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San Sebastián

Spain travel guide

What to see in San Sebastián

La Concha beach, a Parte Vieja packed with pintxos and the Comb of the Wind: elegant, green and all about food.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 9 must-see places
  • Stay in Parte Vieja
  • Typical food: Gilda
Photo: Gordito1869 · CC BY 3.0

San Sebastián highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. La Concha Beach

    A perfect bay and the La Concha promenade.

  2. Parte Vieja

    Pintxos on Calle 31 de Agosto.

  3. Monte Igueldo

    A funicular and views of the bay.

  4. Comb of the Wind

    Chillida on the Paseo Nuevo.

  5. Miramar Palace

    Queen María Cristina’s summer residence. The gardens are public and run down to the beach, with the whole bay in front of you.

  6. Santa Clara Island

    In the middle of the bay. In summer a boat leaves every hour; there’s a lighthouse, a picnic area and a little beach at low tide.

  7. Buen Pastor Cathedral

    Late 19th-century neo-Gothic, with the tallest spire in the city: 75 metres, visible from half of Donostia.

  8. Victoria Eugenia Theatre

    A Plateresque façade from 1912 beside the Urumea. A Zinemaldia film festival venue, and you can visit inside.

  9. Tabakalera

    A former tobacco factory turned cultural centre. The rooftop is public and free, with views of the river and Urgull.

Where to stay in San Sebastián

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

  • Recommended areas

    Parte Vieja · Gros · Centre

Day trips from San Sebastián

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to San Sebastián

Any time of year is good to travel to San Sebastián: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

Typical food of San Sebastián

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to San Sebastián from your kitchen).

Gilda
Photo: Biskuit from Atlanta, GA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Gilda

Donostia’s first pintxo: a skewer of chilli pepper, anchovy and olive. It was named after Rita Hayworth in “Gilda”: green, salty and a little spicy.

  • Serves 4
  • 10 min

Ingredients

  • 8 good-quality anchovies in oil
  • 16 piparras (Basque pickled chilli peppers)
  • 8 pitted manzanilla olives
  • 8 cocktail sticks
  • Extra virgin olive oil

How to make it at home

  1. Drain the anchovies and the piparras.
  2. On each stick, thread an olive, then two folded piparras and an anchovy, rolled or folded in a zigzag.
  3. Finish with another olive if you want it more compact.
  4. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil on top.

The trick: It’s eaten in one bite, all at once, so the three flavours come together.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the neighbourhood taberna. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Spain guide.

  • Txepetxa

    Parte Vieja · €

    Anchovies in eleven versions: with sea urchin, with asparagus, with papaya. A tiny place.

  • Bar Néstor

    Parte Vieja · €€

    Only potato omelette (two a day, and you have to put your name down), Gernika peppers and steak. Get there early.

  • Borda Berri

    Parte Vieja · €€

    Pintxos cooked to order. The pork cheeks in red wine and the Idiazabal risotto are the staples.

  • Ganbara

    Parte Vieja · €€€

    A mountain of sautéed wild mushrooms with egg yolk in season and good txangurro (spider crab). It’s cheaper at the bar.

Frequently asked questions about San Sebastián

What to see in San Sebastián?

La Concha Beach, Parte Vieja, Monte Igueldo, Comb of the Wind, Miramar Palace and Santa Clara Island.

What to see in San Sebastián in 3 days?

Don’t miss La Concha Beach, Parte Vieja, Monte Igueldo, Comb of the Wind, Miramar Palace and Santa Clara Island. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in San Sebastián?

The handiest areas to stay are Parte Vieja, Gros and Centre.

What’s the best time to travel to San Sebastián?

Any time of year is good to travel to San Sebastián: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

What day trips can you take from San Sebastián?

Pintxos tour, The Basque coast and Getaria and Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

What is the typical food of San Sebastián?

Gilda. Donostia’s first pintxo: a skewer of chilli pepper, anchovy and olive. It was named after Rita Hayworth in “Gilda”: green, salty and a little spicy.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.