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San Sebastián is an absolute gem of a seaside city in the Basque Country of Spain. Whether you’re here for the incredible food scene, the lush greenery, or the glorious beaches, it’s easy to fall in love with this place!
Known as Donostia in the Basque language, San Sebastián is cradled by the Bay of Biscay. Surfers are crazy about the year-round swells. Whether you’re here to ride the waves or eat everything in sight, San Sebastián has something for you!
San Sebastián is the absolute glory of the Spanish Basque Country, the Pais Vasco. I visited San Sebastián as part of a 10-day trip to the Basque Country and La Rioja with three friends, and our time here was the undisputed highlight of our trip.
San Sebastián’s old town, the Parte Vieja, is a haven for Belle Époque architecture and historic buildings. You can spend hours roaming these narrow streets and taking in the views from the two mountains on either side of La Concha Beach.
However, the cutting-edge culinary scene is what really sets San Sebastián apart. Most famous are the pintxo bars, where you can load up your small plates while standing at a bar and wash it all down with fantastic wine.
Additionally, San Sebastián does fine dining extremely well and his home to the highest number of Michelin stars per square meter in the world!
One important thing to keep in mind is the history and politics of the Basque Country. Many Basques consider themselves their own independent country, neither part of Spain nor France. You’ll see plenty of Basque flags and pro-Basque graffiti in San Sebastián.
And while you can get by in Spanish, you’ll bring a smile to locals’ faces with a few Basque words. “Kaixo” (KAI-sho) is hello, “Eskerrik asko” (ESS-ke-reek AS-ko) is thank you, and “Topa!” (TO-pa) is “Cheers!”
I had a great time visiting San Sebastián and recommend using it as a base to see more of the Basque region. As you’ll see, you’re spoiled for choice for day trips. But first, let’s take a look at the best things to do in San Sebastián.
This post was published in October 2025 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Hannah Cooper.
This is what San Sebastián is all about: pintxos, pintxos, and more pintxos! Pintxos (pronounced “peen-chos”) aren’t simply the northern version of tapas. These appetizers are often held together with a toothpick and consumed at a bar with plenty of wine.
You can find pintxos bars all over San Sebastián, but the Parte Vieja (old town) is home to the most famous spots in town, as well as a fun, convivial atmosphere.
You can head out and see what looks good, join a pintxos tour, or follow my recommendations. I recommend that you check the opening hours before your trip, because bars are often closed on random days off the week.
Here are some pintxos bars that I personally loved in San Sebastián:
Ganbera — This was Anthony Bourdain’s favorite pintxos bar in town, and you know that man had impeccable taste. It’s pricey, tiny, and you will likely have to wait in line, but it’s worth it. I recommend getting the wild mushrooms with the egg yolk (sounds basic, but it’s extraordinary), and I also loved their spider crab tarts.
Bar Sport/Sport Taberna — This place is famous for its mini burger, which is the perfect bite when you’re craving something little and meaty. But that’s not all they have. Bar Sport makes a variety of excellent pintxos, including a nice selection of foie gras and sea urchin served right in its shell.
La Cuchara de San Telmo — This is a nice spot when you’re ready for something a bit heavier. Grab a seat on the terrace if you can, because the inside is pretty small and crowded. Here you can get pintxos, but also fish and meat raciones — larger portions. We split four half racione portions between the four of us and it was more than enough.
El Tamboril — This pintxos bar is owned by the same people as Ganbera and has a Michelin star! Their wild mushrooms cooked in bone broth are delicious.
Atari — This cozy, wood-paneled pintxos bar is known for its foie gras dishes, including a foie pintxo with white chocolate. And if that’s not your thing, they have a big variety of pintxos and a nice wine list, too.
Gandarias — This became a regular spot for us each night, because the food was delicious and we could always find space standing at the bar. They have both pintxos and raciones if you want something bigger.
There are a few places in the world where your food experiences will be better if you take a tour — and San Sebastián is one of them! This is the best way to dive into Basque cuisine.
The Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour of San Sebastián is exactly what it sounds like. You’ll visit six bars sampling classic pintxos, and also try your hand at pouring Basque cider.
For a different perspective, An Evening Out in San Sebastián introduces you to the Centro neighborhood. The official city center, this is where donostiarras grab pintxos and cider after clocking off work. If you want to have a less touristy experience, and sample the Gilda at the tavern where it was invented, this is the place to go.
