San Sebastian is a one of a kind city in Basque Country that every traveler should experience! While it’s world-renowned for its exquisite cuisine and pintxos bars, know that there are so many fun things to do in San Sebastian Spain. We’ve now visited several times and it’s so easy to see why everyone raves about it. Follow our guide from the old town to the beaches, plus some epic day trips you won’t want to miss.
Planning a Trip to San Sebastian
✈️ Airport: The easiest way to get to San Sebastian Spain is by flying into the main airport. Aeropuerto de San Sebastian is just 20 km from the city and about 25-30 minutes by car.
From the airport, you can take a taxi or bus, with routes regular running to the city center. Alternatively, you could fly into Bilbao, which is just over an hour away by car and offers more international flight connections.
👟 Getting Around: Once you get there, you won’t actually need a vehicle to get around! Almost all the best things to do in San Sebastian can be done on foot.
☀️ Time of Year: Most travelers visit San Sebastian during the warm summer months of July and August. Due to it’s location in northern Spain, know that it can get chilly and rainy outside of this period.
With that said, our favorite time to go is just outside of the peak summer in June, September, and October. This is when you’ll find fewer crowds and the water is still plenty nice enough for a swim.
🚗 Renting a Car: Even though this city is extremely walkable, there is so much to see and do around San Sebastian in the beautiful Basque country. We recommend searching with the DiscoverCars to compare companies and rates from the airports. Stay tuned for some of our favorite day trips from the city at the end of this article!
Where to Stay in San Sebastion Spain
We definitely recommend staying near the Old Town of San Sebastian. Your hotel doesn’t have to be right inside it, but within a 10-15 minute walk is ideal. Here are some of our favorite options near all the action.
- Luxury – Lasala Plaza Hotel – Historic boutique hotel facing the stunning La Concha Bay. In the perfect location so you can stroll to the beach or right into old town easily.
- Midrange- Pensión Peñaflorida – Nicely priced hotel close to all the best things to do in San Sebastian. Spacious rooms in the heart of the city.
- Budget – A Room In The City Hostel – Fun option for couples or solo travelers looking to make friends. Both shared and private rooms available.
Best Things to do in San Sebastian Spain
1. Pintxos Hop Around San Sebastian Old Town
It’s no secret that #1 reason to visit San Sebastian is the food! This has become one of the best cities in not just Spain, but all of Europe to eat your way around.
There are several Michelin Star restaurants, but the best way to get a taste of Basque Cuisine is by hitting the pintxos bars. This is their own special version of tapas, which are small bites of food to enjoy with a drink.
If you can believe it, there are over 100 pintxos bars just in San Sebastian old town! This means you can put together your own pub crawl and try so many unique and delicious plates.
This can obviously be a bit overwhelming with so many different places to eat. That’s why we highly recommend hopping on a San Sebastian Pintxos Tour with an official guide.
Some of our favorite stops were BAR SPORT, Bar Txepetxa, and La Viña for their burnt cheesecake. Also, don’t miss out on the famous Basque cider, which the locals traditionally pour from high up over their heads.
2. Spend the Afternoon at La Concha Beach
One of the best things to do before a night of pintxos bar hopping is to relax at the gorgeous Playa de la Concha. The long, sandy beach looks out of a dream and is just a stones throw from streets of old town.
We’ve seen so many incredible beaches in Spain, from the Costa Blanca to Galicia, and the Costa del Sol. However, once you see how the golden sands of La Concha mesh with the bright blue Cantabrian Sea, you’ll understand the hype!
If you’re into surfing, you’ll also want to make a visit to Zurriola Beach, located on the opposite side of old town from La Concha. Here you can explore the lively Gros neighborhood to see a different side of the city.
3. Coastal Walk or Bike to Peine del Vietno Sculptures
Once you’ve discovered the charm of old town and got some beach time in, it’s time to see more of the coast! One of our favorite things to do in San Sebastian Spain is to walk the scenic promenade from La Concha.
The route follows the entire bay along the water with endless swim stops and viewpoints. You can make a short stop at the former Royal’s summer residence Miramar Jauregia along the way and have a stroll through the gardens.
If you follow the boardwalk all 3km to the end, you’ll come to the Peine del Vietno Sculptures. “The Comb of the Wind” was built by the Basque artist Eduardo Chillida in 1977. Its design allows for both crashing waves and dramatic sounds if you happen to be here on a windy day.
The walk will take about 45 minutes each way from La Concha. We’ve even rented bicycles from a local shop to cruise the coast instead.
4. Boat Ride to Santa Clara Island
Ready to get out on the water? Well, there is an awesome boat ride that takes off from the harbor right next to San Sebastian old town!
There are two different options with the main company called Motoras de la Isla. You can take a direct ferry straight to Santa Clara Island to spend some time. However, we highly recommend the full sightseeing cruise, as it takes you all around the bay, with an option to get off on the island, too.
With the blue line cruise, you’ll have 30 minutes to hop off on the island, walk to the lighthouse, and have a swim at the hidden beach at low tide. Buy your tickets in advance here or directly at the Paseo del Muelle harbor for under 10 euros. This is one of the best things to do in San Sebastian Spain, especially on warm summer day!
5. Hike Monte Urgull
By now, you can tell that San Sebastian is also the perfect city for nature lovers! One of our favorite activities from our recent visit was hiking up to the top of Monte Urgull.
This is another fun experience outdoors that you can take on directly from San Sebastian old town. There are several trails that wind their way to the top through the trees and green forest.
It took us about 1 hour to get to the top starting from the San Telmo Museum on the water. Aside from the unreal views at the summit, you will find a historic fortress (dating back to the 12th century) and the Sacred Heart statue.
An alternative option for a view is riding the funicular to Monte Igueldo on the other side of the city. This is easily combined with walk or bike ride to Peine del Vietno, and there is even a cool amusement park at the top!
Epic Day Trips From San Sebastian Spain
Now that you know about all the best things to do in San Sebastian, how about a day trip? If you have time, we highly recommend including the city in a longer trip to the Basque region.
Surfers will love visiting Manduka to see what’s known as Europe’s best lefthand wave. The colorful town also makes for a great afternoon or overnight stay.
Just nearby, you can take the magical hike up to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. This spot has recently gained notoriety as the Dragonstone from the hit television show Game of Thrones.
As we previously mentioned, the city of Bilbao is worth visiting as well. You can fly into here and head to San Sebastian afterward to start off your northern Spain itinerary. We even made a day trip across the border to the French beach town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz for breakfast!
This is yet another reason to consider renting a car for your visit. We always use this website to check prices and score deals in Spain.
Have any questions about this article or want to share more of the best things to do in San Sebastian Spain? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
