Parte Vieja
First-timersThe old town of pintxos bars.
San Sebastián city guide
Things To Do In San Sebastián
A shell-shaped bay with one of the best city beaches in Europe, an old town of pintxos bars, and more great cooking per head than almost anywhere on earth.
19
Hostels in the city
8.2
Average, from 13,035 reviews
1912
The Igueldo funicular
€3–5
A pintxo
45 min
To Biarritz
The best food town in Spain
San Sebastián, Donostia in Basque, is a Belle Époque resort on La Concha, a perfect shell-shaped bay between two green hills. The Spanish royal family summered here, and the promenade and grand hotels date from that era.
It is above all a food city. The Parte Vieja, the old town, is packed with pintxos bars, where small plates are laid out on the counter and cooked to order, and the city has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin stars in the world.
It is also expensive, and beds fill fast in summer. Two or three days is right, with Bilbao and Biarritz close by.
Where to stay
Stay in the Parte Vieja for the bars, or Gros for the surf beach.
Centro
BeachAlong La Concha.
Gros
SurfBy Zurriola beach.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
How long have you got?
The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.
Things to do
Things to do in San Sebastián
Spend an evening bar-hopping through the Parte Vieja, eating one pintxo and a drink at each bar before moving on. The hot pintxos cooked to order are the ones to seek out.
Swim at La Concha, walk the promenade to Ondarreta and see the Peine del Viento, iron sculptures by Eduardo Chillida set into the rocks.
Take the 1912 funicular up Monte Igueldo, or walk up Monte Urgull, for the view over the bay. The San Telmo Museum covers Basque history.
Surf at Zurriola beach in Gros, the city's surf spot.
Free things
Free things to do in San Sebastián
La Concha, the promenade, Monte Urgull and the Peine del Viento are free.
The old town and its bars are free to wander.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in San Sebastián
Pintxos cost €3 to €5 each; hot ones cooked to order are the best. The Gilda, an anchovy, olive and pepper skewer, was invented here. Drink txakoli, a slightly sparkling white wine poured from height, or cider.
A sit-down menú del día is €15 to €20.
Nightlife
Going out in San Sebastián
The pintxos crawl is the night out, and it runs late. Gros has a younger bar scene.
A drink is €2.50 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around San Sebastián
The centre is walkable. Buses reach Bilbao in about an hour and a quarter and Biarritz in about forty-five minutes.
The local airport is small; Bilbao and Biarritz airports are the usual alternatives. Euskotren trains run along the coast to the French border.
Costs
What San Sebastián costs
San Sebastián is one of the most expensive cities in Spain, and summer beds fill quickly. Dorms start around €30. A careful day is €60 to €80.
Pintxos add up fast.
The euro is the currency. Cards work almost everywhere, though small bars still like cash.
Safety
Staying safe in San Sebastián
San Sebastián is very safe.
Zurriola has strong surf and currents; swim between the flags.
Emergency number is 112, with English-speaking operators usually available.
Day trips from San Sebastián
The Basque coast and France.
Bilbao
The Guggenheim.
Biarritz
The French surf resort.
Hondarribia
A walled fishing town on the border.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The film festival in September is one of Europe's biggest.
Staff pick
5–7 October
San Sebastian Gastronomika
San Sebastian Gastronomika is a renowned culinary congress that celebrates the evolution and innovation of Basque and global cuisine. Marking the 50th anniversary of…
Staff pick
6–10 October
Donosskino Short Film Festival
Donosskino Short Film Festival in San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain, brings together filmmakers from around the world to showcase outstanding short films at the historic…
Staff pick
9–22 November
Literaktum (festival de literatura)
Literaktum is a celebrated literature festival in Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain, that invites people of all ages to experience the world of…
Staff pick
21 December
Day of St. Thomas
The Day of St. Thomas in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, transforms Constitución Plaza into a lively rural fair, celebrating the region’s agricultural roots. Locals don…
Staff pick
24 December
Olentzero
Olentzero is a beloved Basque Christmas tradition in Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain, where the legendary coal miner Olentzero and his wife Marie…
25 Jul – 5 Dec
Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
Candlelight presents a live musical experience featuring string quartet performances of songs by Coldplay and Imagine Dragons. The event takes place at the Aquarium…
4 October
Rural Kutxa San Sebastian Half Marathon
San Sebastián's half marathon traces a flat, certified course through the city center and along three stunning beaches—La Concha, Ondarreta, and Zurriola—with views of…
9 October
Luis Zahera
Luis Zahera brings his stand-up comedy show to the Kursaal, revealing a side of the Goya-winning actor that might catch you off guard. Known…
Hostels
Where to stay in San Sebastián
The top-rated places to stay in San Sebastián right now, live from Hostelworld.
Pension Aia
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Pension Bretxa
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Sustainable
Koba Hostel
Dorms from €27 a night
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Colo Colo the Smart Hostel
Dorms from €24 a night
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Surfing Etxea Surf Hostel
Dorms from €34 a night
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Surf Camp and Party Hostel by Stoke Travel
Dorms from €30 a night
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A Room In The City Hostel
Dorms from €25 a night
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Downtown River Hostel
Dorms from €26 a night
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Balea Hostel
Dorms from €28 a night
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Uba Hostel
Dorms from €27 a night
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San Fermin
Dorms from €38 a night
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Residencia Universitaria Resa Manuel Agud Querol
See dates and bookWhen to go
June to September for the beach; September for the film festival.
Jan
Tamborrada
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Rainy
Apr
Spring
May
Good
Jun
Beach season
Jul
Jazzaldia
Aug
Semana Grande
Sep
Film festival
Oct
Rainy
Nov
Quiet
Dec
Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. The Basque coast is green and rainy.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Summer prices run higher.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
San Sebastián travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do pintxos work?
Pick from the counter or order hot ones, eat one with a drink, then move on.
Is San Sebastián expensive?
Yes, one of the priciest cities in Spain.
Can you swim in San Sebastián?
Yes, at La Concha and Ondarreta; Zurriola is for surfing.
How far is Bilbao?
About an hour and a quarter by bus.
What language is spoken?
Basque and Spanish.
How many days do you need?
Two or three.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September.
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