A Basque seaside city famed for the shell-shaped La Concha beach and the pintxo bars of its old town (Parte Vieja); a gastronomic capital with a remarkable number of Michelin stars, where hopping between bars for pintxos and txakoli is the local way.
Swim at La Concha, then hop the pintxo bars in the evening. source
Weather: June–September is best for the beach, with the international film festival in September; rain is common year-round. source
Times to avoid: The San Telmo Museum is free every Tuesday and for visitors under 25. source
Weather varies from year to year; check the forecast before you go.
Don't miss in San Sebastián
San Telmo Museoa Basque society and history in a 16th-century convent. source
Pintxo crawl Try one or two pintxos per bar and move on — the San Sebastián way. source
La Concha beach The city beach on a shell-shaped bay, lined by a promenade. source
Where to stay in San Sebastián
Parte Vieja (Old Town)
The densest cluster of pintxo bars, close to the beach.
Centro
The shopping district by La Concha beach and bus stops.
What to eat in San Sebastián
Pintxos — Basque bite-sized snacks on bread
Gilda — Spicy skewer of pepper, anchovy and olives
Battered Cod with Pil-Pil — Battered cod with pil-pil emulsion
San Sebastián tips and things to watch out for
San Sebastián travel tips
City buses (Dbus) cost €1.95 per ride, the same by contactless card; night buses cost more. source
Good to know in Spain
Meal times in Spain tend to be later than in many countries, but opening hours vary by restaurant; check before visiting. source
For Granada’s Alhambra, select your visit date and entry time on its official ticket site. source
Watch out for in Spain
Pickpockets are rife on Las Ramblas and the Barcelona metro, and around Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. source
Phones left on terrace tables can vanish in seconds. source
General advice for the whole country. Check official government travel advice for entry rules and safety before you go.
Restaurant prices for San Sebastián are still being collected. The estimate also uses some official meal and transit prices checked in other cities in Spain.
San Sebastián attraction & theme park tickets
Official sellers’ prices for one adult admission. Select attractions in the calculator to add them to your budget.