15 Things to Know Before Visiting San Sebastián

Are you coming to San Sebastián and want to make the most of your trip? We are lucky enough to live in this one of a kind city in Spain and we are happy to share some tips and tricks to help you enjoy your visit to the one and only San Sebastián.

We want to make sure you get the most out of your time when you visit San Sebastián, so we have put together a list of 15 things to know before visiting San Sebastián to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch!

And if you want more detailed help with planning your trip. Feel free to reach out as we provide trip planning services creating the perfect itinerary for your time in San Sebastián.

Also be sure to check out our blog post on Where to Stay in San Sebastián which has a fantastic list of the best hotels and house rentals around the city.

Ok now let’s get into the 15 things you need to know before visiting San Sebastián!

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1. Should you visit San Sebastián?

YES absolutely you should visit San Sebastián!

When traveling to Spain it can be difficult to decide what cities and locations to visit , as there are so many remarkable and beautiful locations throughout the country.  

However, San Sebastián offers a unique list of experiences, vistas, culture and cuisine that no other city in the world offers. 

With rolling green hills, stunning views of the Bay of Biscay, unique Basque culture, world class food and beautiful architecture your visit to San Sebastián will leave you in awe of this exceptional part of the world.

2. What is the ideal time to Visit San Sebastián?

San Sebastián is worth visiting year round, and each season in San Sebastián has Pros and Cons.

It’s important to note that San Sebastián is a very different place in the Winter versus the Summer.

Therefore, reading the information below will help you decide what season best suites you when deciding to visit San Sebastián and will most certainly influence the type of visit you will have.

Visiting San Sebastián in the Shoulder Seasons (September/October and April/May):

The MOST IDEAL time to visit San Sebastian would be during the shoulder seasons. These months include September and October in the Fall, and April and May in the Spring.

• Pros:
• September and October allow for beautiful fall foliage, less crowds and mild temperatures
• April and May allow for beautiful spring flowers, fewer tourists and ideal temperatures
• Prices on lodging, car rentals and airfare are less
• Cons:
• Higher chance that you could encounter rain

Visiting San Sebastián in the Summer (June, July, August):

Visiting San Sebastián in the High Season or summer months (June, July and August) has its pros and cons. And ultimately would not be my preferred time to visit, largely due to the crowds.

That being said, I realize many people have to visit in summer due to work and school schedules, but if you can avoid it I highly suggest it.

• Pros:
• Incredible weather allowing for perfect beach days and fun festivals such as the Jazz Festival and Semana Grande.
• Cons:
• Prices almost double on lodging, car rentals and airfare! Crowds in San Sebastian in the summer (and all of Europe for that matter) are heavy, and this can really impact how you experience the city.

Visiting San Sebastián in the Low Season or winter months (November, December, January and February):

• Pros:
• Prices on lodging, car rentals and airfare are significantly less
• Fewer crowds and this makes a big difference when seeing the sites and making reservations.
• The Christmas decorations and minarets along the river are charming
• Tamborrada festival in January (easily our favorite festival in San Sebastián!)
• Cons:
• Winter in San Sebastián can be rainy…like really rainy. You could spend an entire week here and not see much sun.

3. What region of Spain is San Sebastián?

San Sebastián is located on the North coast of Spain overlooking the beautiful Bay of Biscay.  It’s the capital of Gipuzkoa, a province within Basque Country.

The closest (big city) city to San Sebastián is Bilbao, the capital of Bizkaia, a province that borders Gipuzkoa to the west. 

To the east is the autonomous community of Navarra where the capital is Pamplona (think Running of the Bulls).

The French border is just 20 km from San Sebastián, or 25 minutes by car. 

The closest airports are Bilbao to the West and Biarritz France to the East.

One of my favorite things about the location of San Sebastián is how it allows for easy and beautiful day trips in almost any direction!

4. Where should we stay in San Sebastián?

One of the best things about San Sebastián is the variety of different areas that compose the city.  Each of these unique areas has its personality, character and charm.  

While these different parts of the city are located only a few minutes from each other, it feels like you are in a distinctly new location in each part of town.

Below is a list and description of the main areas in San Sebastián and recommendations on where to stay.

• Old Town: The most lively part of town bustling with activity, incredible gastronomy, and some amazing boutique shopping
• El Centro: Less crowded and historic than Old Town, but full of wonderful dining options, shopping, and central to everything
• La Concha Beach: Located in the center of San Sebastián with incredible views of La Concha Bay and the iconic promenade
• Gros: The funkier and hipper part of town with a more casual vibe and close to Zurriola beach, great food and shopping
• Antiguo: A less-touristed part of San Sebastián located near Ondarreta beach, and located just a 15-minute walk from the city center
• Outside the City: More rural settings full of green rolling hills, peaceful surroundings and just a short drive from downtown San Sebastián.

