San Sebastian is a beautiful Spanish city located in the North of Spain. It is famous for its urban beaches and the incredible food scene. On my recent trip to the Basque Country, I spent one night in San Sebastian. With such little time there, I did not want to spend my time doing the classic touristy things, because I know I will come back for longer where I can do that. Instead, I decided to spend my day there relaxing like a local and trying to get the best sense of the culture possible. In this short guide, I’ll share with you all the spots you can’t miss, where to stay and things to do in San Sebastian.
Where to Stay in San Sebastian
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I stayed at Hotel Villa Victoria by Intur. I have stayed at one of their hotels in Sevilla, and have only had good experiences. They offer affordable chic rooms (if you book in advance). It is located just a few blocks away from Kontxa Hondartza. The staff was extremely nice and very generous with giving their recommendations. I reserved the room with the private patio, though next time I will skip this because the view was nothing special.
In the future I would like to check out a hotel located on Zubieta Kalea, while it is just two blocks away from Hotel Indus, there are many cute hotels located on this block with ocean views. I found this area to be very safe and clean, as well as pretty quiet when compared to the old town.
1 Swim (or Body Surf) at Kontxa Hondartza
![Main beach in San Sebastian](https://i0.wp.com/whattoweareverywhere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5496-1024x576.jpeg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1)
This incredible beach is located right in the middle of the city. Being able to swim with a panoramic view of San Sebastian is out of this world. I have never swam in a place like this before so I think this is a must-do when visiting San Sebastian. There are also usually some small waves so take your chance on body surfing. In the morning there are typically groups of older people taking a morning swim, and throughout the day different younger people come in for a refresher and body surf. If you are visiting in the colder seasons and can’t stand the cold water you can also come by and sit on the beach.
My number one tip is to check it out at sunrise. If you get lucky and the sky is clear you can watch the most incredible sunrise from this beach. If you are having a hard time finding it it is also called Concha beach.
2 Parque Alderdi Eder
Parque Alderdi Eder is located right in the center of town right next to Kontxa Hondartza. It is an absolutely beautiful park with a boardwalk on the side facing the beach. When I was visiting, they were putting in a temporary Ferris wheel for the holidays which would be another great activity.
3 Walk Around the Old Town
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![San Sebastian old village](https://i0.wp.com/whattoweareverywhere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3149-591x1024.jpg?resize=591%2C1024&ssl=1)
San Sebastian has a lively old town district. The streets are lined with many bars and local shops. Walking through the streets you will find tons of people outside drinking and chatting. This is where you can find lots of pinchos (Which we will talk about later).
4 Watch the local surfers at Zurriola Hondartza
When in San Sebastian you might see barefoot people running through the streets of the city carrying surfboards. You can follow them to the wonderful surfing beach inside the city, Zurriola Hondartza. The breaks are filled with surfers and many spectators who gather on the beach to watch.
5 See the Beautiful Catedral del Boun Pastor
![Catedrale del Boun Pastor in San Sebastian](https://i0.wp.com/whattoweareverywhere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5431-576x1024.jpeg?resize=576%2C1024&ssl=1)
![Inside of the cathedral](https://i0.wp.com/whattoweareverywhere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3158.jpg?w=1100&ssl=1)
Catedral del Boun Pastor is a beautiful cathedral located in the center of the city. It is a great free thing to do in San Sebastian. It is a stunning 18th-century Gothic-style church. While the entrance is free, try to avoid going during mass.
6 Eat lots of Pinchos!
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You cannot go to San Sebastian without eating pinchos. Pinchos are famous from this region in Spain. They are like tapas but in Basque style. After living in Spain for a year I have never tasted such high-quality ‘tapas’ or in this case pinchos. I cannot stress enough how amazing this food was, as well as the very low prices (2-7). Atari is located right in the center of the Old Town in San Sebastian and has some of the best pinchos in the city. I ordered the solomillo, pork belly, and the carrillera. The solomillo was by far my favorite. I also highly recommend their torrija for dessert. Torrija was one of my favorite treats when living in Spain (a style of Spanish French toast but better), but here it was like they blow-torched the top to a pefect crisp, and it was served with ice cream of course. The atmosphere felt very authentic and the place was just crowded enough. The service staff was fun and friendly, and despite the busyness, they were still able to be helpful and patient with tourists who didn’t know what they wanted.
7 Basque Style Cheese Cake
Last but not least, the Baque style cheesecake should obviously be a priorty when visting San Sebastian. Basque cheese cake is a delisous, soft cheescake with no crust and a burnt top. La Vina is the inventor of this speciality and is located right in the center of San Sebastain. Unfortunatly La Vina was closed for the season when I vistied, but I will deffiently try it when I am back. Even though they were closed there are countless bars in San Sebastian to try this local specailty.
Have the best time exploring San Sebastian!!
Sarah 🙂