Editor's picks
A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.
La Concha & Monte Urgull
Nature · The bay, and the hill closing its eastern end
The scallop-shaped bay that made the city's name, with a promenade of white railings and a wooded fortified hill at one end.
Local tip: Walk up Monte Urgull rather than taking the funicular up Igueldo on your first day — it is free, it takes twenty minutes, and the view down over the bay from beside the Christ statue is the one that explains the city's shape. The path round the seaward side is almost empty and comes out at the aquarium.
Parte Vieja
Food · Between Monte Urgull and the river
A tight grid of streets behind the harbour holding one of the highest densities of pintxo bars anywhere.
Local tip: One or two pintxos per bar, then move — bars specialise, and staying put means eating the worse half of a menu. Ask what the house does rather than pointing at the counter, order the gilda somewhere that makes it fresh, and start after 8:30pm or you will be alone with the tourists.
Zurriola & Gros
Neighborhood · East bank, across the Urumea
The city's surf beach and the grid behind it — younger, less formal and increasingly where people actually live rather than visit.
Local tip: Zurriola is a proper Atlantic beach with real waves, unlike the sheltered Concha, and the surf schools run year-round. Gros has the better everyday pintxo bars — Bergara and the streets around Plaza Cataluña — and locals eat there precisely because the Parte Vieja is full.
Monte Igueldo & the western headland
Landmark · West end of the bay
A hill closing the far side of La Concha, reached by a 1912 funicular, with a wonderfully dated amusement park on top.
Local tip: The funicular is over a century old and the park at the top is charmingly unmodernised. Go at sunset for the classic view back along the bay, then walk down the road on the seaward side to Peine del Viento — Chillida's iron sculptures set into the rocks, which are at their best in a storm rather than in sunshine.
Sidrerías of Astigarraga
Hidden gemFood · 8 km inland, up the Urumea valley
A valley of cider houses that open for the txotx season from January to April, serving a fixed menu at long shared tables.
Local tip: The ritual is the point: the menu is cod omelette, cod with peppers, a chuleta and then cheese with quince and walnuts, and you get up and fill your glass from the barrel when someone shouts txotx. Book, go with a group, and take the bus — the whole thing is designed around not driving home.
Kursaal & the Urumea riverfront
Culture · Mouth of the river, Gros side
Rafael Moneo's two translucent glass cubes on the river mouth, the city's concert hall and the home of the film festival.
Local tip: The building is best seen lit from the Zurriola bridge after dark, when the cubes glow. Its programme — Jazzaldia in July, the Musika Hamabostaldia in August, Zinemaldia in September — means the city has a serious cultural calendar running right through the season most Spanish cities go quiet.
Explore 100 places across San Sebastián
Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.
Museums & galleries
(8)
MuseumSan Telmo Museoa
An ethnographic and art museum in San Sebastian Spain
MuseumChillida-Leku
Sculpture garden
MuseumAquarium de Donostia-San Sebastián
Museum in Spain
MuseumAlbaola Itsas Kultur Faktoria
Shipyard-school museum in the Basque Country of Spain
MuseumSoinuenea
Museum in Spain
MuseumMuseum Cemento Rezola
Basque Country Museum
Real 100 Museoa
Museum.
Xenpelar Etxea
Art gallery.
Landmarks & architecture
(27)
LandmarkPeine del Viento XV
Group of three sculptures by Eduardo Chillida
LandmarkMiramar Palace
Cultural property in San Sebastián, Spain
LandmarkPalacio de Ayete
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkZurriola Bridge
Bridge in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain
LandmarkTrinitate Plaza
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkFortress of San Marko
Building in Gipuzkoa, Spain
LandmarkSatrustegi Tower, Donostia-San Sebastián
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkEaso Plaza
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkGipuzkoa Plaza
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkMundaiz bridge
Bridge in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain
LandmarkGipuzkoako Foru Aldundia-Diputación Foral de Guipúzcoa palace
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkCentennial square
Square in Donostia
LandmarkGoikoa Jauregia
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkDonostiako Errealaren zubia/Puente de la Real Sociedad
Bridge in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain
LandmarkErgobia zubia
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkTowers of Jaizkibel
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkSanta Barbara baseliza eta gotorlekua
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkArizabalo Almirantearen etxea
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkOkendo etxea
Building in Gipuzkoa, Spain
LandmarkPost and mail building, Urdaneta street
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkIturriaga jauregia
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkPilliku Plaza, Orio
Landmark in San Sebastián.
LandmarkArbide towers
Building in Donostia
LandmarkZubiaurre jauregia
Landmark in San Sebastián.
Almirantearen Fuerte Zarra
Castle.
