The Ultimate 3-Day San Sebastián Itinerary for First-Timers

After spending a week in San Sebastián, I was able to slow down and discover the best the city offers. That time allowed me to share this 3-day San Sebastián, Spain itinerary to help you enjoy the best of this Basque hotspot, including all my recommendations for the best places to eat, things to see and do, and where to visit just beyond the city.

With a city whose reputation is built on its food scene, pintxos and Basque cuisine were at the heart of the trip. With this San Sebastián itinerary, 3 days give you enough time to visit the best sights, as well as plenty of time to eat and drink your way through town. And with so much else to see in the Basque Country, there are plenty of opportunities to take a day trip if you want to add on more time.

I’ve also included some must-have experiences like riding the funicular to Monte Igueldo and seeing the surfers at Zurriola, and my favorite dishes at longstanding pintxos bars, because I know it’s tough to narrow down where to dine in a city shaped by food. Read on to plan your trip to San Sebastián with this curated itinerary.

Short on Time? Here’s the Ultimate 3-Day San Sebastián Itinerary:

Where to Stay

1. Centro (City Center), best overall location for first-timers
   Hotels: Nobu Hotel ($$$$), Hotel Arbaso ($$$), Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra ($$$), Hotel Palacio Bellas Artes ($$)
   Airbnbs: 1 Bedroom Modern Apartment, Bright, Cheery Studio Apartment
2. Parte Vieja (Old Town), best for historic feel and pintxos
   Hotels: Hotel María Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel ($$$$), Hotel Lasala Plaza ($$$), Hotel Atari ($$)
   Airbnbs: 1 Bedroom Port Views Apartment, 1 Bedroom Old Town Apartment
3. Antiguo, best for families and beach vacations (where I stayed)
   Hotels: La Galeria ($$), Hotel NH Collection Aranzazu ($$), Letoh Letoh ($)
   Airbnbs: 2 Bedroom Apartment with AC and Parking (Where I Stayed), 1 Bedroom Sea View Apartment

San Sebastián 3 Day Itinerary

Here’s my at-a-glance itinerary showing where to stay, what to book ahead, and how I’d group each day.

San Sebastián 3-day itinerary at a glance

Base yourself		Centro (Hotel Arbaso), Parte Vieja (Hotel María Cristina), or Antiguo (2 Bedroom Apartment with AC and Parking), Centro for first-timers, Parte Vieja for pintxos, Antiguo for families
Book ahead		Guided Pintxos Crawl and must-do restaurants (La Cuchara de San Telmo, Casa Cámara, and Parrilla), choose the guided crawl if you’d prefer not to plan
Day 1Old Town and pintxos	Coffee and Old Town	Carai coffee and a pastry, my favorite spot
		Plaza de la Constitución historic square in Parte Vieja
		San Vicente Church and Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus Gothic and Baroque architecture
		Mercado de la Bretxa Basque ingredients and specialties
	Lunch and Basque culture	La Cuchara de San Telmo beef cheeks and grilled octopus, reserve a table
		San Telmo Museum Basque history and culture
	Pintxos route or tour	Guided Pintxos Crawl my recommendation if you’d rather skip planning your own route
		Casa Vallés and La Espiga gildas, then La Espiga’s La Delicia (my favorite) and croquetas
		Bar Txepetxa and BAR SPORT La Jardinera, then foie gras, baked crab, and sea urchin soup
		La Viña finish with the original San Sebastian cheesecake
Day 2La Concha Bay and Monte Igueldo	Coast and funicular	Syra Coffee coffee before the coastal walk
		Peine del Viento Eduardo Chillida’s seaside sculptures
		Monte Igueldo funicular, bay views, and Montaña Suiza, so much fun with kids
	Beach and bay walk	Ondarreta Beach swim May to September
		Miramar Palace Gardens and Paseo de la Concha gardens and a walk back toward the Old Town
	Dinner in Pasaia	Casa Cámara my top destination lunch or dinner pick, arrive by boat for seafood and port views. Check the seasonal lunch and dinner schedule below and reserve ahead.
Day 3Gros and beyond	Coffee and Gros	Simona Coffee my brunch pick in Gros, don’t skip the cinnamon bun
		Zurriola Beach watch the surfers or try a lesson
		Makal and C’est Nous surf gear and locally designed leather accessories
	Lunch in Gros	Bar Desy or Gerald’s Bar burgers or a longer Spanish-Italian lunch
	Choose your afternoon	Zumaia and Flysch cliffs a highlight of our trip, with Itzurun Beach and the historic quarter
		Santa Clara Island closer alternative, summer boat trips or a kayak
	Choose your final dinner	La Cepa or Parrilla casual pintxos, with my favorite txuleta at Parrilla
		Casa Urola, Arzak, or Elkano sit-down Basque dining, with Elkano in nearby Getaria

