Is San Sebastian Worth Visiting? Yes! Here’s why
If you’re planning a trip to northern Spain, you’re probably wondering is San Sebastian worth visiting. You’re definitely not the only one.
Despite the eye-watering prices, there are so many reasons why you should visit San Sebastian, from its authentic neighbourhoods and how safe it feels for solo exploring to the fact that it’s home to some of the best food in Spain.
I spent more than a month slow-travelling around the Basque Country on my own and kept finding excuses to go back to San Sebastian. It has that mix of beach, old town and pintxos bars that feels both easy to travel in and still properly local, which is exactly what I look for in a place.
In this guide, I’ll share the real pros and cons I discovered while I was there, including the parts no one really talks about. Yes, San Sebastian is expensive, but I’ll show you a few ways to keep costs down by choosing the right areas to stay and eat in.
By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of what San Sebastian is like for solo female travellers, so you can decide if it deserves a precious spot on your Basque Country itinerary.
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Is San Sebastian worth Visiting?
Yes, San Sebastian is worth visiting because, even with the patchy weather and higher hotel prices, it still manages to be one of the most enjoyable and easygoing cities in Spain. I kept finding excuses to go back.
There’s great food (without having to sell a kidney for it), beaches you can actually use, and enough going on that you never feel bored. It’s easy to get around, feels safe, and somehow pulls off that low-key, effortless glam without trying too hard.
Where is San Sebastian?
San Sebastian is a coastal city in the Basque Country, northern Spain. It’s near the French border and sits on the Bay of Biscay, surrounded by mountains.
Although part of mainland Spain, the Basque Region is an autonomous community, which means it has its own government and a high degree of self-governance, including its own language and cultural traditions.
I have partnered with Donostia San Sebastián Turismo and Euskadi Basque Country to bring you this travel guide. The trip was supported by them, but everything in this article is based on what I actually did and experienced in the city, and all views and opinions are my own.
San Sebastian vs Donostia: What’s the Difference?
When you start planning your trip, you’ll see both “San Sebastian” and “Donostia” on maps, road signs and bus timetables; they’re just two names for the same city.
The Basque Country is an autonomous region of Spain with its own language, Euskara (Basque). In Euskara, San Sebastian is called Donostia, and “Euskadi” is used to refer to the Basque region as a whole.
In this San Sebastian travel guide, I’ll use the names the way you’ll see them locally, too.
Planning Tip
If you’re anything like me, once you’ve figured out where you’re going, the next step is working out how to make the most of your time there. I’ve rounded up the best things to see in San Sebastian if you want a shortlist of spots that are genuinely worth your time.
9 Great Reasons to Visit San Sebastian
1. Beachfront Setting
One of the best things about San Sebastian for me is how much the city revolves around the sea.
My favourite spot is La Concha, the wide sandy beach that curves around the bay. Because it is tucked inside the bay, the water is usually calmer than on other nearby beaches, which makes it a great place to swim.
La Concha is popular for good reason. It is cleaned daily, there are plenty of amenities like sunbeds, showers and parasols, and lifeguards are on duty in season. There is also a long promenade that runs along the bay, which is perfect if you prefer walking or cycling by the water rather than lying on the sand.
2 Bays Sunset Boat Tour with Cava
For a different perspective of San Sebastian’s bays, book a boat tour from here and sip cava while you enjoy the views of the coastline and the city.
If you are into surfing, you will probably end up at Zurriola beach instead.
It is on the other side of the river in the Gros neighbourhood and has a much more surfy vibe. It is really common to see people wandering around town in wetsuits with boards under their arms, and lots of shops lean into that nautical and beach style that fits the city perfectly.
2. Excellent Food and Wine
One of the things I knew about northern Spain before visiting the region was that it’s renowned for excellent food. I wasn’t disappointed!
San Sebastian is one of the top Spanish cities to visit if you’re a foodie!
It’s famous for its pintxos (pronounced pin-chos), which are small snacks typically served in bars. These delicious bites have a long history and are a huge part of Basque culture.
