San Sebastián is a coastal city and municipality located in the north of the Basque Country, Spain. It lies on the southern coast of the Bay of Biscay, only 20 km from the French border. The surrounding area is lush and picturesque.

The town is famed for its beaches, its quaint Old Town and first-class restaurants. The Old Town hosts a great scene of local eateries, markets and shops, as well as many landmarks around an impressive cathedral. From La Concha Beach to the Aquarium, there are plenty to see and do in San Sebastian.

Visiting San Sebastián for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in San Sebastián on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!

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This complete guide to San Sebastián not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.

This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in San Sebastián and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!

Plaza Cervantes

Plaza Cervantes  is a small triangular plaza on the promenade alongside Concha Beach in San Sebastian, Spain. The plaza sits above an underground car park. It is notable for its bronze statue of Don Quixote riding a horse and his faithful companion Sancho Panza on his donkey. The statue was made in 1929 and is […]

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Location: Kontxa Pasealekua, 1, 20007 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.30km

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Visiting Plaza Cervantes

Plaza de Gipuzkoa

Although called a plaza tiny square is more like a small park with a duck pond, flower beds and many trees, in the heart of San Sebastián, Spain, across from the Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa building. The park was designed by French landscape gardener Pierre Ducasse and is lined with Neoclassical ashlar porticoes. The park […]

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Location: Gipuzkoa Plaza 10 20004 Donostia Gipuzkoa Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.30km

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Visiting Plaza de Gipuzkoa

Playa de la Concha

Playa de la Concha is San Sebastian’s most popular beach, and has been dubbed the most beautiful city beach of Europe. The beach lies to the west of the mouth of the River Urumea, separated from the town’s blue artery by Monte Urgull. It has fine white sand which stretches out for 1,350 metres and […]

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Visiting Playa de la Concha

Parque de Alderdi Eder

Parque de Alderdi Eder or Alderdi Eder Gardens, which mean beautiful place in Basque are pleasure gardens in San Sebastián, Spain. The gardens are located in front of the Ayuntamiento and alongside the Concha Bay. The flower gardens which are shaded by palm trees  and tamarisks, a species of tree commonly found in coastal areas […]

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Location: Alderdi Eder, Alderdi Eder, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.40km

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Visiting Parque de Alderdi Eder

Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian

Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian or San Sebastian’s city hall was constructed between 1882 and 1887 and is located in the Alderdi Eder Gardens. Originally it was home to a casino, where politicians and artists enjoyed themselves during the . It was a casino until the gambling ban in 1924. It was the Center of Attraction […]

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Location: 1 Ijentea Kalea, Donostia, Euskadi, 20003, Spain | Hours: N/A | Price: N/A | Website | Distance: 0.50km

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Visiting Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian

Victoria Eugenia Theater

The Victoria Eugenia Theater opened in 1912 in San Sebastián, Spain. It is located in the city centre  on the banks of the River Urumea across from the Kursaal. This sandstone building was designed by the architect Francisco de Urcola with plateresque motifs with Spanish Renaissance forms. Particularly interesting on the facade are, over the […]

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Location: Victoria Eugenia Theater Argentinar Errepublika, 2 20004 Donostia-San Sebastian SS Spain | Hours: From 11:30am to 1:30pm & from 5pm to 8pm | Website | Distance: 0.50km

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Visiting Victoria Eugenia Theater

San Sebastián Parte Vieja or Old Town

The San Sebastián Parte Vieja or San Sebastián Old Town is a maze of quaint cobblestone streets with excellent pintxo bars and restaurants. The Historical Quarter is located at the foot of Monte Urgull, between the port and the Urumea, river, on one side of the bay. It only takes a few minutes to stroll […]

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| Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.60km

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Visiting San Sebastián Parte Vieja or Old Town

Kursaal

Kursaal Auditorium and exhibition hall opened in 1999 was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, and is located in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain. The building itself is very striking  and consists of two cubes made of translucent glass with LED lights and sits next to the mouth of the Urumea River.  The largest cube houses the […]

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Location: Avenida de Zurriola, 1, San Sebastián | Website | Distance: 0.60km

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Visiting Kursaal

Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián

The Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián is the headquarters of the Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián in San Sebastián, Spain. The building was built in 1928 in the rationalist style and looks like a boat. The club organises many regattas and takes part in high level competitions.