Things to Do

1. Go on a Guided Pintxos Crawl Through the Parte Vieja
2. Take the Funicular to Monte Igueldo Amusement Park
3. Stroll the Paseo de La Concha and Have a Beach Day
4. Visit the San Telmo Museum
5. See the Comb of the Wind (Peine del Viento)

Helpful Guides to Plan Your Trip

If you’re planning a trip to the Basque Country, don’t miss my guides to San Sebastián (city guide, where to stay, and best day trips), Bilbao (things to do), Biarritz (things to do and where to stay), and Guéthary.

If you’re visiting more of Spain, start with my 10-day Spain itinerary and guide to the most beautiful cities in Spain. I also have everything you need for Barcelona (city guide, itinerary, where to stay, things to do, coffee, and restaurants), Madrid (where to stay), Seville (city guide, where to stay), as well as guides to Costa Brava, Granada, Andalucía, and Córdoba.

The Complete San Sebastián Itinerary: 3 Days

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Where to Stay in San Sebastián

Spending a week in San Sebastián gave me plenty of time to figure out the best neighborhoods to stay in, from the historic Old Town beside Monte Urgull to the urban retreat of Antiguo. There are plenty of excellent boutique hotels, and we enjoyed the spaciousness of an apartment with a week-long stay. For an in-depth look, check out my detailed guide on where to stay in San Sebastian. 

Best Hotels Near Centro

1. Hotel Arbaso ($$$) (My top pick for Centro), for an upscale boutique stay in a Neoclassical setting
2. Villa Favorita ($$$), for a luxury adults-only stay right on the beach
3. Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra ($$$), for a chic beachfront hotel

Best Apartment Rentals Near Centro

1. Studio Bright, Cheery Apartment with Self Check-In, for best design stay
2. 1 Bedroom Modern Apartment with Elevator Access, for the best walkable stay
3. 2 Bedroom Chic Apartment Near La Concha Beach, for the best spacious stay by the beach
4. 1 Bedroom Cozy Apartment, for the best cozy design stay

Best Hotels Near Parte Vieja

1. Hotel María Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel ($$$$) (My top pick for Parte Vieja), for a glamorous Belle Epoque hotel
2. Hotel Lasala Plaza ($$$), for an Old Town stay with a rooftop pool
3. SANSEbay Boutique Hotel ($$), for the best design for dollar hotel

Best Apartment Rentals Near Parte Vieja

1. 1 Bedroom Port Views Apartment, for a studio with harbor views
2. 1 Bedroom Apartment in the Heart of the Old Town, for a cozy, modern stay
3. 1 Bedroom Affordable Stay, for a budget-friendly Old Town apartment
4. 1 Bedroom Penthouse Apartment with Terrace, for a spacious penthouse stay

Best Hotels Near Antiguo

1. La Galeria ($$), for a quirky, colorful hotel
2. Letoh Letoh ($), for a cozy urban hotel
3. Hotel NH Collection Aranzazu ($$), for an elegant yet relaxed stay

Best Apartment Rentals Near Antiguo

1. 2 Bedroom Apartment with AC and Parking (Where We Stayed), for a modern, family-friendly stay
2. 1 Bedroom Sea View Apartment, for a bright apartment with sea views
3. 2 Bedroom Stunning Penthouse with Terrace and Parking, for the best value urban stay

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Day 1: Old Town & Pintxos

Morning: Exploring Parte Vieja

Start your first day in San Sebastián with some of the best sights in Parte Vieja, the city’s Old Town. Start with coffee, and maybe a pastry, at Carai, a self-described slow bakery. With a selection of brunch plates and smooth coffee, it’s the perfect way to start the day and a spot I revisited during my week in San Sebastián. 

Then, it’s time to explore San Sebastián’s historic quarter, a lively neighborhood full of pintxos bars among grid-like pedestrian streets. At the heart is Plaza de la Constitución, the vibrant porticoed square full of life. It was once used as a bullring, and the brightly painted balconies still show the numbers as they were once used for spectator seating, which makes for a really interesting historic touch to this gathering space. 

Continue wandering through the old town and make a stop at San Vicente Church. It’s the oldest building in the city, dating back to the 16th century with Gothic features, and a walk around gives the feeling of the city’s roots. 

