San Sebastian Travelers Recommend

Three days in San Sebastian give you chance to sample flavors of the Basque country, hit the beach, and visit historic landmarks in the city center. San Sebastian also serves as a gateway to the Basque country and France, and is a jumping off point for hiking the iconic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. Here’s how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: Discover the Historic Center

Home to highlights such as San Sebastian Cathedral to La Concha Beach, San Sebastian’s compact historic center is the perfect place to start exploring. A hop-on hop-off bus tour offers a flexible mix of handpicked stops and time to explore on your own, while other sightseeing options include walking tours, electric bike excursions, and tours by private vehicle. Before you break for lunch, pick a must-see San Sebastian museum to visit. Highlights include San Telmo Museum, Museo Naval, and Casa de la Historia; save time waiting at each by booking your admission ticket in advance.

Now that you’ve taken in a day’s worth of culture and history, trade your walking shoes for bare feet at La Concha Beach. San Sebastian’s most popular swimming and surfing spot is just steps away from the historic center and has changing rooms onsite, so you can linger here until the sun sets on the water.

Day 2: Hike the Camino de Santiago

The famous Camino de Santiago, a hiking trail and pilgrimage route that stretches hundreds of miles across France and Spain, passes close to San Sebastian. However, you don’t need to spend weeks on the trail to experience the famous route. Hiking tours of the Camino de Santiago, which is sometimes called the Way of St. James, take care of transport and get you equipped for a day on the trail.

If you’re not a hiker, consider a day trip across the border to southwest France, where you’ll encounter French-accented Basque culture in Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz, and Guethary. Even the wine-making powerhouses of Bordeaux and St. Emilion are within reach; compare and contrast their flavors with Spanish wines on a food tour that reveals local favorites.

Day 3: Flavors of Basque Country

Today, take a deep dive into the flavors that make San Sebastian distinctive and sample local wine and food. Wine tours of San Sebastian typically feature the region’s unique Txakoli, a dry and acidic white wine, and leave you free to indulge without having to worry about driving.

Next, go gourmet. San Sebastian’s most beloved snacks are pintxos, small plates similar to Spanish tapas. To learn which are the must-try pintxos —as well as the do’s and don’ts of visiting pintxos bars—join a guide for a tasting tour of the city. Options for San Sebastian tapas tours range from private excursions to group outings that are a great way to meet fellow food-loving travelers.

With two days in San Sebastian, branch out beyond the narrow lanes and landmarks in the compact historic center. It’s time enough to taste your way through tapas bars, lounge on sandy beaches, hike the surrounding hills, and visit Basque vineyards in the countryside. Use these planning tips to make the most of a 2-day stay. 

Day 1: City Exploring

**Morning:**Discover San Sebastian’s historic center by exploring the key landmarks, from the Buen Pastor Cathedral to the Batería de Santiago. Options include hop-on hop-off tours, walking tours, cycling tours, and more; they’re a great way to discover new places.

**Afternoon:**Whatever the season, head to one of San Sebastian’s lovely beaches for the afternoon, whether you’re bundled up for a stroll, taking a surf lesson, sunbathing, or swimming in the chilly ocean.

**Night:**San Sebastian pintxos—that’s the local term for tapas—are a city institution, with crowds of locals and visitors strolling from bar to bar each evening. Join a tapas tour to discover some of the best places to eat and drink, choosing from specialties that include fresh-caught seafood and plates of Basque sheep cheese.

Day 2: Natural Beauty

**Morning:**Just beyond the city is Monte Ulia, a ridge with beautiful views across San Sebastian and the coast. One of the trail options here is the Way of St. James, a historic pilgrimage route; hike a section on your own or join a guided tour that bundles the hike with round-trip transport and other activities.

**Afternoon:**After an active morning, treat yourself to a wine tasting—Basque country is famed for dry, white wines called txakoli. Guided wine tours can take you straight to the vineyards where txakoli is made, combining a wine tasting with a glimpse of the countryside surrounding San Sebastian.

**Night:**Now that you’ve experienced San Sebastian pintxos, learn to reproduce the small plates in a hands-on cooking class. Whether you’re all about cooking technique or just interested in a fun night of food, wine, and socializing with fellow travelers, choose an experience that’s tailored to you.

San Sebastián may well be Spain’s—if not Europe’s—No. 1 gastronomic hot spot, with everything from Michelin-starred temples of food to casual bars that do a roaring trade in pintxos (Basque Country tapas), found here. Here’s what you need to know about eating in San Sebastián.

Must-Try Dishes

Two influences are most obvious in the San Sebastián food scene: the first is its coastal setting, with seafood playing a starring role on plates, while the second is its Basque heritage. Pintxos (tapas-like bar snacks) are a popular option here and range from traditional potato omelets to slices of white bread topped with cured meats and cheeses. Pintxos are typically paired with txakoli, a slightly effervescent white wine, or Basque cider.

Other commonly consumed Basque seafood dishes include bacalao al pil-pil (salt cod), txangurro (spider crab), txipirones (baby squid in ink sauce), and marmitako (a chunky tuna stew). Meatier fare includes txistorra (the Basque version of chorizo) and txuleta (beef steak from cows reared on the Basque Country hill slopes—typically cooked over coals).

Must-Do Experiences

• Bar-hop around the old town during a wine and pintxos tour.

