3-Day San Sebastian Itinerary for Food Lovers: Pintxos Bar Hopping & Everything in Between

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Wondering how to best spend your time eating all the things in San Sebastian? This 3-day San Sebastian Itinerary is a great intro to the city’s food scene and everything in between!

As a foodie, I had long been dreaming of visiting San Sebastian (and Basque Country in general) to experience one of the most renowned gastronomic destinations in the world. When it came time to finally pay it a visit, it delivered on all fronts!

This seaside city is a beauty, filled with old world architecture and calming ocean views. And when it comes to the food, it’s hard to compete. Fresh seafood from the Bay of Biscay is at the fingertips of chefs and meat and cheese is available fresh from animals grazing on the lush, green hills of the countryside.

Basque Country is also known for being a mecca of Michelin-starred chefs. But here’s the thing – you don’t even need to eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant to experience creativity (although if you want to, there are 10 starred restaurants in the immediate area).

The city embraces pintxos culture (no reservations required), which makes it so easy to try a lot of different dishes – many of them gourmet, exuding artistry in presentation and flavor. These little bites of food are what makes San Sebastian shine!

Could I live here?

In San Sebastian, I had one of those “I could live here moments.” This city just felt like home to me. And if you’re wondering when the exact moment was that it happened, it’s the cover photo of this post.

While most of us don’t have the means to live in this foodie paradise permanently, we can be so lucky to at least visit this amazing destination. This 3-day San Sebastian itinerary is a great place to start! Take long walks and fall in love with this city and its food, just like I did.

Best Time to Visit San Sebastian

I don’t think there’s a bad time to visit San Sebastian but summer is the most popular (aka busiest) time to visit. That goes for Europe in general, though! Summer is your best chance for good weather. If you don’t already know, northern Spain tends to get a lot more rain than the rest of the country. If you’re hoping for sunny days in Basque Country, July and August are your best bets.

We visited at the end of May/early June and it was cloudy with intermittent rain/drizzling the entire three days we were there. That being said, the weather was still mild and the temperature wasn’t very cold. In contrast, the previous three days we were in Bilbao (which is only just over an hour away from San Sebastian), were really hot and sunny (still with a couple of rain showers though)!

Just prepare for a little rain and hope for some sunshine and you’ll be fine.

If visiting in the winter, just know it can get pretty cold and rainy here. Additionally, some restaurants will take time off/close for winter holidays and due to it being a slower season.

Days of the Week

Another factor to consider on planning your trip to San Sebastian is what days of the week you’ll be there. If you’re only coming for a few days, you’ll need to plan ahead – especially if you have a list of restaurants and bars you want to try! Be sure to always check restaurants’ open hours/days before visiting.

We visited on a Saturday through Monday and here are my thoughts about these days of the week:

Saturday is definitely the most crowded but the day where all restaurants are likely open. It can be harder to get into some spots that are really popular, especially in Old Town.
Sundays/Mondays: some restaurants could be closed on either or both of these days. However, Mondays are much quieter and there are way less crowds to battle! Monday is a great day to visit spots over in the Gros neighborhood, which have a more local feel to them.

Where to Stay in San Sebastian

The beauty of staying in San Sebastian is that it’s a small city with everything you need in walking distance in 30 minutes or less. That makes the decision on where to stay much easier!

Budget, however, could be more of an issue. Because San Sebastian attracts a lot more visitors compared to some of the neighboring Basque cities, prices in San Sebastian are going to be a little higher.

Best Mid-Budget Hotel

Hotel Catalonia Donosti: Our pick was the Catalonia, which fit perfectly into our budget for a three-night stay. It’s located in the Centro neighborhood, so it’s very quiet – away from the Old Town. I also loved that it was at the top of San Bartolomé Hill, which meant lovely views overlooking the city and the bay from the rooftop bar!

The Catalonia also has a great onsite restaurant, spa, and a seasonal rooftop pool. Even better, you can sign up for Catalonia rewards if booking direct for discounted room rates and get a voucher for a welcome drink.