If you’ve seen any photos of a beach in San Sebastián, it was very likely Playa de la Concha, one of Spain’s most beloved beaches. Named for its seashell shape, Kontxa Hondartza (its Basque name) is sandy, sweeping, and sun-kissed (if you time your trip right!) — exactly what a beach should be.
In the middle of the bay, you’ll spot Santa Clara Island. Ferries here cost a couple of euros and you could spend an hour or so climbing the steep trails.
There are other water sports available during summer, like kayaking.
You can walk or cycle from San Sebastián City Hall as far as the surfy Playa de Ondarreta (Ondarretako Hondartza) at the western end of La Concha. This pairs nicely with taking the funicular to Monte Igueldo.
The third beach, Hondartza Zurriola in the neighborhood of Gros, is the real surfer’s paradise. Many surf classes take place here, and it’s a nice place to hang out away from the masses.
Monte Igueldo, a seaside mountain overlooking San Sebastián, has the best views overlooking the city, Playa La Concha, and Santa Clara Island. But don’t worry about hiking all the way up — the funicular from Ondarreta Beach makes it easy, and its scarlet wagons are adorable as well.
Once at the top of the mountain, you can make a swoop of the cliffs and see the Peine del Viento (Comb of the Wind) sculpture.
Also, check out the retro amusement park at the top, which has bumper cars, a boating lake, and a log flume. It opens fully on weekends, but the roller coaster, the Swiss Mountain, is open most days. Of course I had to give it a try! It’s a very blink-and-you’ll-miss-it journey, but it’s good fun.
A return fare on the funicular costs 4.50 EUR ($5.20 USD), “only up” is 3.05 EUR ($3.50 USD), and “only down” is 1.80 EUR ($2 USD). Rides cost a few euros each.
Surfing is one of the most popular things to do in San Sebastián, and the beaches attract surfers year-round. Ondarreta Beach’s point break makes it a popular spot with surfers, although Zurriola Beach (Hondartza Zurriola) is even better. Located east of the old town in the Gros neighborhood, it’s exposed to northern swells.
Conditions are calmest during the summer months, and winter’s powerful swells are the domain of intermediate surfers. You can rent gear on the beach. New to surfing? There are classes for all levels!
Surf Etxea is a comprehensive surf school with options for beginners through to improvers looking to go pro.
Start your day the Donostia way with a sunrise surf session. It’s a splurge but you’ll have the Atlantic all to yourself at this magical hour.
Gipsy Riders is a mobile surf school offering private and shared lessons. They also run summer surf camps for kids and full-day surf excursions along the northern coast.
Torn between catching a wave or gorging on pintxos? This full-day Surfing Adventure in the Basque Coast gives you the best of both worlds!
Hear me out: the lines are long, but Bar Nestor is WELL worth the wait. I’m putting it separately on this list because it was my favorite spot I ate in San Sebastián!
Open since 1980, Bar Nestor is the most famous bars in town, and there’s a knack to getting a table.
You’ll need to show up 2.5 hours before they open: opening time is either 12:00 PM for lunch or 7:00 PM for dinner. One hour before opening, someone will take your name and give you a time to return — so you only actually wait for 90 minutes.
Why is it important to be there early? The kitchen only makes one tortilla per service, and they’re legendary. Only the first 12-16 people in line get a slice! We managed to get the final two tortillas, and they were absolutely delicious (though the best I’ve ever had? That’s debatable).
After the tortilla, they serve you a big tomato salad and a plate of padrón peppers, both topped with lots of flaky sea salt. Then comes the piece de resistance — the txuleta (chu-LEH-ta), an enormous steak sizzling on its plate. (Yes, these are the only meal options. Don’t come here if you’re a vegetarian.)
Let me tell you we ate the food ravenously, washing it all down with a lovely Rioja. Charlie and Nick were actually gnawing the bones like cavemen, trying to get every bit of that txuleta.
Yes, I am so glad we waited for it!
Basque “burnt” cheesecake was invented in the 1980s by chef Santiago Rivera. At the time, it was groundbreaking as he only used cream cheese, eggs, cream, sugar, and a pinch of flour. He perfected the scorched topping by blasting it at high temperature.
This dessert went global — have you noticed it popping up EVERYWHERE in the last few years? — but you can taste the original recipe at La Viña near the Plaza de la Constitución in San Sebastián.
