Best Things to Do in San Sebastian (Especially for Food and Drink Lovers)

San Sebastian – there’s just something about it, from its beautiful seaside setting to its old world architecture. And then there’s the food – oh the food. The best culinary destination I’ve traveled to in my life so far promised and delivered! Whether its casually hopping from bar to bar eating gourmet pintxos or rolling up to a Michelin-starred restaurant for a more fine dining experience, San Sebastian is the place to be for foodies.

Truly, the best thing to do in San Sebastian (aka Donostia) is eat and drink – although, you will need to fit in a few other activities in between to give your stomach a rest. Don’t worry – there’s plenty to do here to help work those appetites back up!

But first, here are a few general travel tips for San Sebastian.

Getting to San Sebastian

1. Fly into the San Sebastian airport. This airport is fairly small and may not have as many flight options as Bilbao; however, it is only about 25 to 30 minutes from the city center.
2. Fly into Bilbao and either take the bus (which we did after spending a few days in Bilbao), book a private transfer ($$$), or rent a car. Bilbao is about an hour and 15 minutes from San Sebastian.
3. Arrive by train to the San Sebastian station from other cities in Spain or France. Do note that Basque Country is not as well-connected via high-speed trains like some of the other larger cities in Spain. For example, it took us about five hours to get from San Sebastian to Madrid. However, we love train travel and always choose this option when we can!
4. Arrive by car. If you’re doing a road trip, keep in mind parking will typically cost a nightly rate and hotel parking availability may be limited.

How Much Time Do You Need in San Sebastian?

Personally, I think three full days is a good intro to the foodie city of San Sebastian. There are just too many great places to eat and spending a few days in the city gives you ample time to fit in a lot of top spots.

If you have more than three days in San Sebastian, you can use the city as a base for exploring other nearby Basque destinations like Bilbao (although I recommend staying there for a few days too), Hondarribia, and Biarritz, to name a few.

Where to Stay in San Sebastian

San Sebastian is compact so no matter where you stay, your hotel location won’t matter too much. You can pretty much walk everywhere you want to go within 30 minutes or less if staying in the Centro or Old Town neighborhoods.

One thing you do want to consider for a stay in San Sebastian is your budget – especially in high season like summer. Hotels here tend to be on the pricier side compared to other Basque cities. But, there are plenty of reasonable gems to be found!

Here are some top spots I’d recommend (including where we stayed and other top contenders I thought about booking):

Best Mid-Budget Hotel

Hotel Catalonia Donosti: We stayed at this hotel (the building itself a former convent) during a three-day trip to San Sebastian and I was happy with the location. It’s in the Centro neighborhood away from the busy Old Town and is on San Bartolomé Hill, giving great views overlooking the city and the bay depending on your room (and especially from the rooftop bar)!

There’s also an excellent onsite restaurant, spa (with great massages), and seasonal rooftop pool. You can also sign up for Catalonia rewards if booking direct to save a few bucks and get a voucher for a welcome drink.

• Book the Catalonia Donosti via Hotels.com, Booking.com, or Direct

Best Luxury Hotel

Hotel Maria Christina: This is a luxury hotel with a central location just outside of the Old Town. Better yet, if you are stocked up on Marriott Points, you can book award nights at this property! This hotel is can be expensive if paying with cash, so I highly recommend this route. I didn’t have enough points saved up at the time, but if I did, this would have been my first choice.

• Book the Maria Christina via Hotels.com, Booking.com, or Direct

Best Hotels for Ocean Views

Hotel Londres or La Sala Plaza: If ocean views are a priority for you, both of these properties are very close in proximity to La Concha with rooms offering stunning views of La Concha Bay. Hotel Londres is located right on the promenade, while La Sala Plaza is in Old Town, has a rooftop pool, and is also adults-only!

• Book Hotel Londres via Hotels.com, Booking.com, or Direct
• Book La Sala Plaza via Hotels.com, Booking.com, or Direct

The Best Things to Do in San Sebastian

Once you figure out how long to stay in San Sebastian and where you want to base yourself, it’s time to figure out how to fit in all the eating and drinking activities this beautiful city is famous for! Here are my recommendations for the best things to do in San Sebastian.

1. Go on a Pintxos Crawl

If there’s only one thing you do in San Sebastian, it should be a pintxos crawl. And if you’re spending multiple days in San Sebastian, make sure you do at least one pintxos crawl daily!

There are so many great restaurants in San Sebastian to dine at, and a pintxos crawl (or “txikiteo”) is the best way to try as many dishes as possible. Pintxos are small bites of food, often served on a stick or small plate – a perfect, individual portion of food (or enough for two to share a taste). Pick out one or two specialty items from a bar and hop on to the next, and the next. It’s such a fun way to eat!

