20 Things to Do in San Sebastian

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San Sebastian
Source: Ilkka Harmanen

In a cobblestoned old town of San Sebastian, you will often see some upscale shops and stores, with very vibrant pintxo bars that are paired with great local wines with a lot of bite-size regional specialties. There are so many places and things to see in San Sebastian. These are just some of top tourist attractions we’ve gathered.

1. Walk at the Parte Vieja

For most people or someone with not much knowledge of the language, it may not be easy to get around the place. Some of the locals here are friendlier, with some more being helpful than the others as you get by. The place, however, has loads of quirky little  stores and shops and some bars as well as a great mix of good architecture which means you will always have something to call in your memory in your Spain visit.

Information

  • Name: Parte Vieja
  • Address: San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Phone Number: 943429443
  • Open: Daily
  • Hours: 8am to 7pm

2. Hike the Monte Urgull

Urgull or Monte Urgull shows nowadays somewhat of a tree-covered beautiful surface which for the most part evoke a picturesque military structure that is reminiscent of the old times. The place still evokes pleasant promenades with great outstanding views over the sea or bay as well as the city. Monte Urgull is that hill by the sea or ocean that sits at the very heart of the Basque city of the place in San Sebastián in Gipuzkoa, Spain.

Information

  • Name: Monte Urgull
  • Address: Subida Al Castillo, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Open: Daily
  • Hours: 10am to 6pm
  • Interest: Nature, hiking

3. Relax at La Concha Beach

The beautiful Beach of La Concha is that scenic beach in the Bay of La Concha in the place of the great town of San Sebastián. This is one of the most famous and popular urban beaches in the whole of Europe. You can ask a European about the beach that they know and they will most likely mention La Concha Beach. This is actually a sandy beach with a shallow substrate, of which the tide fluctuates and then greatly affects the area available for everyone to use.

Information

  • Name: La Concha Beach
  • Address: De la Concha Ibilbidea, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Open: Daily
  • Hours: 10am to 6pm
  • Interest: Beach

4. See the Combs of the Winds

One of the frequently seen San Sebastian points of interest is the Combs of the Wind. These are sculptures made of good iron, attached near to the sea. Most tourists reflect on how they can relax and just appreciate the waves, the winds, and the great panoramic view. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most seen and popular for Spanish visitors to the city locations in the area. There was a renovation in 2016, which was completes as protection at the hillside on the back.

Information

  • Name: Combs of the Winds
  • Address: near Playa de Ondaretta, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Phone Number: 004178 612 67 94
  • Interest: Sights and Landmarks
  • Open: Daily
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

5. View the Plaza de Gipuzkoa

The Gipuzkoa Square is situated and located at the San Sebastian city centre. This is an emblematic place or spot in the city, as well as the small pergola, which is a big clock-like table that is made of pure white Marmol material and the large clock that is made of pretty flowers of different colour types. Its gardens, orchards and paths, which are located in the middle or center of the plaza square are commonly used as gathering, meeting and resting spots or places for many citizens and residents of San Sebastian.

Information

  • Name: Plaza de Gipuzkoa
  • Address: Plaza de la Constitucion, 20003 San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Interest: Plaza, Locals
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

6. Go Around Zurriola Beach

The Zurriola Beach is the beautiful and amazing urban beach in the neighborhood of the place known as San Sebastian Gros. If there are some good and great waves that are worth seeing for the surfers, this beach is frequented. One of the scenic and best Spanish beaches for sea, water and beach sports. The place is wonderful for panoramic, photographic settings, and beautiful views. It is considered as a luxury escape by most tourists. It is even less crowded so you can go from time to time.

Information

  • Name: Zurriola Beach
  • Address: Paseo de Zurriola, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Interest: Beach
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

7. Meet Locals at Plaza de la Constitucion

This former Plaza Nueva of San Sebastián was a known plaza, but it is now known today and called the Plaza de la Constitución. This was planned and constructed on the plaza square that was creatively built by Hércules Torrelli in the year of 1724. It was somewhat destroyed by fire in the year of 1814. It has some of the original numbers of the balconies. These have been greatly preserved. These somewhat allude for their common use as the boxes for distinguished VIP guests during some festive occasions like bullfights.

