and the service is excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Mina and highly recommend
Aitana Donostia
Dinner
San Sebastian
Excellent spot for a nice dinner when visiting San Sebastian with an expansive menu leaving you unsure on what to pick
Other Notes
Duration
A long weekend is the perfect amount of time to get a first taste of the area. You can enjoy San Sebastian, a bit of Bilbao, and squeeze in a day trip if you fancy with a long weekend. We allocated two separate half days (arrival afternoon and departure morning) to San Sebastian as well as 2 evenings. We also used 1 day to take a day trip from San Sebastian. After departing San Sebastian, we had an afternoon and evening in Bilbao before departing the next day.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and head to San Sebastian for some time at the beach and pinxtos
Day 2: Daytrip to Biarritz
Day 3:
- Surf and walk around San Sebastian
- Drive to Bilbao and walk around the city including a visit to Guggenheim Museum
- Late dinner
Day 4: travel day
Time of year
Shoulder season and the summer are great times to visit the city. The weather has started to get nicer, but it still avoids the very busy months of July and August.
Restaurants
Pintxos (prounced pinchos) are a must in San Sebastian! The city is known for these small bites. You can pick one or two restaurants and order a variety of pintxos, or go pintxos hopping so you ultimately get one pintxos at each restaurant you stop at. The funny thing about the pintxos is they do not look like they are going to be that good, as it seems cheap and tacky, but every single one we had was delicious and highly exceeded our expectations.
With that in mind, lean into this cultural tradition and enjoy trying a bunch of different bites. On top of it all being tasty, it’s all very affordable so you’ll be full on food (and drinks!) without breaking the bank.
The city is also known to have the highest concentration of michelin start restaurants. Take a look in advance to see if there’s any you want to book a nice dinner at in advance.