Some Pintxos Crawl tips

• Be patient. Bars are often very bustling and crowded. Don’t be afraid to get a little aggressive to get the bartenders’ attention and nudge your way forward to get your foods.

• Prepare to stand as seating is very limited at most spots. You’ll often see people standing in the bar or even outside on the street eating their pintxos and drinking wine. Just embrace it!

• Learn a little bit of Spanish. Many people speak decent English here, but it’s helpful to learn how to order a few things, say thank you, and ask for your bill.

• Don’t overeat. There’s a lot of ground to cover in San Sebastian. Pick one or two things to try (unless you have a partner to share with) and move on to the next spot!

Venture outside of old town

The pintxos bars in Old Town are fabulous, no doubt. But there are also some amazing spots in the other neighborhoods of Gros (like Bar Desy or Kbzon Haundi) and Centro (especially Antonio Bar, one of my all-time favorites).

These neighborhoods also tend to be a little quieter than Old Town, especially on weekend days when Old Town gets packed with fellow foodies.

Pintxos crawls aren’t just about the food – they’re an important part of Basque culture. Wandering through the lively streets of San Sebastian raising a glass with dining companions (whether you know them or not) and eating some of the best food in the world can’t be beat!

2. Take a Food Tour

If navigating the world of pintxos bars sounds intimidating, sign up for a food tour! We did this in Bilbao on our first day in Basque Country and it was the best idea. It helped us get familiar with the city, feel comfortable ordering at pintxos bars, and learn more about Basque cuisine.

We didn’t get to take a food tour in San Sebastian, but I can recommend Devour Tours for all your San Sebastian food tour needs. We did a tour with them in Madrid and it was so well done! You’ll not only have someone to order all your food for you, they’ll handpick restaurants’ specialities, taking all the guesswork out of it.

Food tours are also a great way to learn the history of a destination and are a great way to meet other fellow travelers too!

3. Drink Txakoli or Visit a Txakoli Winery

Txakoli (pronounced “cha-ko-li”) is one of my favorite wines in the whole world. It’s light, refreshing and sometimes has a hint of effervescence. It’s also lower in alcohol which makes it easier to drink multiple glasses when on a pintxos crawl and pairs well with a lot of food!

Txakoli is made from the Hondarribi Zuria grape and there are three different regions in Basque Country that produce it. Each regional wine has unique qualities in terms of flavor profile, effervescence, and color.

My personal favorite, Getariako Txakolina, has the most effervescence. Like Basque cider, this wine generally gets poured from a height above the glass, which aerates it and releases flavors as it splashes into the glass.

You can order a glass of txakoli at pretty much every bar and restaurant in San Sebastian, and even take a tour to a nearby winery to see where it’s made!

4. Eat at a Michelin-Starred Restaurant

San Sebastian (Donostia) and its surrounding area of Gipuzkoa boast a high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants with a total of 10 restaurants that culminate in 18 stars. It’s an impressive feat for such a small area! You can even drive further into Bilbao and Bizkaia and other areas of Northern Spain and easily add to that list.

Some of the most famous include Arzak and Martin Berasategui, the latter of which is named after the chef himself. Martin Berasategui also happens to hold the distinction of most awarded Michelin stars for a Spanish chef!

I haven’t eaten at any of the starred restaurants yet, but it’s definitely on my bucket list. For a complete list of Michelin-starred restaurants in the area, refer to the Michelin Guide.

5. Drink Basque Cider or Visit a Cider House

Another drink that’s synonymous with Basque culture is cider or “sagardoa.” It’s dry and bit tart (not sweet at all), and is still instead of sparkling. The only ingredient in Basque cider are apples – and those apples must be grown in Basque Country!

Like some txakolis, cider is poured from at a height above the glass, which aerates it and opens up the natural flavors. Speaking from experience, pouring cider is an art – multiple practice sessions are required!

Visit a Cider House

We learned how to pour cider on a food tour in Bilbao, but San Sebastian is located closer to a lot of the cider houses. They’re relatively easy to get to by car, taxi, or bus, or you can go with a group tour to take away the hassle.

A big part of visiting cider houses includes the tradition of txotx (pronounced “choch”) – the ritual of pouring and drinking from a freshly-corked barrel. Then, you’ll sit down to enjoy a traditional cider house meal which typically consists of txuleta steak, salt cod omelette, padron peppers, and quince with Idiazabal cheese.

While cider season runs from January to about April/May, there are some cider houses open all year if you happen to be visiting in the offseason.

6. Admire Sand Art on La Concha

Every day, artists are out on the beach at La Concha carving intricate patterns into the sand. It’s relaxing to watch them at work! Throw a few euro coins down to them while you admire their skills.