Information

  • Name: Plaza de la Constitucion
  • Address: 29008 Malaga, Spain
  • Interest: Plaza, Locals
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

8. See the Ayuntamiento San Sebastian

Don’t forget to visit or go to the city council of San Sebastián. This is commonly called and well-known for others as Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián. It is the great institution that commonly governs and supervises the city of Basque of San Sebastián in Spain. The premises is generally located at an old and former casino located in the city, right about next to the La Concha Bay.

Information

  • Name: Ayuntamiento San Sebastian
  • Address: Ijentea 1, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Phone Number: 943 48 10 00
  • Interest: Plaza, Locals
  • Open: Monday to Saturday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

9. Go to Cristina Enea Park

The Cristina Enea Park can be accessed at the common gateway of the Riberas de Loyola. This is at the center of Amara, right about past the bridge of Mundaiz or Federico Garcia Lorca. This park even has a municipal library, aside from a small pond and the green field areas with plenty of trees that are obviously well maintained. It is considered to be one of the most interesting and important historical urban parks in the country of Spain.

Information

  • Name: Cristina Enea Park
  • Address: Paseo Duque de Mandas, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Interest: Nature and Parks
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

10. Stay at Frontera San Sebastian

The Frontera San Sebastian is actually a religious center in the style of a common apartment in San Sebastian that features views of nature. The place is a common resting place and meditation retreat house in San Sebastian. Most people visit the place to relax and unwind and relieve the stress of their day. Usually, there are religious talks, seminars, and meditation session in the place.

Information

  • Name: Frontera San Sebastian
  • Location: Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
  • Type: Religious center, lodging
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm
  • Web: www.facebook.com/pages/Frontera-San-Sebastian/192450880770835

11. View the Bridge of Maria Cristina

The Bridge of Maria Cristina is a beautiful bridge that is highlighted by the four great monumental obelisks. These are located at the ends and known to be the copies of then Alexander III bridge located in the city of Paris. the measurement is known to be around 18 metres high. You will see that it is crowned by somewhat of sculptural groups. This was built to reinforce the concrete, which was known to be a novelty at that period.

Information

  • Name: Bridge of Maria Cristina
  • Address: Paseo de Urumea, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Interest: Sights and Landmarks
  • Open: Daily
  • Hours: 10am to 7pm

12. Visit the Alderdi-Eder Park

If you’re in the city, you will see that next to City Hall, there is an area of gardens with huge playgrounds for the little kids and children. The Alderdi-Eder Park is a must for visitors. There are many different things here: like the sea, green fields, the trees covered with green leaves, and the chopped spring stems. There are too many trees here, so finding a good shade is not a big problem if you want a cool relaxation.

Information

  • Name: Alderdi-Eder Park
  • Address: Hernani Kalea, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Interest: Nature and Parks
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

13. Go to the Eureka! Zientzia Museoa

This is a museum without much of fanfare but has everything that you are searching for. The Eureka! Zientzia Museoa has exhibitions and displays that are all mounted so that it is accessible and can easily be understandable with explanations and the colorful visual experiments and scientific practices. They also tend to make demonstrations on how common electricity works. The museum is great and absolutely suitable for kids, children, teens, students, and even a joy to the seniors and elderly.

Information

  • Name: Eureka! Zientzia Museoa
  • Address: Paseo Mikeletegi, 43-45, 20009 San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Phone Number: 34943012478
  • Interest: Museum
  • Open: Monday to Friday
  • Hours: 9am to 6pm

14. Watch at the Victoria Eugenia Theater

The Victoria Eugenia Theater is located in the most central part or zone of the city. The Victoria Eugenia Theatre is known to be the most emblematic and well-cared buildings in San Sebastian. It is loaded down with history, ever since its launch and inauguration somewhere in 1912. The theatre has been born precisely to witness the main revolution and cultural events of the great city.