Battery Kutarro
Castle.
Beloaga Gaztelua
Castle.
Monuments & memorials
(20)
MonumentSan Sebastián town hall
Municipal building in San Sebastián, Spain
MonumentMotako Gaztelua-Castillo de la Mota
Building in Spain
MonumentCastillo Santa Isabel
Cultural property in Pasajes, Spain
MonumentConvent of the Brigidas, Lasarte-Oria
Monument in San Sebastián.
MonumentConvent of San Agustín, Hernani
Cultural property in Hernani, Spain
MonumentUrdanibia jauregia
Cultural property in Irún, Spain
MonumentOkendo cultural center
Cultural property in San Sebastián, Spain
MonumentSaroe palace
Monument in San Sebastián.
MonumentAtxega Palace
Cultural property in Usúrbil, Spain
MonumentTorre de Iturríoz
Cultural property in Oyarzun, Spain
MonumentIzturitzatorre etxea
Cultural property in Andoáin, Spain
MonumentErrenteria town hall
Municipal building in Errenteria, Spain
MonumentCentennial Monument (Donostia)
Monument in San Sebastián.
MonumentKontzejuzar etxea, Usurbil
Cultural property in Usúrbil, Spain
MonumentTorrekua dorretxea
Cultural property in Rentería, Spain
MonumentMorrontxo dorretxea
Cultural property in Renteria, Spain
MonumentAliri
Cultural property in San Sebastián, Spain
Ancla para un Puerto
Historic monument.
Muga Irun-Hondarribia
Historic site.
Don Quijote and Sancho Panza
Public artwork.
Places of worship
(27)
ReligiousBasilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus
Cultural property in San Sebastián, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Bizente Martiria-San Vicente Mártir, Donostia-San Sebastián
Church building in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Ignacio de Loyola, San Sebastián
Church building in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Errenteria
Church building in Errenteria, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Martín de Tours, Andoain
Church building in Andoain, Spain
ReligiousSan Martin de Soravilla
Church building in Sorabilla, Spain
ReligiousSalbatore church (Usurbil)
Church building in Aginaga, Spain
ReligiousSan Pedro Apostoluaren church
Church building in Q16517610, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Asunción de Nuestra Señora, Astigarraga
Religious in San Sebastián.
ReligiousChurch of San Miguel, Urnieta
Religious in San Sebastián.
ReligiousChurch of San Esteban, Oiartzun
Church building in Oiartzun, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Juan Bautista, Hernani
Church building in Hernani, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Nicolás de Bari, Orio
Church building in Orio, Spain
ReligiousSaint Peter the Apostle Chapel
Chapel in the port of Donostia
ReligiousSacred Heart church in Donostia-San Sebastián
Church building in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Pasaia
Church building in Pasaia, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Carmelite Fathers, Donostia-San Sebastián
Church building in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Juan Bautista, Pasaia
Building in Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Pedro
Religious in San Sebastián.
ReligiousBasilica of Santo Cristo de Bonanza
Church building in Pasaia, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Franciscanos de Atotxa, San Sebastián
Church building in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Santa María Reina, San Sebastián
Church building in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
ReligiousZorroagako eliza
Church building in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Juan Bautista, Lezo
Church building in Lezo, Spain
Iesu eliza
Amara
Place of worship in Amara.
San Martzial parrokia
Place of worship.
Madalena ermita
Place of worship.
Heritage & archaeology
(6)
ArchaeologicalEteneta I megalithic complex
Set consisting of a cromlech and a menhir
ArchaeologicalMulisko Gaina
Archaeological in San Sebastián.
ArchaeologicalAizpitarte
Cave in Errenteria, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country
Mollarriko mea-biltegiak
Historic ruins.
Fuerte de Ametzagaña
Historic ruins.
Cromlechs Egiar 1-7
Archaeological site.
Parks & nature
(10)
ParkPark of Nurseries of Ulia
Park in San Sebastián.
ParkCristina Enea parkea
Park in San Sebastián.
ParkAlderdi Eder
Park in Spain
ParkMount Igueldo Amusement Park
Amusement park in Donostia
ParkAraba park
Park in San Sebastián.
ParkMiramongo parkea
Park in San Sebastián.
ParkZubimusu parkea
Park in San Sebastián.
ParkSerafin Baroja park
Park in San Sebastián.
Basoerdi parkea
Public park.
Xabier Zubiri plaza
Garden.
More to explore
(2)Biosnar lurmuturra
Viewpoint.
Igeldoko itsasargia
Visitor attraction.
Data from Wikidata (CC0) & OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Images via Wikimedia Commons — see each credit. Listings are community-maintained and may be incomplete or out of date — verify hours and access before visiting.
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