One portion is two slices and you can get a glass of sherry or wine on the side. The four of us split two two-slice servings, and we really didn’t need more than that.
Not a cheesecake fan, but still want to try some sweets? I recommend the signature cake at Pastelería Oiartzun. It’s called the Rascacielos, the Skyscraper.
This cake is fluffy and light, with layers of a meringue filling that feels like a half-melted marshmallow. If this isn’t your thing, the bakery also serve tartlets, ice cream, and sorbet.
San Sebastián has the most Michelin star restaurants per square meter in the world. If you enjoy fine dining and have the funds to spend, this is a fantastic thing to do in San Sebastián!
My advice is to plan ahead. Choose a few restaurants and note when they open for reservations. You should try to make a reservation the day that reservations open, if possible — and at the time when reservations open. Yes, that might mean waking up in the middle of the night.
(No, it’s not overkill to do this. I used to be a concierge for the AMEX black card in my early 20s. This is what we did every single day, and it was necessary, as so many places are fully booked immediately.)
Here are some suggestions:
Arzak — This three-star restaurant is a San Sebastián institution, and Anthony Bourdain visited here on every episode that ever filmed in the city. This is where you come for creative, innovative cuisine, where the staff are always coming up with unusual combinations of more than 1,000 ingredients.
Akelarré — This three-star restaurant is located outside the city center, but it’s in an absolutely gorgeous building and each food is a work of art. The dishes are from the New Basque tradition — you’ll find a lot of classics and a lot of unusual twists, too.
iBai — This one-star restaurant dishes up some of the fanciest and most innovative small plates you’ll ever have. The restaurant offers two tasting menu options, taking you on a journey through the best of Basque cuisine, with some surprises.
You can see the full collection of Michelin star restaurants here.
If eating your way around San Sebastián sounds like fun, a cooking workshop gives you the skills to recreate the recipes back home. That’s an amazing gift to give to your loved ones!
This authentic Basque cooking class is led by a professional chef who will teach you how to make four local dishes. Usually, that’s a Spanish tortilla, cod in pil pil sauce, steak with red piquillo peppers, and the famous burnt Basque cheesecake.
The chef is full of insight on Basque culture and generous with practical advice for budding home cooks. You’ll get to try regional wines and cider during the 2.5-hour culinary experience.
Basque cider is completely different to the cider you’re used to drinking! It’s flat, not fizzy, and definitely more dry than sweet. There’s a special knack to pouring cider and visiting a cider house (sidería) is one of the most interesting cultural things to do in San Sebastián.
Sidreria Beharri is a convenient option located in the Old Town where you can sample cider alongside its traditional culinary offering: STEAK.
My friends and I decided to try a place out of town and took a taxi to Astarbe Sagardotegia in Astigarraga, the Basque country’s cider capital (just a 15-minute drive from San Sebastián). We started by catching the sidra flowing straight out of the barrel!
The main menu is typical of a Basque cider house — steak, fish, salad, and dessert — but they also have a vegan menu, which is unusual! You need to book that one in advance. There aren’t a lot of vegan foodie experiences in San Sebastián, but this is a good one.
If you’re inspired to learn more about this niche industry, I recommend taking the Basque Cider House tour. You’ll have an educational tour of a family-owned sidería and taste barrel-fresh cider. It also includes lunch and side trips to other foodie spots in town.
The San Telmo Museum is one of the best places to learn about local and regional history in San Sebastián. It’s located in a former Dominican convent and functions more like a cultural center.
Galleries explore Basque history through art, archaeological finds, and photography. There are temporary exhibitions in addition to the permanent collection. Expect to spend one to two hours at the museum and swing by the 16th century Iglesia de San Vicente afterwards.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM-8:00 PM. Admission is 10 EUR ($11 USD).
The seaside aquarium is one of the best things to do in San Sebastián on a rainy day or with kids.
Apart from fish, sharks, and sea turtles, San Sebastián Aquarium doubles up as a maritime museum. The entire second floor is dedicated to seafaring heritage and piracy. Expect to spend two hours seeing the exhibits and wandering through the tunnels.
The aquarium is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM-7:00 PM (until 8:00 PM on Saturday/Sunday). Admission is 14 EUR ($15 USD) for adults, 7 EUR ($7.50 USD) for children.
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