Top Recommendations on hotels in the area

• Best in Old Town-Hotel SANSEbay
• Best in El Centro-Hotel Arbaso
• Best in La Concha Beach-Hotel Londres
• Best in Gros-Hotel Abba
• Best in Antiguo-Hotel La Galeria 
• Best for Families-Hotel Lasala
• Best for Couples-Hotel Villa Favorita
• Best for Luxury-Hotel Maria Christina
• Best for Budget-Hotel Aldamar

Be sure to check out our other post with all the recommendations of Where to Stay in San Sebastián.

5. What should we do in San Sebastián

There are so many incredible things to do in San Sebastián! As locals one of our favorite things about the city is the countless things to do, see and explore!

• EAT: Eating in San Sebastián is an enormous part of the allure, and a must do when you visit. San Sebastián has been named one of the best cities in Europe for food and it boasts MANY Michelin Star Restaurants. Basque food is simple, fresh and of the highest quality. Be sure to try to pintxos standing up with a txakoli (the local lightly sparkling white wine) in Old Town, sample the fresh seafood and of course the traditional Basque Cheese Cake. There are also incredible food tours that we highly recommend.
• GET OUTDOORS: San Sebastián has a plethora of amazing outdoor activities. Participate in a walking tour of the city, hike the various trails just outside the city, take a surfing lesson or sign up for an electric bike tour of the city.
• CULTURE: There are museums, art exhibits, live music, and festivals throughout the city and during every month of the year in San Sebastián. Be sure to experience these to get a true sense of Basque culture. Two of our favorite museums are the San Telmo in Old Town and the Chillida.
• RELAX: There are a variety of spas and relaxing activities in San Sebastián. La Perla is a spa with 15 different water stations located right on the beach. You can also sit on the beach or in one of the many beautiful parks around the city and people watch taking in the slow pace and rhythm of San Sebastián.

6. Is San Sebastian Expensive?

San Sebastián is one of the more expensive Spanish cities, but places like Barcelona and Madrid rank higher. Additionally, compared to many places in Europe it ranks in the middle in terms of costs and affordability.

Compared to many other parts of Spain prices are higher on many things such as food and lodging, but if you are coming from the United States you will still find San Sebastián has great value for money.

7. Does it rain a lot in San Sebastian?

Look, I’m not going to lie to you. The weather in San Sebastián, and the Basque Country in general, can be a bit hit and miss. And yes it can rain – a lot! 

But that’s part of what adds to its charm and gives the area its spectacular green landscape.

There’s certainly more rainfall here than what you’d typically associate with the rest of Spain. To put it into context, there’s 1,500mm of rain on average each year in San Sebastián, compared to southern areas of Spain that typically only receive 500mm.

Most of the rain, not surprisingly falls in the winter. The summers are drier with fewer days of rain.

But what I appreciate about weather in San Sebastian is that even if it is raining you will likely see a break in the clouds at some point during the day creating beautiful sunsets and rainbows.

8. Is San Sebastian safe?

San Sebastián is a very safe city for both tourists and residents. Compared to dozens of other Spanish cities San Sebastián has overflow crime rates.

However, just as in any city in the world, pay attention to your surroundings and valuables when you’re out and about and try not to look like a tourist.

9. Do they speak English in San Sebastián?

There is some English spoken in San Sebastián especially in the tourist industries. And recently there are more and more English speakers in San Sebastián due to the increased popularity of the region.

However, there is still far more English spoken in cities like Madrid and Barcelona and the heavily touristed parts of Spain along the Mediterranean.

There are actually two official languages spoken in San Sebastián which are Basque and Spanish. So while everyone speaks Spanish, you will be sure to hear a fair bit of Basque. It is a really unique language to hear, and is thought to be one of the oldest languages in the world.

But regardless if you speak Spanish or not you will easily be able to communicate and get by in San Sebastián.

Additionally, as a world traveller I always suggest learning a few common phrases of the native language in the area you are visiting. So learning a few words such as Hola (hello) and Gracias (thank you) will go a long way in endearing yourself to locals and showing respect.

10. Do you need cash, or are credit card payments accepted?

You can use credit cards for everything you need to buy in San Sebastián from taxis and meals to hotels and boutiques. And most major credit cards are accepted everywhere. The only exception is that American Express is not widely accepted in San Sebastián, which differs from much of Europe.

I do recommend keeping some Euros on you for tipping, parking meters (although they do take cards) and just to have them on hand if needed.

11. What is the best way to get around San Sebastián?

There are SO MANY easy, quick and convenient ways to get around San Sebastián. And the city makes it very easy to get around with miles of bike and walking paths.

We highly suggest leaving your car at your hotel or house rental because San Sebastián is much better seen and explored on foot or bike.