Personal Recommendation
I basically plan my trips around what I am going to eat, so to get to know the food scene in San Sebastian, I joined a 3-hour pintxos and wine tour with Devour Tours and happily ate my way around the city.
You will eat a lot on this tour, so wear your stretchy-waisted pants. If you want all the details of what we ate and where, have a read of my pintxos and wine tour of San Sebastian review.
You’ll find the best pintxo bars in the old town, especially on the little streets that branch off from the Basilica. Some of the bars I visited and really enjoyed were Bar Sport, Sirimiri, Gandarias and La Viña for its traditional Basque cheesecake.
I sometimes worry that, as a veggie, I am going to miss out on the big foodie adventures in a destination. In San Sebastian, I had plenty of choices and so many delicious things to try. I did not get FOMO at all.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
San Sebastian Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour with Devour Tours
✅ 3 hours
✅ English-speaking guide
✅ Max group size of 8
San Sebastian is also known for its wine, especially Txakoli (pronounced chak-o-lee), a slightly sparkling, dry white wine that goes perfectly with pintxos.
What Food is San Sebastian Known For
- Pintxos
- Txakoli wine
- Fresh seafood
- Basque cheesecake
3. Loads of Adventure Sports
If, like me, you can’t resist getting stuck into the outdoors or adventure sports, San Sebastian has tons to choose from.
One of the main things San Sebastian is known for is its surf. I had always wanted to try surfing, so it was pretty much at the top of my list of things to do while I was here. The verdict: I absolutely loved it!
Besides surfing, there are plenty of hiking trails in the area.
If you’re after a half-day hike, one of the easiest and closest to San Sebastian is Mount Ulia, which is also part of the El Camino trail.
Looking for a full-day adventure? A short train ride from the city will take you to the Flysch Route.
I took the train to nearby Zumaia, which is famous for its rock formations called the flysch. The trail follows the coastline, going through the countryside and stopping off at bays with stunning rock formations along the way.
San Sebastian also has loads of great spots for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayaking, and plenty of cycle routes.
4. Plenty of Interesting Architecture
Although the history of San Sebastian goes all the way back to Roman times, the city you see today has been shaped by wars, fires and constant rebuilding.
A huge fire destroyed most of the medieval buildings, the old city walls were knocked down so the city could grow, and a lot of what was once marshland has been reclaimed and built on.
Because of that, San Sebastian has a really interesting mix of architecture. You will see everything from older 15th-century details to much more modern buildings, all in the same day.
My favourite area to wander around was the Old Town, or “Parte Vieja”, with its grid of narrow lanes, little squares and slightly crumbling but beautiful façades. The Church of San Vicente, built between the 15th and 16th centuries, is one of the few buildings from that period that survived, so it is also one of the oldest structures in the city.
Another impressive building to spot is the 18th-century Baroque Basilica of Santa Maria and the ornate Palacio Miramar (Miramar Palace)
Outside the old town, especially along the promenade at La Conca beach and heading away from the sea, you’ll find lots of buildings influenced by French and English architectural styles of the 19th century. This style is referred to as the Belle Époque period and reflects the boom in wealth in the area at that time. This is the part of the city that was once marshland!
On the opposite bank of the river, you’ll find the ultra-modern Kursaal Congress Centre and Auditorium with its futuristic glass cubes contrasting starkly with the historical buildings.
5. Well Connected
San Sebastian is easy to get to and very straightforward to navigate, even if you are travelling alone.
The city has its own airport, San Sebastian Airport (EAS), and it is also around an hour’s drive from both Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz, which also have international airports. If you prefer public transport, there are regular trains and buses that connect San Sebastian with other cities in Spain.
Once you arrive, you really do not need a car. The centre is compact, walkable and feels comfortable for solo travellers, and the local buses are simple to figure out if you want to reach beaches or neighbourhoods that are a bit further out.
Travel Planning Tip
Because San Sebastian is so close to the French border, it is a great place to spend a few days as part of a longer trip that combines both Spain and France.
Or if you are also thinking about adding another Basque city to your route, have a look at my guide to whether Bilbao is worth visiting and see how the two compare.