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Location: Antiguo Embarcadero del Náutico Lasta Plaza, 1 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian SS Spain | Website | Distance: 0.60km

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Visiting Real Club Náutico de San Sebastián

Mercado de la Bretxa

Mercado de la Bretxa is a food market located at the basement of La Bretxa shopping centre, in the Old Town of San Sebastián, Spain. The market itself dates back to 1870 and has been recently refurbished. The market is split into two buildings the Arkoak building with a selection of large shops and restaurants […]

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Location: De la Brecha Enparantza, 2, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain | Hours: 8am-9pm Mon-Sat | Distance: 0.60km

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Visiting Mercado de la Bretxa

Plaza de la Constitución

Plaza de la Constitución is a 2,000 sq m square in the heart of San Sebastian Old Town. Rectangular in shape and framed by 4-storey arcaded buildings this Baroque masterpiece was once a bull fighting arena. You can still see the former arena’s seat numbers written above each of the balconies that surround the square. […]

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Location: Constitución Plaza, 119, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Plaza de la Constitución

Basílica de Santa María del Coro

Basílica de Santa María del Coro or Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus is a 18th-century church in San Sebastián, Spain. It is located to the south of Monte Urgull, in the heart of the old part of town. The church which dates from 1750 was built on the site of an old Roman […]

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Location: Basílica de Santa María del Coro 31 de Agosto Kalea, 46 20003 Donostia Gipuzkoa Spain | Hours: From 10:15am to 1:15pm and from 4:45pm to 7:45pm. | Price: Free | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Basílica de Santa María del Coro

Iglesia de San Vicente

Iglesia de San Vicente or Church of St Vincent, is an early 16th century church, located in the Parte Vieja of San Sebastián, Spain. It was built in the Basque Gothic style by quarry Miguel de Santa Celay and Juan de Urrutia. It is thought to be the oldest one in the city as its […]

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Location: Calle de San Vicente, 3 - 20003 Donostia / San Sebastián Spain | Hours: 9am-1pm & 5-8pm | Price: Free | Distance: 0.70km

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Visiting Iglesia de San Vicente

San Telmo Museum

San Telmo Museoa or San Telmo Museum is a museum of the Basque society located in Donostia-San Sebastián. The museum covers Basque history, arts and culture. Since 1932, it has been located in  a 16th century Dominican convent situated on Zuloaga plaza in the old town, at the foot of the Urgull hill. Exhibitions are […]

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Location: San Telmo Museum Plaza Zuloaga, 1 20003 Donostia Gipuzkoa Spain | Hours: 10am-8pm Tue-Sun | Price: adult/child €6/free, Tue free | Website | Distance: 0.80km

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Visiting San Telmo Museum

La Perla Spa

La Perla Spa is located on La Concha beach in San Sebastián, Spain. The spa was originally established by Spain’s Queen Maria Cristina at the royal summer-house and then was rebuilt in 1912, in its present location. The spa has various pools, a sauna, relaxation room, and a Jacuzzi with panoramic views over the beach, […]

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Location: La Perla Centro Talaso Sport paseo de la concha Edificio La Perla 20007 Donostia Gipuzkoa Spain | Hours: 8am-10pm | Website | Distance: 0.80km

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Visiting La Perla Spa

Playa Zurriola

Playa Zurriola or Zurriola Beach, is a lively and vibrant stretch of beach in San Sebastián, Spain. It is located side of from Playa La Concha and across the Urumea River from Parte Vieja. Due to its impressive waves it is an action-packed surfing spot with numerous local and international surfing competitions are held here.

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Location: Zurriola beach Gipuzkoa Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Website | Distance: 0.90km

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Visiting Playa Zurriola

Untzi Naval Museum San Sebastian

The Untzi Museoa is a Naval Museum located in the old mid- eighteenth century consulate tower house in the port of San Sebastian. The museum, which opened its doors in 1991, was designed to contribute to the conservation, the study, and the dissemination of Basque seafaring and naval history. The two main floors of the […]

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Location: Euskal Itsas Museoa - Museo Marítimo Vasco Kaiko Pasealekua, 24 20003 Donostia-San Sebastian,Spain | Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 2pm / 4pm to 7pm Sunday and bank holidays: 11am to 2pm Mondays: Closed. | Price: Free | Website | Distance: 0.90km

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Visiting Untzi Naval Museum San Sebastian

Aquarium Donostia-San Sebastian

Located at the western end of the harbor, Aquarium Donostia-San Sebastian is one of the most visited attractions in the Basque Country. Besides interesting displays describing the maritime history of the area, there is also a cinema-screen-sized deep-ocean and coral-reef exhibits and the long tunnel, with  its 1.5 million litre water tank and the bull […]