• Explore a local produce market and visit an exclusive invitation-only gastronomic club during a food tour of San Sebastián.

• Take part in wine tastings and winery tours in Rioja Alavesa, the Basque Country sub-region of La Rioja.

• Discover the secrets of the Basque kitchen during cooking classes with local chefs.

• Learn about Basque Country dairy during a cheese farm and factory tour.

• Delve into the world of Basque cider at a museum devoted to the drink, before stopping for lunch in a traditional cider house.

Wedged between green hills and a sandy beach, San Sebastian is a hub of Basque culture and cuisine. The historic center’s compact size makes exploring easy, from cruising waterfront bike paths to tasting your way through tapas bars. Here’s how to make the most of a day in San Sebastian.

Morning: Active Exploring

Take advantage of San Sebastian’s many bike paths, pedestrian-only streets, and quiet byways by checking out the city on a walking tour or bike tour. Options range from energetic hikes up nearby hills to trips by electric bike that do the work for you. Along the way, you might see pretty La Concha beach, spot the landmark San Sebastian Cathedral, and get views of Mount Ulia. If you prefer the flexibility of visiting the city on your own, hop-on hop-off tours offer the best of both worlds; onboard narration fills you in about the passing sites, and you can discover the things that interest you most.

Afternoon: Hit the Beach

When the weather is good, San Sebastian locals head to the beach for surfing, sunbathing, and swimming. Running along the historic center, La Concha beach is a popular option, with showering and changing facilities on-site. A little farther east is Zurriola Beach, where you can rent a surfboard or take a lesson. A third option is Ondarreta Beach, just west of La Concha. Smaller than the other two, Ondarreta is a family-friendly spot with gentle waves and a lifeguard on duty.

Night: Discover San Sebastian Tapas

Eating tapas is a San Sebastian essential, a nightly tradition for both visitors and locals—and they’re called pintxos here. Tapas bars are stocked with small plates of food, so you can choose what you want to eat as you go. To join in the fun, check out tours of tapas bars in the historic center; they’re a great way to learn about tapas etiquette and traditions while discovering the very best spots. Many tours offer tapas and drinks, with options that include private experiences, group excursions, and more.

Restaurants aren’t the only place locals in San Sebastian go for a quality meal. The Spanish city is also home to several gastronomic societies or private culinary clubs, typically closed to the public. Here’s what you need to know about these foodie forums—and how to experience one for yourself. 

What Is a Gastronomic Society?

Called a txoko in the Basque language, a gastronomic society is a place for the food obsessed to cook, eat, drink, and socialize. Once men-only clubs, gastronomic societies today also welcome women. In communal kitchens, locals gather to experiment with new ways of cooking and share recipes. There are no reservations, no waiters, and no official closing time. Join one of these legendary gatherings and you’ll get the chance to peek behind the curtain of San Sebastian’s vibrant culinary scene. 

How to Visit a Gastronomic Society

While gastronomic societies are notoriously closed to the public and open by invitation only, there are a few tours that offer exclusive access. A private tour of San Sebastian’s Old Town also includes lunch or dinner in a txoko. If you’re interested in exploring the city’s markets, sign up for a private market visit, complete with lunch at a gastronomic society. To get active before a big meal, one tour includes a hike along Saint James Way followed by a gastronomic society dinner. No matter how you do it, spend a night at one of these exclusive clubs and you’ll sample traditional dishes accompanied by local beer, wine, and smiles.

San Sebastian is home to a delightful clash of architectural styles, with medieval townhouses coexisting beside Renaissance monasteries, neo-Gothic churches, Belle Epoque spas, and cutting-edge, contemporary museums. Here are a few notable buildings you shouldn’t miss in this Basque Country city.

Castillo de la Mota

Perched atop Monte Urgull, this medieval stone fortress has existed in some form since the 12th century. The castle now houses the Casa de la Historia museum, and is well worth the climb for its panoramic views of the city.

Plaza de la Constitucion

Life in San Sebastian revolves around the Plaza de la Constitucion in the heart of the Old Town (Parte Vieja). Most of the buildings in this photogenic neighborhood date back to the 19th century, after the city was destroyed in 1813 by English, French, and Portuguese troops. Today the dynamic area teems with cafés and bars serving pintxos (small bar snacks) and txakoli wine, both Basque specialties.

Cathedral Buen Pastor

In the late 19th century, San Sebastian, then a a favored seaside resort of the wealthy, underwent rapid development. Part of this expansion was Buen Pastor, a neo-Gothic cathedral. Opened in 1897, the church was inspired by medieval religious structures in Germany and France.

City Hall (Ayuntamiento)

Admire the delicate Belle Epoque lines at the twin-towered Ayuntamiento (City Hall), which is housed in the former Gran Casino. The building dates back to 1897 and stands on La Concha Bay with Old Town to one side and the quiet Alderi Eder gardens to the other.

Real Club Náutio de San Sebastian

Built in 1928, the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastian was designed in the rationalist architectural style to resemble a moored ship. The unusual building, which houses a yacht club on La Concha Beach, ranks among the benchmark examples of modern architecture in Spain.

Kursaal

The two translucent cubes of the Kursaal were designed by architect Rafael Moneo to look like a pair of beached rocks. The award-winning contemporary building is particularly striking at night, when it’s illuminated and shimmers over La Concha.