Information

  • Name: Victoria Eugenia Theater
  • Address: Po. de la Republica Argentina 2, 20004 San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Phone Number: 943 48 11 60
  • Interest: Theaters
  • Open: Monday to Friday
  • Hours: 9am to 6pm

15. See the Puente del Kursaal

The Puente del Kursaal has the Kursaal Congress Center as well as the auditorium and even the architectural complex that consists and make up the large and bigger auditorium. It has a huge chamber hall, some multipurpose rooms as well as the exhibition halls. The place was designed by Rafael Moneo. It is located in the great city of San Sebastian in the Basque Region of the country of Spain. It opened in 1999.

Information

  • Name: Puente del Kursaal
  • Address: Avda. Zurriola 1 , 20002 San Sebastian – Donostia , Spain
  • Phone: 943 00 30 00
  • Interest: Sights and Landmarks
  • Open: Monday to Saturday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

16. Go to Tabakalera

The Tabakalera, as the name suggest, is the old and former tobacco factory in the city of San Sebastián which is in Spain. This was eventually transformed and converted into an International Centre for the Contemporary Culture of the City of San Sebastián. The site is located at the main district of the city, right next to the station of Estación del Norte railway. It is also near the Cristina Enea Park. Visit this site if you are in the area.

Information

  • Name: Tabakalera
  • Address: Plaza de las cigarreras, 1, 20012 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
  • Phone:+34 943 11 88 55
  • Interest: Sights and Landmarks
  • Open: Monday to Saturday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

17. Take a Walk at Plaza de Cataluña

The Plaza de Cataluña actually occupies the large area of around 50,100 square metres. This is especially known for the beautiful water fountains and sculpture statues. The place has its proximity to most of other popular attractions. It is a common place of gathering for flocks of doves and pigeons. They usually fly here to gather in the centre. Notably, most of the diners, cafés, eateries and restaurants have writers and artists meeting spots.

Information

  • Name: Plaza de Cataluña
  • Address: Calle Zabaleta, 55, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Interest: Plaza, Locals
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

18. Buy Goods at Mercado San Martin

As you all know, San Sebastian continues to expand and grow. There is commonly new traffic and usually some parking problems because of the consumption needs and the trade that creates new dynamics and economy. The Mercado San Martin is in such position. The San Martin market did not have to deal with these new changes along the way, but after two years of pure hard work, the new market was eventually born. It is now combining the great advantages of purely traditional markets and of course, the modern shopping centers today.

Information

  • Name: Mercado San Martin
  • Address: Calle Urbieta, 9, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Phone Number: +34 943 42 75 45
  • Interest: Shopping
  • Open: Monday to Saturday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

19. Go to Aquarium Donostia

The Aquarium Donostia of San Sebastian is obviously one of the best and the most visited facilities in the city. By estimate or approximation, there are more than 400,000 visitors every year or annually. This aquarium is a must for all those people and visitors who come to the great city of San Sebastian. It is actually located in the most scenic as well as picturesque locations in the region. It is just a few minutes from the downtown area.

Information

  • Name: Aquarium Donostia
  • Address: Plaza De Carlos Blasco Imaz 1, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Phone Number: +34 943 44 00 99
  • Interest: Museum
  • Open: Monday to Friday
  • Hours: 9am to 6pm

20. Visit San Sebastian Cathedral

It is wonderfully the most remarkable and emblematic religious building structure of San Sebastián. The place is religiously endowed with that strong verticality as is the biggest and largest in Gipuzkoa. The great construction happened and took place in the final years around 1890’s with the design of a Historicist Neo-Gothic style. The church is known to be given and actually dedicated to the Good Shepherd, and has since been granted the title of the cathedral in 1953.

Information

  • Name: San Sebastian Cathedral
  • Address: Plaza del Buen Pastor, San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
  • Interest: Sights and Landmarks
  • Open: Monday to Sunday
  • Hours: 8am to 6pm

So, what do you think it is not to love about the beautiful, fantastic and majestic city of San Sebastián. Sometimes, the place is called Donostia or Donostia is appended to the name so don’t be confused. This is what the locals call in Basque.

Have a great trip and travel!

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Basque Province, Europe, Guipuzcoa, San Sebastian, Spain