7. Walk the Idiazabal Cheese Trail

A cheese trail in Basque Country?! Idiazabal is a shining star in Basque Country cuisine. It’s a cheese made from unpasteurized milk of latxa or carranzana sheep either from the Basque or Navarra regions. It tends to be a firmer, lightly smoked cheese that has a nutty flavor profile and it’s absolutely delicious!

If you’re nature and cheese obsessed, get outdoors and do either the partial or full six-day walking route of the Idiazabal Cheese Trail. This trail takes visitors to nature parks where you can see sheep grazing, farms where cheese is made, and markets to purchase loads of this wonderful cheese.

If you’re not up for the trail, you can of course find Basque Country chefs incorporating this local cheese in dishes around San Sebastian, like the Idiazabal risotto from Borda Berri (on my wish list). Alternatively, taste it in its simplest form at a Basque cider house or take a day tour to a cheese farmhouse and a txakoli winery!

8. Try the World’s Best Cheesecake

Is it a stretch to say a little restaurant in San Sebastian has created the world’s best cheesecake? I think not! La Vina is a popular spot in Old Town known for their signature Basque cheesecake – a special type of crustless cheesecake that often has a burnt or caramelized look to the outside of it.

I’m not a traditional cheesecake fan, but Basque cheesecake is something else. It’s creamy, not overly sweet, and worth every minute you have to wait in line for it.

The best way to enjoy this at La Vina, in my opinion, is with a glass of sherry – a thick fortified wine from Spain. This adds a touch of sweetness to each bite, whether you pour it over your slices on the plate or simply take sips in between.

There are other spots around San Sebastian to get this creation – some even putting unique spins on them with flavors of chocolate and pistachio. But, if you only have time for one slice, be sure to make it La Vina!

9. Head up to Monte Igueldo

Monte Igueldo has the best view overlooking San Sebastian and La Concha Bay! Heading up to the top of Monte Igueldo is one thing you simply must do when coming to San Sebastian.

What I recommend: walk the length of La Concha (you’ve gone to burn some of those pintxos calories off) and take the funicular up to the top! There is an old school mini theme park up here with kitschy rides, games, and entertainment. It’s unexpectedly fun and a nice change of pace from eating all day.

Pro tip: do not skip the little boat ride! It will be the most scenic ride of your life.

There’s also a cafe at Monte Igueldo and while I’m not going to say its the best quality, I highly recommend getting a drink and sitting for a while taking in the most beautiful view of the city!

A few notes:

• Cost to ride the funicular roundtrip (as of 2025): 4,75€ for adults
• Rides, games, and entertainment are an extra cost (usually just a few euros each)

10. Drink Craft Beer

Spain isn’t really known for its craft beer scene but let me tell you, there are some places to get good beer in San Sebastian! Check out Mala Gissona in the Gros neighborhood where they brew their own beer. Their IPAs are stellar and so is their stout.

If you want craft beer to pair with pintxos, Bar Desy (also in Gros) has a great beer menu serving local craft beers from the area (and their food is absolutely delicious).

Other spots to consider are Basqueland Izakaia and Bissadoa Taproom, both also in the Gros neighborhood.

11. Have Gildas at the Bar They Were Created At

Gildas – one of my favorite pintxos! You’ll see these all over bar tops in San Sebastian, but they were allegedly created at Casa Valles in San Sebastian’s Centro neighborhood. This bar is bustling and has been around for ages.

Supposedly, one of their customers skewered three ingredients together: green olives, guindilla peppers, and anchovies and it was later nicknamed La Gilda after Rita Hayworth’s character in the movie Gilda.

It absolutely works as the perfect first bite on a pintxos crawl. You get salty from the olives, pickled flavors from the guindilla peppers (and sometimes a bit of heat if you’re lucky!), and umami from the anchovies. Olive oil is also drizzled on top of these and a good quality oil makes a big difference.

Keep in mind that at Casa Valles, their olives are not pitted – meaning you could bite down and break a tooth if you aren’t careful! This is the only bar we’ve encountered in Basque Country so far with their olives like this so beware.

Be sure to also read about my top 10 spots in Basque Country to try Gildas and what my favorites are!

12. Walk Up Monte Urgull

Another great area to walk to help burn off all the calories you’ll be consuming in San Sebastian are the Mt. Urgull walking paths, either around the bay or venture all the way up to the top!

If you’re heading to the top, there’s a wine bar to stop at part way called Urgulleko Polboriña that’s open when the weather is nice. Nothing says exercise like a glass of wine, am I right?! At the top, you’ll find historical landmarks like Castillo de la Mota and the Sagrado Corazón, as well as various lookouts to enjoy views of San Sebastian and the ocean.