6. Lots of Green Spaces
San Sebastian is a gloriously green city, wrapped in hills and mountains that give it a really pretty natural backdrop. The Spanish Basque Country, in general, is big on green spaces. Nearby Vitoria-Gasteiz even picked up the “Global Green City Award” from the UN, so this region clearly takes its parks and outdoor areas seriously.
Within San Sebastian itself, there are plenty of spots where you can escape the traffic and just enjoy being outside.
This relaxed outdoor lifestyle is one of the things San Sebastian is famous for, along with its beaches and food scene.
There are city parks and plazas where people actually hang out, car-free streets that are much calmer to walk through, and one of my favourite places, the shaded riverside walkway.
7. Interesting Museums
There are some great museums in San Sebastian. But my favourite by far was the San Telmo Museum. If you only have time to visit one museum, make sure this is at the top of your list!
The museum is located in the Old Town and housed in a gorgeous 16th-century building that used to be a Dominican convent. It also served as an artillery barracks before becoming a municipal museum in 1902, making it the oldest museum in Basque Country.
One of the most striking parts of the building is the Renaissance-style cloister and church decorated with gigantic canvases by Catalan artist José María Sert. The museum is split over several levels and is packed with cultural and historical artefacts of Basque life.
Money Saving Tip
The San Telmo Museum is free to enter on Tuesdays! No need to book a ticket, just show up.
Another great option is the Sea Factory Albaola, where historical boats are built using traditional methods.
Also, check out the Euskal Itsas Museoa, the maritime museum, located in the harbour, to learn about the Basques and their relationship with the sea.
8. The Vintage Theme Park
One of my favourite slightly bizarre attractions in San Sebastian is Monte Igueldo Amusement Park.
It sits on top of Monte Igueldo and feels like you have walked straight into a really retro seaside holiday. Think old-school rides, slightly faded colours and overall kitsch.
You can walk up if you really want to, but the route I recommend is taking the old funicular. It is the third-oldest funicular in Spain and the oldest in the Basque region, so just getting there already feels like part of the experience.
The park itself opened in 1912 and has around 20 little rides and attractions, and it is a fun way to spend an hour or two doing something different from the usual beach and pintxos routine.
Time Saving
The theme park does have some REALLY strange opening hours, depending on the season and day of the week. Save yourself a wasted journey and check if it’s open before you visit on the official Monte Igueldo site.
9. Basque Country Has Its Own Heritage
I live in the south of Spain, and my first impression of San Sebastian was that it felt like I was in a totally different country. Nothing about it felt typically Spanish or anything I was used to in the south of the country.
One of the main differences is the language.
Basque is the oldest language in Europe. It’s also a unique language, meaning that it doesn’t even have roots such as Germanic, Romance, Italic, Slavic, or Celtic, or any other origin that European languages are based on.
My local San Sebastian guide had said that during the Spanish Civil War, it was forbidden to speak the language.
He then went on to say that there is a revival for the language, and children are taught Basque in school alongside Spanish.
You’ll see the Basque language in use all over the city, like the street signs. One side of the road will have the street name in Spanish, and the other side will have it written in Basque.
Another big difference was their sport. In Spain, the national sport is football. In the Basque Country, it’s Jai Alai – which, as a spectator, looked like a mix of squash and racquetball. I’m sure there’s more to it! But if you get a chance, it’s worth taking a look.
Cons of San Sebastian
1. The Weather Can Be Unpredictable
Keep this in mind for your San Sebastian trip: the city gets A LOT of rain.
San Sebastián receives more rainfall than almost anywhere else in Spain.
The city experiences rain on approximately 180 to 220 days each year. The rainiest months in San Sebastián are from October to January, particularly November and December, with an average annual rainfall of 1.5 meters (59 inches).
When I visited San Sebastian in June, I expected warm weather. It wasn’t.
In a word, I’d describe San Sebastian’s weather as unpredictable.
Some days I experienced rain, strong winds and glorious sunshine all in a matter of a few hours. Carrying my rain jacket and umbrella became standard. When you are packing for Spain, I would definitely include a light rain jacket, a small umbrella and a couple of easy layers.