After that, head on over to another church from a different period, the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus, which is one of the most notable buildings in the Old Town. Set below Mount Urgull, the ornamental Baroque details are a highlight, and inside there is a small museum with artifacts and artworks. Nearby, Mercado de la Bretxa is worth strolling through for its selection of local Basque ingredients and specialties, so you can pick up something to take home or enjoy while you’re in town.

Afternoon: Lunch and Museum

For lunch, I recommend reserving a table at La Cuchara de San Telmo, a well-known local restaurant serving a selection of pintxos and larger dishes. The tender beef cheeks and grilled octopus are popular choices, and it’s just around the corner from the San Telmo Museum, your afternoon activity. 

After lunch, stroll over to San Telmo Museum. You can easily spend a few hours learning about Basque history and culture at the museum, which has been built into the natural landscape of Mount Urgull, blending it with its surroundings and a 16th-century monastery. Inside, you’ll find masterpieces from renowned artists like Miró, plus rotating exhibitions (for example, there was a Picasso exhibit when I visited).

Evening: A Self-Guided Pintxo Tour

San Sebastián is all about food, so there is no better way to get acquainted with the culinary scene than a DIY pintxos tour. With so many bars and restaurants to choose from, this is my recommended route and the best dishes at each. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by choice, my recommendation instead is to book this exact guided pintxo tour — it’s the perfect experience without the stress of planning.

Start at Casa Vallés and order the gildas, where the dish was invented in the 1940s. Gildas are a delicious start with green olives, pickled green chillies, and salted anchovy on a toothpick. Next, head to La Espiga for the La Delicia pintxo, chopped onion and chives with egg white, anchovy, and fresh mayonnaise. This is my personal favorite. Also grab some croquetas here too.

Stop three is Bar Txepetxa for La Jardinera, a dish of vinegar-cured anchovies and a pepper, onion, and chilli salsa on crunchy toasted baguette. Then make your way to BAR SPORT, where the foie gras, baked crab, and sea urchin soups are a must-have.

Finish with dessert at the birthplace of San Sebastián cheesecake, La Viña. Order the creamy, perfectly baked tarta de queso for a sweet finish to your self-guided food tour.

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Day 2: La Concha Bay and Monte Igueldo

Morning: The Funicular to Monte Igueldo

Syra Coffee is where you should start your day. The Barcelona-born speciality coffee roasters have three cafes in San Sebastián serving a brilliant brew. Grab a cup before strolling out to Peine del Viento. The three enormous sculptures by Eduardo Chillida are designed to interact with the elements, with the steel changing over time as it reacts with the wind and sea.

From there, take the funicular up to Monte Igueldo for some of the most incredible views of the city and across La Concha Bay. The funicular is the oldest wooden railway in the Basque Country, dating back to 1912, and has a wonderful nostalgic atmosphere. The nostalgia continues at the amusement park at the top, where I have fond memories to this day of visiting when I was a child, and now I can recreate them with my daughter. Don’t skip a ride on Montaña Suiza, the oldest steel rollercoaster in the world. My 4-year-old daughter loved it, as well as enjoying views out over the sea on the cliffside boat ride too.

Afternoon: Beach Afternoon at Ondarreta Beach

Visiting from May to September? Then it’s definitely worth spending time at Ondarreta Beach, a smaller beach on the western end of the bay. If it’s warm enough, take a swim or just enjoy a stroll on the beach. Then, walk back towards the Old Town via Paseo de la Concha.

Along the way, visit the 19th-century Miramar Palace Gardens. Overlooking Santa Clara Island and La Concha Bay, the lush green space is lovely for a stroll, especially in summer when the hydrangeas are in full bloom.

Evening: A Destination Dinner

For a destination dining experience, you can’t miss Casa Cámara. Set within a 17th-century mansion at the entrance of the port of Pasaia, around 5km from San Sebastián, the restaurant is owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Camara family.

Arriving by boat adds to the experience before you dine in a historic setting where lobsters and shellfish are kept in a natural seawater tank in the centre of the restaurant for the freshest dishes. The dining room has spectacular views over the port, so you can watch the boats come and go while you dine.

Travel Tip: Casa Cámara has a seasonal lunch and dinner schedule:

• September 20–June 20: Lunch Wednesday–Sunday. Dinner Friday and Saturday.
• June 21–September 19: Lunch and dinner Tuesday–Saturday.
  