We only did the lower walking path around Mt. Urgull, but the views of the marina, bay, and city are breathtaking. Watching the boats put around the bay or the waves crashing on the rocks below is such a peaceful way to enjoy San Sebastian.

13. Have Drinks on a Terrace or Rooftop Bar

Since San Sebastian is such a scenic city, I highly recommend grabbing a drink at one of the hotels with a rooftop bar or restaurants with terraces overlooking the city or sea. We had drinks and Gildas at the rooftop bar of our hotel, the Catalonia Donosti, and even though the weather was moody, the view was beautiful.

Other rooftop bars in San Sebastian include the rooftop bar at Hotel La Sala Plaza and LABe Restaurant on top the Tabakalera culture center. If you’re looking for ocean views, try the terrace at Nobu San Sebastian or La Perla Taberna Jatetxea right on La Concha.

Note: Rooftop bars are typically seasonal and weather-dependent and will likely be closed during winter/colder months.

14. Take a Boat Tour or Sunset Sail

If you want to see the city or the Basque Coast from the sea, consider booking a boat or sailing tour! This tour offers morning or sunset sails (with a glass of cava at sunset) or you can take a short, affordable boat ride around La Concha with this tour.

When we were flying into Basque Country, we witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets which would have been so great to see on a sailing tour!

15. Relax (or Surf) at the Beaches!

When summer and warm weather hits San Sebastian, La Concha is the perfect spot for relaxing and swimming. If you have your heart set on catching a wave, Zurriola is great for surfing. In fact, when we were in San Sebastian, Maverick the Surfing Cat was in our hotel lobby checking in ready to film a Netflix show!

Check out Puka’s Surf School for beginner lessons or board rentals if you’re experienced.

16. Wander Around Old Town

Lastly, just wander around the Old Town. You’ll probably be spending a lot of time in this area eating, but take a break and admire all of the architecture and narrow streets of this beautiful part of the city.

Day Trips from San Sebastian

If you have extended time in San Sebastian, here are a few great day trips I would consider taking myself:

• Hondarribia or Biarritz and the French Basque Coast
• Day trip to the artsy city of Bilbao. We actually came from Bilbao where we spent three full days prior to San Sebastian. If you’re short on time and only have time for a day trip, I recommend hopping over there for a food tour and a visit to the iconic Guggenheim Bilbao! It’s an easy drive by car and just over an hour by bus. Or you could book a day tour that includes your transportation for a no-hassle experience.
• All-day wine tour to Rioja Alavesa or La Rioja

What to Pack for San Sebastian

Finally, I would be remiss not to mention a few tips for what to wear and pack in San Sebastian. Basque weather can be a little moody and temperamental (i.e. when we were there for three days at the end of May/early June, it was mostly cloudy with some rain showers). However, the temperature was still on the warmer side. Prepare for the worst, and hope for the best!

My Packing Tips:

• Wear clothes you feel comfortable eating in (and expanding with). Look, the main thing to do in San Sebastian is eat so you want to feel extra comfy filling up and leaving a little room to grow if you know what I mean. If you’re dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant though, by all means, dress up!
• Pack a light rain jacket just in case (with extra warmer layers if traveling in colder months). If traveling in the peak of summer, you might be safe from rain but you just never know. Bring something nice and thin that makes it easy to carry around in a backpack or purse.
• Umbrella – just in case! If you have a rain jacket, you’ll be fine with just that – or get out the umbrella and leave the rain jacket. Either works!
• Comfortable water resistant shoes. Walking, standing, and eating does require a bit of comfort for your feet. I wore my Vessi sneakers for our entire trip to Spain, which were great for the occasional rain showers, still cute with dresses (or any outfit really), and were comfortable to walk in all day.

Are you prepared to head to San Sebastian and do all the things? Hopefully my guide on all the best things to do in San Sebastian will help get you started. It truly is one of my favorite places I’ve visited in the whole world!

Read Next:

• Must-Try Restaurants in San Sebastian, Spain – The Best Foodie City in the World!
• 5 Must-Try Desserts in Spain’s Basque Country
• What to Eat in Spain’s Basque Country: Must-Try Basque Foods, Dishes & Drinks!
• Searching for the Best Gilda Pintxos in Basque Country
• Bilbao Food Tour Review – The Best Intro to Bilbao & the Basque Food Scene
• Savoring Bilbao: A Foodie’s Guide on Where to Eat in Bilbao, Spain
• Best Things to Do in Bilbao, Spain for Food, Art & Architecture Lovers!
• 3-Day Bilbao Itinerary: Discover the City’s Best Pintxos, Museums & Architecture