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

Best Hotels for Ocean Views

Hotel Londres or La Sala Plaza: These were two other hotels that I personally considered when booking our three days in San Sebastian. Both of these hotels are set right on La Concha Bay with rooms offering beautiful ocean views. Hotel Londres is located right on the promenade and La Sala Plaza is in Old Town.

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

Best Luxury Hotel

Hotel Maria Cristina: If luxury hotels are your go-to, you can’t beat the Maria Cristina. The rooms here are stunning. I’m dreaming of staying here on a return visit! It also has an excellent central location just outside the Old Town and is right across the river from the Gros neighborhood. This is also a Marriott property, so if you have a bunch of Marriott Points saved up, you can book award nights!

Book the Maria Cristina via Hotels.com, Booking.com, or Direct

San Sebastian Itinerary Summary

Three days in San Sebastian was a great introduction to this amazing foodie city! Although, I could have easily stayed longer just to be able to eat at more bars and restaurants. If you have more than three days to give San Sebastian, I’d use the city as a base to explore other nearby Basque Country towns while still being able to eat at San Sebastian spots in the evenings.

Day 1: Arrival to San Sebastian from Bilbao, hotel check-in, our first San Sebastian pintxos crawl, a leisurely Mt. Urgull walk, and dinner at our hotel
Day 2: A late morning to mid-day pintxos crawl, a walk along La Concha, Monte Igueldo funicular and theme park, Basque cheesecake indulgence, and more pintxos
Day 3: An epic tortilla de patatas for breakfast, a massage at Catalonia Donosti, Gros neighborhood pintxos & beer crawl, and pizza and txakoli at our hotel

This is my three-day San Sebastian itinerary exactly how we did it. If you’re interested in adding additional activities that aren’t covered here or need more ideas, be sure to check out my Best Things to Do in San Sebastian post for more inspiration!

Day 1 in San Sebastian

Our first day in San Sebastian was filled with amazing food, as it should be! But first, we made our way from Bilbao via an Alsa bus. Once we were settled into our hotel, we stepped out onto the streets of San Sebastian for a day of exploring its food scene and scenery.

Day 1 Highlights

Travel to San Sebastian from Bilbao & check into hotel
Pintxos bar hopping at Casa Valles, Antonio Bar & Mendaur Berria
Mt. Urgull walking paths & city views
Rooftop drinks at the Catalonia Donosti
Dinner at Aldapeta Gastrobar

Travel to San Sebastian from Bilbao

We opted to stay for a few days in Bilbao at the beginning of our trip to Basque Country rather than starting in San Sebastian (which I highly recommend).

From Bilbao, we took an Alsa bus that I pre-booked via their website. This was a very easy and straightforward process. I do recommend reserving it in advance to guarantee a seat! We “splurged” on the Supra bus, which was very comfortable for the 1 hour and 15 minute ride.

If San Sebastian is your first (or only stop) in Basque Country, other ways to get here include:

Fly into Bilbao and take an immediate transfer – either via bus or by (an expensive) private transfer
Fly into the smaller San Sebastian airport (though it has less flight options)
Arrive by train from another region of Spain or France
Drive if renting a car (consider parking is limited in the city and hotels do charge a daily fee)

Hotel Check-In

We rolled into San Sebastian around lunchtime and checked into our hotel – the Catalonia Donosti, which was a breeze. We even got a little peek at a famous surfing cat in town to film for Netflix who was staying at the hotel!

Catalonia Donosti is built off a restored convent. So even with its modern design, it has a bit of history and old world intertwined. We stayed in a king room with partial sea views and it was perfectly comfortable for our three nights in San Sebastian.

Also to note, this hotel is located at the top of San Bartolomé Hill, so getting here is a little challenging if you’re on foot with luggage. We grabbed a cab at the train station across from the bus exit to avoid the trek. However, once you’re here as a guest, you get access to their private entrance/exit elevator that spits you out right at Easo Street to avoid the hilly walk.