  

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Day 3: Gros and Beyond

Morning: Exploring Gros

The best place for a morning coffee and brunch on this side of town near Zurriola Beach is Simona Coffee. It has a great selection of brunch plates and specialty coffee, and don’t skip the cinnamon bun! From there, walk over to Zurriola Beach, which is to the east of Mount Urgull and the Urumea River. 

Zurriola Beach has a young, energetic vibe, mostly due to it being San Sebastián’s top surfing beach. There are lots of lessons and surf schools here if you want to give it a go. Otherwise, visit some of the surf shops, including Pukas and Makal, where you can shop for surf brands and accessories, and stop by C’est Nous, a local designer store selling beautiful leather handbags and accessories.

For lunch, pop into Bar Desy for super tasty burgers, or for a longer sit-down meal, I recommend Gerald’s Bar. It’s a Spanish-Italian fusion serving modern dishes with a cozy wooden tavern interior.

Afternoon: Zumaia and Flysch Cliffs

For the final afternoon, I recommend heading over to Zumaia and Flysch cliffs. This was an absolute highlight while we were in San Sebastián and a must-recommend day trip. Part of the UNESCO-listed Basque Coast Geopark, the millions-of-years-old cliffs dramatically shape this wild stretch of coastline to create untamed rock formations shaped by years of wind and water erosion. The town is also home to Itzurun Beach, a charming historic quarter, and several spots to fill an afternoon. 

Alternatively, you can stay a little closer to town and take the short trip by boat over to Santa Clara Island, which sits in the bay. In summer, small boats run short trips out to the island throughout the day. The direct crossing takes under 10 minutes and runs every 30 minutes in summer, or you can rent a kayak to make the short journey over (there is also a separate 30-minute bay sightseeing boat tour you can take from the port). Once there, you can enjoy walking trails or relax on the beach at low tide and swim before heading back.

Evening: Dinner in Town

For the final evening in San Sebastián, make the most of the city’s gastronomic reputation and enjoy plenty of Basque cuisine. For a more casual dinner, spend another night hopping between pintxos bars like La Cepa, Antonia Taberna, or Parrilla (which served my favorite txuleta of our trip). For some inspiration, check out my guide on the best places to eat in San Sebastián. 

Alternatively, enjoy a sit-down meal at Casa Urola, which has been serving traditional Basque dishes including char-grilled meats and seafood for 70 years. If you want to finish your time in town with a high-end experience, I’d recommend Arzak, a family-run restaurant with more than 100 years of service, or Elkano, a Michelin-starred restaurant in nearby Getaria.

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San Sebastián Travel Tips Before You Arrive

Time of Year to Visit San Sebastián

The best time of year to visit San Sebastián is the shoulder seasons from May-June and September-October. These periods enjoy good weather without the weight of peak summer crowds, and I personally loved all the hydrangeas in bloom in June. However, if you want to visit for the cider season, then the best time is from January to March, which also offers low-season pricing and fewer crowds.

Is San Sebastián Expensive?

San Sebastián is one of the most expensive cities in Spain for travelers, and most of those costs are attributed to accommodation costs. I was honestly shocked at how pricey the Airbnbs and hotels were in comparison to what you’ll find in, say, Barcelona. The prices are a lot higher during the peak summer period from July to August. Food and drink can range from mid-tier to high-end, and you can eat cheaply by sticking to pintxos.

Getting Around San Sebastián

San Sebastián is small enough to visit most sites on foot, especially the grid-like Old Town and along La Concha Beach, which are around a 20-minute walk between them. The city is also very bike-friendly, and you’ll see plenty of locals cycling around town with dedicated bike lanes. The city also has a cheap local bus network, or you can catch a taxi.

How to Get to San Sebastián

• By Train — Trains operate directly between Madrid and San Sebastián with a journey time of approximately five and a half hours. There are also services running between Barcelona and San Sebastián daily. From France, there are also trains operating to other Basque towns, with a change usually required at Hendaye.
• By Car — Reaching San Sebastián by car is easy via well-connected highway routes to other popular destinations across the Basque Country. From Biarritz, it’s a 45-minute drive via the A63 toward Spain, continuing onto the AP-8 after crossing the France/Spain border. From Bilbao, it’s around 1 hour 15 minutes via the AP-8 route eastbound.
• By Plane — San Sebastián has a small airport with limited flights to cities across Europe. For larger international connections, Bilbao or Biarritz Airports are better options with a wider range of options and services available. From either Bilbao Airport or Biarritz Airport, the best options to reach San Sebastián are by bus or transfer.

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