Is San Sebastian Worth Visiting? The Pros and Cons
If you’re planning a trip to the north of Spain, in particular the Basque Country, you might be wondering, is San Sebastian worth visiting.
I recently spent a month exploring this region and found myself returning to San Sebastian several times.
This article goes into all the pros and cons I learnt during my time there to help you decide whether or not you should visit the city and what to expect if you decide to go. From my experience, there are plenty of reasons why you should visit San Sebastian – spoiler: the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
Whether you’re into beaches, food, or culture, this guide will help you decide if this beautiful city should be on your travel list and give you a glimpse into what San Sebastian is like.
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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’ve partnered with Donostia San Sebastián Turismo and Euskadi Basque Country to bring you this travel guide. This article is based on the destinations and experiences I took part in. All views and opinions are my own.
San Sebastian vs Donostia – What’s the Difference?
As I mentioned before, the Basque Country is its own autonomous region of Spain with a unique language which is also referred to as Basque.
In Basque, San Sebastian is called Donostia. So, when you see Donostia, it means the same as San Sebastian. You might also see the word Euskadi which refers to the Basque region.
In this San Sebastian travel guide, I’ll explain more about Basque San Sebastian and its heritage.
Read Next: Top Things to See in San Sebastian, Spain
Reasons to Visit San Sebastian (Or Not)
Pros of San Sebastian
Beachfront Setting
One of the best things about San Sebastian is its beachfront setting.
And by far the best beach in San Sebastian is La Concha, a beautiful sandy beach located in a bay, making the water calmer than other nearby beaches.
La Concha is popular for several reasons. It’s cleaned daily, has plenty of amenities like sunbeds, showers, and parasols, and lifeguards are on duty. There’s also a long promenade that follows the bay, which is great for walking and cycling.
Another nearby beach is Zurriola, which is popular for surfing. It’s located on the other side of the river in the Gros neighbourhood.
Beach culture is a big thing in San Sebastian; it’s common to see people walking around the city in wetsuits with surfboards under their arms. There are also plenty of shops with either a nautical or beach vibe.
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 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: To learn more about the food scene in San Sebastian, I ate my way around the city on a 3 hour pintxos and wine tour with Devour Tours.
During this tour, we got to visit a whole load of different bars serving up the best food in the city. At each bar, we tried a few different pintxos, with an accompanying wine. You’ll eat a lot, so wear your stretchy-waisted pants!
You can read my detailed review of the Pintxos and Wine Tour of San Sebastian here
You’ll find the best pintxo bars in the old town, especially the streets that come off from the Basilica. Some of the bars I visited and really enjoyed were Bar Sport, Sirimiri, Gandarias and La Vina for its traditional Basque cheesecake.
I sometimes worry that as a veggie, I do miss out on some of the foodie-ventures in destinations. However, I had plenty of choices for delicious food. I didn’t get FOMO at all!
San Sebastian is also known for its wine, especially Txakoli (pronounced chak-o-lee), a slightly sparkling, dry white wine that’s perfect with pintxos.
What Food is San Sebastian Known For
- Pintxos
- Txakoli wine
- Fresh seafood
- Basque cheesecake
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
San Sebastian Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour with Devour Tours
✅ 3 hours
✅ English speaking guide
✅ Max group size of 8
Loads of Adventure Sports
If like me, you can’t resist getting stuck into outdoors or adventure sports, San Sebastian has tons on offer.
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 – 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.
Plenty of Interesting Architecture
Although the history of San Sebastian dates back to Roman times, the city has undergone significant changes due to wars, fires, and expansion. A devastating fire destroyed most of the medieval buildings, city walls were demolished to allow for expansion, and a large portion of what was once marshland and uninhabitable was reclaimed.
San Sebastian is blessed with plenty of interesting architecture, with a mix of styles from the 15th century to modern day.
My favourite area was the Old Town, or ‘Parte Vieja’, with its grid-like narrow lanes, old squares, and impressive façades. The Church of San Vicente, built between the 15th and 16th centuries, is one of the few remaining buildings from this period, making it 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.
Well Connected
San Sebastian is easy to get to and well-connected.
The city has its own airport, San Sebastian Airport (EAS). It’s also around an hour’s drive from Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz, both of these cities also have airports.