And unless you are planning on driving outside the city to explore you really will not need a car at all. So arriving to San Sebastian without a car is a perfectly reasonable idea.

There are also a variety of public transport options making it easy and inexpensive to get around San Sebastián.

Popular and convenient ways to get around San Sebastián include…

Walking:  San Sebastián is best explored on foot and the city is laid out in a way that makes walking easy and accessible. Old Town and El Centro largely prohibit cars, and walking is the best way to see all the narrow and beautiful streets of San Sebastián anyway. So be sure to bring some good walking shoes!

Bikes or Electric Scooters: If you are up for riding a bike and/or an eclectic scooter we highly recommend it.  We ride our bikes everywhere and it is easily our favorite way to get around San Sebastián!  There are miles of safe and scenic bike paths throughout the city, making it fun and easy to ride along the beautiful beach promenaded, over to Gros, and along the river. You can rent bikes form most hotels or check out this bike rental place.

Bus system:  There is a highly active and efficient bus system that goes throughout San Sebastián. It is easy enough to navigate and incredibly affordable. You can access their website here.

Topo: The Topo (Spanish for Mole due to the many tunnels) is San Sebastian’s public transportation system and is also a useful, easy to navigate and economical option for getting around. You can get on and off at dozens of stops throughout the city and you can even take it to the French border.

Taxis: Taxis are abundant and there are taxi stands every few blocks. You can also call to request a taxi with this link and the operators speak English.

Uber: Uber is not largely available in San Sebastián.

12. What should I pack?

In a word…LAYERS! On any given day in San Sebastián you may experience rain, sunshine and a variation in temperature. So it is best to pack layers that you can easily remove or put on should the weather change.

In the Fall, Winter and Spring be sure to pack a lightweight waterproof coat. Additionally, it would be good to pack a small travel umbrella. Often times there can be a light rain or drizzle so having these items on hand will help keep you dry.

And we are huge fans of scarves as they really help keep you warm, are easy to remove and help you achieve that European fashion sense. The Spanish also believe that scarves are and important way to keep you from getting a cold!

If you don’t have these items there are some wonderful stores in town that sell locally made rain coats, scarves and easy to transport umbrellas.

13. What are good gifts to buy in San Sebastián?

There are so many amazing gift options to buy in San Sebastián. Basque products are well made, unique and beautiful. There are local stores on every street selling a variety of wares, souvenirs and gifts.

Here are a few great gift ideas…

Basque food: Food from San Sebastián is one of my favorite gifts to bring home or give as gifts. There are stores throughout Old Town that sell locally made salts, jams, cured meats and spice blends. These are easy to pack and a favorite gift to give and receive.

Clothing and Linens: There are many Basque stores that make coats, tablecloths, aprons and napkins. You will see the traditional stripes in an array of beautiful colors.

Leather and Jewelry: You will find hand made and one of kind jewelry and leather items throughout the city. San Sebastián has a long history of leather and jewelry makers that date back hundreds of years. These products range in price and are absolutely beautiful .

14. Should we tip in San Sebastián?

I know Spain has the reputation as a country that does not expect tipping, but the world is much more global now and tipping is increasingly common in not only San Sebastián but all over Spain. 

I believe a small tip in certain places such as restaurants, hotels and with tour guides is important and helps create a positive relationship between local and tourists.

You do not have to do the 10-20% that is customary in the United States, but rather a few Euros to express your appreciation after a nice meal or helpful service.

You will see how much the people serving you appreciate it!

15. How to get to San Sebastián?

There are a variety of ways to get to San Sebastián depending on where you are coming from.

Fly into San Sebastián: San Sebastián does have an airport that is located close to the French border and only about a 20 minute drive to the heart of the city. There are very few international flights that fly into the airport, but it is a great spot to connect from larger airports like Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao.

From Bilbao: This airport is an hour a way and a very beatuiful drive. You can catch a bus that leaves every hour and be in San Sebastián in no time or rent a car at the airport.

From Madrid: The train from Madrid takes about 5 hours and is easy and scenic.

From France: The French border is about 25 minutes from San Sebastian, and there is an airport in Biarritz (about 40 minutes away) which has a variety of flight options from cities around Europe.

16. How long should you spend in San Sebastián?

We came to San Sebastián a few years ago and decided to never leave!

But for most people I would say 3-4 days will give you time to enjoy much of what San Sebastián has to offer.

You can certainly stay longer and there are layers to uncover in San Sebastián and many day trips to take and cultural experiences to enjoy if you decide to stay longer.

In Conclusion…

Hopefully these 15 tips and trick will help you have and an incredible stay in San Sebastián. We know you will love this one of a kind city in Spain.

San Sebastián is a city like no other and we can’t wait to hear about your visit!