2. San Sebastian Is Expensive
San Sebastian is not a cheap city, and accommodation was definitely the biggest expense for me while I was visiting.
One of the annoying parts of travelling solo is that you often end up paying pretty much the same price for a room as a couple would, just for single occupancy. San Sebastian is very much like that, especially in the most central areas.
The priciest places to stay are right in the centre, close to La Concha and the Old Town.
If you want to shave the costs down a bit, look just outside that main tourist bubble. Once you cross the river into Gros, which feels more residential, the prices start to drop slightly, and you still have an easy walk back into the old town and the beaches.
Money Saving Tips
A few things that helped me keep accommodation costs a little more manageable:
- Looking for guesthouses, pensions and small family-run hotels instead of big chains
- Staying a few streets back from the seafront rather than right on the promenade
- Avoiding peak weekends and local festival dates where possible
- Checking hostels that offer private rooms, if you are happy with something simple
Food, on the other hand, felt fairly moderate, especially if you stick to the pintxos bars. A pintxo was usually between €3 and €5, and wine was very affordable, around €2 to €4 a glass, so absolutely no complaints there.
San Sebastian is not the cheapest city in Spain, but it also did not feel wildly more expensive than other popular destinations once you are out eating pintxos. For me, accommodation was by far the thing that pushed the budget up in San Sebastian, not the food or attractions.
So Who Would Enjoy San Sebastián?
So summing up this guide to San Sebastian, I totally recommend visiting San Sebastian. Especially if you’re a:
- Food enthusiast
- Love the outdoors and adventure sports
- Looking for an urban beach break
Why Visit San Sebastian FAQs
When Is The Best Time To Visit San Sebastian?
The best time to visit San Sebastian is from June to September. During these months, the weather is warm. However, keep in mind that the weather can be unpredictable. I visited in June, and it rained for about half of the time I was there.
What Is The Best Way to Travel to San Sebastian, Spain?
The best way to get to San Sebastian is by flying into San Sebastian Airport (EAS). You can also fly to nearby airports in Bilbao or Vitoria-Gasteiz and take a bus or train.
Is San Sebastian Expensive?
Yes, San Sebastian is quite expensive. Accommodation is the main killer of your budget. Food prices can be high if you’re going to the Michelin restaurants, but in bars and cafes, it wasn’t wildly more expensive compared to other cities in Spain.
Why is San Sebastian so expensive?
San Sebastian has long been a seaside playground for royalty and the rich, and it still keeps that polished, upmarket feel. It is also a small, compact city packed into a prime coastal spot, so limited space keeps accommodation prices high.
What Is San Sebastian Known For?
San Sebastian is known for its beautiful beaches, delicious food (especially pintxos), and surf scene.
Is San Sebastian Part of Spain?
Yes, San Sebastian is in Spain. It is a coastal city in the autonomous Basque Country in northern Spain, with its own distinct culture and language, so you will experience a mix of Spanish and Basque traditions when you visit.
Is San Sebastian Safe?
Yes, San Sebastián felt very safe to me, especially around the Old Town and Gros, where I walked back at night. The only place with slightly sketchier vibes was near the main train station, but there were police aroun,d and I had no problems.
So, is San Sebastian worth visiting?
Yes, San Sebastian is absolutely worth visiting.
Even with the unpredictable weather and higher accommodation costs, the mix of beaches, surf, pintxos bars and easy solo exploring makes it a city that really sticks with you. If you love good food, being by the sea, and places that feel walkable and safe, it is a very easy yes.
If you are starting to plan a trip, keep exploring my other San Sebastian and northern Spain guides to help you choose where to stay, what to eat and which nearby cities are also worth adding to your itinerary.
Basque Country and North Spain
- An Epic 5 Days Road Trip in Aragón Itinerary
- 15 Best Things to Do in Aragon, Spain
- Is Zaragoza Worth Visiting? Everything You Need To Know
- The Best Things to See in Zaragoza, Spain
- Is San Sebastian Worth Visiting? The Pros and Cons
- San Sebastian Food Tour Review With Devour Tours
- Is Bilbao Worth Visiting? 12 Reasons To Visit Bilbao