If you prefer public transport, you can get to San Sebastian by either train or bus.
Because San Sebastian is near the French border, it’s a great city to stop in a few days if you want to do a longer trip that combines both Spain and France.
Lots of Green Spaces
This is a gloriously green city surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains, giving the city a stunning natural backdrop. The nearby Vitoria-Gasteiz actually won the “Global Green City Award” from the UN.
Let’s just say the Spanish Basque Country has some of the greenest cities out there!
Within the city, there are plenty of green spaces to enjoy. These include the city parks and plazas, car-free zones and places like the shaded riverside walkway. The city has put a lot of effort into making the cities more pleasant for people to enjoy the outdoor space.
Interesting Museums
There are some great museums in San Sebastian. My favourite was the San Telmo Museum, and if you only have time to visit one museum, make sure this is top of your list!
Located in the Old Town, the museum is housed in a gorgeous 16th-century building that used to be a Dominican convent. It also served as 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.
👉 Good to know: It is free to enter the San Telmo Museum museum on Tuesdays!
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. It reveals the secrets of the Basques and their relationship with the sea.
The Vintage Theme Park
One of the charming attractions in San Sebastian is the Monte Igueldo Amusement Park.
The best way to get to Monte Igueldo is by the funicular. The funicular is the third oldest in Spain and the oldest in the Basque region. This vintage amusement park, opened in 1912, offers 20 different attractions.
Although it’s a bit kitsch, it is super cute and worth visiting if you have a couple of hours spare.
👉 Good to know: The theme park does have some strange opening hours depending on the season and day of the week. Check if it’s open before you visit on the official Monte Igueldo site.
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 nothing like 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 Basque language used – 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 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
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 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.
San Sebastian Is Expensive
If you’re travelling on a budget, it’s useful to know that San Sebastian is rather pricey compared to some other Spanish destinations.
Accommodation and hotels here are expensive. I came back to the city a few times during my trip around north Spain and stayed in a mix of accommodations in San Sebastian.
However, even the most basic dorm rooms were pricey (at my time of visiting an average of €50 a night for a dorm of 8!), similar to what I’ve paid in Amsterdam and London, which are known for being expensive. I didn’t expect that for Spain.
I found that food was moderately priced. A pintxo was between €3 and €5 each. The wine was very affordable, between €2 and €4 a glass, so obviously no complaints there!
But why is San Sebastian so expensive? Good questions. I don’t really know, but some theories are because of the mix of beaches and excellent gastronomy which make it a more exclusive destination.
So Who Would Enjoy San Sebastián?
So summing up this guide to San Sebastian, I totally recomend 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 compared to other Spanish towns. Accommodation and food prices can be high, similar to cities like Amsterdam and London. When planning your San Sebastian travel, factor this into your budget.
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 part of Spain. It’s located in the Basque Country, an autonomous region in northern Spain. The city has its own unique culture and language, making it a special place to visit. When exploring San Sebastian, Basque Country, you’ll experience a blend of Spanish and Basque traditions.
What’s the Word in Basque For San Sebastian?
In Basque language, San Sebastian is called “Donostia.” In the city, you’ll see and hear the Spanish and Basque languages being used.
What Are the Best Things to Do in San Sebastian, Spain?
If you have only one day in San Sebastian, then walk the promenade and check out the beautiful La Concha Beach, explore the Old Town (Parte Vieja), and hike up one of the hilltop points. Of course, eat as many pintxos and drink as much txakoli wine as possible. If you have longer, then check out more of what to do in San Sebastian here.
Is San Sebastian Safe?
Yes, San Sebastián is very safe, especially in the main part of the city. I walked around late at night from the Old Town and back to Gros, which is where I was staying, and both of these areas were fine. The only area I found a little sketchy (more to do with the vibes) was the area surrounding the main train station – although there was a police presence here and I had no problems.
So Is San Sebastian Worth Visiting?
Yes. San Sebastian is definitely worth visiting.
Despite the unpredictable weather and higher costs, the city’s charm, adventure sports opportunities and cuisine make it a must-see city.
Ready to explore San Sebastian? Check out more travel tips and articles on Northern Spain to start planning your stay.
Basque Country and North Spain
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- Is San Sebastian Worth Visiting? The Pros and Cons
- San Sebastian Food Tour Review With Devour Tours
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