The Birthplace of La Gilda

Once we were settled into our hotel, there was no time to waste – there was food to be eaten at as many spots as possible! We started our first San Sebastian pintxos crawl at Casa Valles, just a few minutes’ walk from our hotel.

Casa Valles was on my list for one very important reason: they are the alleged birthplace of the Gilda – my favorite pintxo. Gilda’s are a salty snack that you should try at every bar made with olives, pickled guindilla peppers, and anchovies skewered together with a drizzle of olive oil.

By this time, we had tried several Gildas in Bilbao and were quickly becoming Gilda ~~snobs~~ connoisseurs. Casa Valles had a good one, but overall not my favorite of what we tried in Basque Country. My biggest gripe: the olives here are not pitted! Every other spot we visited had pitted olives. Thankfully, we didn’t bite down too hard.

Other pintxos we had here were tasty smoked salmon bites and a scallop with butter sauce paired with two refreshing glasses of txakoli – our go-to drink at every bar.

Olive pits aside, Casa Valles was lively and bustling and it set the tone for our time in San Sebastian.

Read up on all our favorite Gildas we’ve had in Basque Country so far!

Antonio Bar – I love thee

Onto the next spot we went, which turned out to be one of my favorite spots in San Sebastian – Antonio Bar. Everything here was just phenomenal, from their seared scallops in truffle sauce to their bacon cream octopus skewer. And then there’s my personal favorite – the prawn ravioli. What a delicate little piece of gastronomic perfection!

Antonio Bar is also known for their tortilla de patatas. However, it was on this day I found out that you cannot just show up at any old time of day and expect to get a piece of that magic. Strategy is required (more on this under Day 3).

At peak times, expect to wait in line on the sidewalk and the servers will guide you to a bar seat, table, or standing room at the outdoor window when something opens up. This actually takes a little bit of the stress off of trying to elbow your way to the bar to get an order in!

Mt. Urgull Walking Paths

After our first two pintxos bars, siesta hours crept up. Most bars and restaurants close for an afternoon break so planning to do sightseeing or outdoorsy activities during this time is best (or you could just take a nap). We decided to walk off some of the calories we just consumed and explore the walking paths around Monte Urgull.

We kept to the lower path, taking in the views of the city and the sea, the marina, boats out on the water, and even people out for sailing lessons. It was very peaceful and nice to see the city from that perspective.

If you have more time on your hands (or more energy), you can walk all the way to the top of Monte Urgull, stopping along the way at Urgulleko Polboriña – a wine bar that’s open when the weather is nice.

Pintxos at Mendaur

Recommended by a couple we sat next to at Antonio Bar, we stopped off at Mendaur Berria for our final pintxos bar of the day. This bar turned out to be another favorite of ours that was repeat-worthy! The pintxos here are creative while still fitting those Spanish vibes.

The best marianito we had in Basque Country

On our plates at Mendaur:

Fried prawns with lime alioli (these were so good – one of my favorite dishes we had here)
Veal cheek with parmesan and basil purees
Mussels in a thick, spicy tomato broth
Txipirones (baby squid) with three sauces
A fluffy torrija (Spain’s version of French toast) for dessert

In our glasses: their “special” marianito, which is like a Basque version of a negroni and more txakoli!

Rooftop Drinks

For the evening, we headed up to the rooftop bar of our hotel to get our welcome drink and a Gilda. Rain started to fall lightly while we sipped our drinks and took in the views over the city. Even though the moody Basque weather rolled in, San Sebastian was still a beauty!

Note: the rooftop bar here is open seasonally and under good weather. We only had one day while we were in San Sebastian to take advantage of this.

Dinner at Aldapeta Gastrobar

Our hotel restaurant had an appealing menu and we felt it was easiest to dine there our first night. When you’re out adventuring all day, sometimes you just want to be a little lazy!

