By Anton Inarra, July 2025
So, you have decided to take a little vacation in San Sebastian and you want to know what to do. You have heard about the food culture and the cheesecake, but you guess that there is more to it than that … and you are right. Next you will find a guide for a three-days-vacation in San Sebastian.
Walk up Monte Urgull: above the old town with the sculpture of the Sacre Heart. Visit the small free exhibit-museum, and/or look for a terrace with drinks (white umbrellas) called El Polvorín. (In the old town you can also visit San Vicente church and San Telmo museums).
Visit El Peine del Viento, outdoors sculpture. This is at the end of the bay, in the opposite side of the old town. One of the most magnificent sculptures of internationally known Basque artist Eduardo Chillida.
After seeing this sculpture, you can take the funicular and go up Monte Igeldo. Enjoy the views and the old amusement park established in 1912. Don’t underestimate the roller coaster!
On your walk back to the old town, or to downtown, you should visit Palacio Miramar. A beautiful English style Royal Palace built 1893 by regent of Spain Queen Maria Cristina of Augsburg.
Walk along the river. The Urumea River runs along San Sebastian. There are beautiful walks on both sides of it, and if you prefer there are also bicycle lanes. You will enjoy the views of the bridges, the trees all along the river, and the peaceful scenery.
Visit Tabakalera, center for contemporary arts. You can go up to the top floor for a scenic views of the city, enjoy the art exhibits, and get a drink or a slice of pizza at the ground floor area.
Visit Cristina Enea Park. This is one of the most beautiful and unadvertised parks in the city. It is right next to Tabakalera. The park was donated by a benefactor of the city, Fermin Lasala Collado, for the enjoyment and beautification of San Sebastian.
Visit Plaza Gipuzkoa square, and Buen Pastor cathedral. Also, behind the cathedral look for Calle Reyes Católicos for cafes and classy bars. You can get a drink at Bar Nido, Bar Udaberri, or Bar Pokhara.
If you are a Hiker or you like taking walks you can look for the hike that runs from San Sebastian to Pasaia. This is part of the Camino de Santiago. The trailhead is at Gros neighborhood, behind Larramendi gas station.
Although you probably heard about the pintxos culture, you can’t miss out on many of the great casual dining restaurants in the city. To enjoy a magnificent meal you don’t need to spend the big money that cost a three Michelin star restaurant, although if that’s your choice there are plenty in San Sebastian. Look up for preset menus, they range between 25 and 60 euros per person and they offer a great variety of options for you to choose from. Food is rooted in the Basque culture; Basques grow up in the kitchen, cooking next to their grandmothers.
And of course you can’t miss out on some delicious pintxos. Some of the bars and restaurants that offer them have been broadly advertised, and many times you will have to wait a long line to have some steak or Spanish tortilla. We are not saying those are not great options, but they might be a little overrated and you will be able to find equally amazing food in less popular spots.
If you want to go crazy and want to experience a 3 Michelin star restaurant San Sebastian is the place for it. They are less expensive than in France but prepare 300+ euros per person. These are the best-known ones: Arzak, Akelarre, Berasategui, and Mugaritz.
Another great option for dining that you should consider are cider houses. Basque cider is tart and dry; cider houses offer a preset menu of cod fish, cod-omelette, steak and cheese and walnuts, with as much cider as you can drink, and fun experiences! To go to the good ones you would need to take a taxi or a tour to Astigarraga or Martutene (two towns).
While in San Sebastian, you could also visit the French Bask country. Places of interests are Bayonne, Biarritz and Saint Jean de Luz. If you have your own car, you can also visit the inland town of Sare, Ainhoa and Zugarramurdi. Also a short one-hour bus ride will take you to Bilbao where you should visit the Guggenheim museum.
And of course, you should seriously consider taking a Rioja Wine Tour from San Sebastian. The Rioja region is the most premium wine region in Spain. For 2025 the best winery in the world is in Rioja, Marques de Riscal, along with other 600 amazing wineries.
NORTH COAST TOURS is a top-rated tour agency specialized in Rioja Wine country tours. They also run San Sebastián and Basque tours. You can check them out on their website northcoatours.com.
Whether you’re looking for amazing beaches, opportunities for surfing, incredible food, rich history and culture, or delicious Rioja wine, San Sebastián is the place to visit.