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Location: Aquarium de San Sebastián 1 Plaza de Carlos Blasco Imaz 20003 Donostia Gipuzkoa Spain | Hours: 10am-9pm Jul & Aug, 10am-8pm Mon-Fri, to 9pm Sat & Sun Easter-Jun & Sep, 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 8pm Sat & Sun Oct-Easter | Price: Adult/child €13/6.50 | Website | Distance: 1.00km

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Visiting Aquarium Donostia-San Sebastian

Monte Urgull

Urgull is a hill overlooking the Bay of Biscay in San Sebastián, Spain. Urgull is now a tree-covered hill with picturesque military structures and pleasant promenades and viewing points overlooking the bay and the city. It is located between the old town and the Paseo Nuevo, at the eastern end of La Concha Bay. The […]

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Location: Monte Urgull, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 1.00km

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Visiting Monte Urgull

Construcción Vacía

At the bottom of Monte Urgull on the Paseo Nuevo in San Sebastian is a sculpture by Jorge Oteiza called  Construcción Vacía or Empty Construction. Its slightly longer name is Empty construction with four negative-positive units. Acquired by the City Council in 2001, it was installed on the Paseo Nuevo in October 2002. Jorge Oteizaa […]

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Location: Jorge Oteiza: Construcción Vacía, Pasealeku Berria, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 1.10km

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Visiting Construcción Vacía

Santa Clara Island

Santa Clara island is located in the middle of Concha Bay, San Sebastián, it is flanked on either side by the Urgull and Igueldo mountains. On the island is a 19th century lighthouse, a natural salt water swimming pool and a chiringuito bar with a terrace at the pier. It is an ideal place for […]

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Location: Kalea Isla de Santa Clara, 2, 20003, Gipuzkoa, Spain | Hours: All day every half hour from 10:00 until 20:00. | Price: Boats direct €4.00, tour the bay is €6.00 each way | Distance: 1.50km

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Visiting Santa Clara Island

Miramar Palace

The Palacio de Miramar or Miramar Palace is a late 19th-century palace located on the La Concha Bay of the city of San Sebastián, Spain. In the past, the city was the summer destination for the royal family. As they did not have any official residence they decided to build one. It was built in […]

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Location: Parque Miramar - 20009 Donostia / San Sebastián | Distance: 1.60km

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Visiting Miramar Palace

Ondarreta Beach

Ondarreta Beach is the beach below the Miramar Palace, in San Sebastián, Spain. The beach has golden sand and measures over 500 metres in length by over 100 metres deep. Due to its location it is the perfect place for families as it is shielded by Monte Igeldo and as the least well known beach […]

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Location: Ondarreta Pasealekua, 4, 20008 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 1.60km

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Visiting Ondarreta Beach

Peine del Viento

The Peine del Viento or Comb of the Wind are a set of three sculptures designed by Eduardo Chillida and installed at the western end of Playa de Ondarreta, at the foot of Mount Igeldo in San Sebastián, Spain. They were installed the by Basque artist, Eduardo Chillida in 1977 with the collaboration of architect […]

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Location: Paseo Eduardo Chillida - 20008 Donostia / San Sebastián | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 2.00km

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Visiting Peine del Viento

Mount Igueldo

Take the vintage funicular to the top of Mount Igueldo to see a breathtaking panorama of Concha Bay and San Sebastian. Mount Igueldo offers cool landmarks and attractions like a lighthouse and the Parque de Atracciones, a small, old-fashioned funfair. The funfair has rides and attractions including a roller coaster, boat ride, carousel and a […]

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| Hours: 10am-9pm Mon-Fri, to 10pm Sat & Sun Jul, 10am-10pm Aug, 10am-8pm Mon-Fri, to 9pm Sat & Sun Jun & Sep, shorter hours Oct-May | Price: €2.30 | Website | Distance: 2.20km

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Visiting Mount Igueldo

Torreón de Monte Igueldo

The Torreón de Monte Igueldo or Tower of Monte Igueldo is a fortified lighthouse, a reconstruction of a 16th-century tower in San Sebastián, Spain. Although no longer in use, as there is a new lighthouse nearby, its height of 180m above sea level does offer a great viewing point over and . The Torre de […]

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Visiting Torreón de Monte Igueldo

Faro Monte Igueldo

Faro Monte Igueldo or Igeldo lighthouse is a lighthouse on in San Sebastián, Spain. It was built in 1855 by civil engineer Manuel Peironcely to replace the mid 18th century lighthouse which is further up the hill. The lighthouse is 134 meters above sea level.

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Location: Igeldo mendiko itsasargia Itsasargi Pasealekua, 107 20008 Donostia Gipuzkoa Spain | Hours: N/A | Distance: 2.50km

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Visiting Faro Monte Igueldo