At Aldapeta, we started with scallops topped with a parsley mixture and sea foam, followed by a very unique txangurro (spider crab) appetizer mixed with urchin and Idiazabal cheese. That txangurro was so good, I wish we had ordered two!

For our main, we shared a braised octopus with kimchi, sweet potato puree, and olive oil caviar. Everything was light and delicious – a fantastic way to end our first day in San Sebastian.

Day 2 in San Sebastian

Our second day in San Sebastian was one of my favorites of our entire trip to Basque Country. We started off strong with pintxos at Casa Urola, sampled international-inspired dishes at Bells Bar, and then walked off the calories along the La Concha promenade all the way to the Monte Igueldo funicular.

We took the funicular up to the top of Igueldo, saw the best views of San Sebastian, had a few drinks, and had some fun at the little old-school theme park up there.

Our evening consisted of a walk back to Old Town to try the famous cheesecake from La Vina and to get more pintxos from Mendaur.

Day 2 Highlights

Pintxos bar hopping to Casa Urola & Bells Bar
A nice walk along La Concha Bay
Funicular & Monte Igueldo views and theme park
Eating the best Basque cheesecake in the world
Revisiting Mendaur for different pintxos

Pintxos at Casa Urola

Casa Urola is a must-stop (and not just because it was visited by Anthony Bourdain). They have some of my favorite dishes in the city!

To start, we had Gildas and their award-winning scallop in ajo blanco – a cream sauce made with almonds, garlic and oil and topped with nuts, coffee vinaigrette and fried seaweed. It was the most unique bite of food in San Sebastian and one of the tastiest!

We chased the scallop with a pintxo de txuleta (a little taste of that famous Basque steak) and finished with one of best things I ate all year – their torrija (Spain’s version of French toast).

Casa Urola’s torrija is lightly milk-soaked and caramelized on the outside, which is really what sets theirs apart from others. It was just pure heaven. Do not skip this!

More Pintxos at Bells Bar

For a different take on pintxos, we headed over to Bells Bar for dishes a with some international flare. My favorites: Colombian soup croquettas and pulled Iberian pork bao buns. We also had their extra crispy pork belly and a Venezuelan “mattress breaker,” which is a refreshing seafood ceviche-style dish with salsa.

This was a great stop to see how Spanish ingredients are incorporated with different world cuisines!

La Concha Walk

To keep things balanced and to get our steps in (eat, burn calories, repeat), we took a walk along the entire length of La Concha Bay from Old Town to the Monte Igueldo funicular. This was about a 40-minute walk from our starting point at Bells Bar and there are benches along the way if you need to take a rest!

Monte Igueldo

At the funicular station, we purchased roundtrip tickets for 4,75 euros each and rode that rickety old thing up to the top of Monte Igueldo.

Once at the top, we found ourselves faced with the most breathtaking view of San Sebastian! Coming to Igueldo is absolutely a must-do in my opinion. You can also reach the top by car if you don’t want to walk or take the funicular.

At the top of the mountain, there is a cafe, along with an old-school amusement park, which I didn’t even realize existed! But first, we needed a little rest after our La Concha walk so we rewarded ourselves with a couple of beers and glasses of wine and sat to admire all the beautiful views from the cafe patio.

Important Note: The park is closed on weekdays outside of summer months. Check your dates ahead of time to see when you can visit! The funicular and lookout are open most days throughout the year.

Fueled by drinks, our energy was renewed to check out the amusement park. We went into the cheeky haunted house and took the most scenic “boat ride” of our lives (highly recommend this one).

The activities at the park are an extra cost separate from the funicular ticket, but are only a few euros a piece. A small price for a little fun!

The Best Basque Cheesecake

After our time on Monte Igueldo, we headed down via the funicular and made the walk back to Old Town to queue for the best cheesecake in the world at La Vina. There was a bit of a line here (and there always was each time we passed by) but the wait was totally worth it.

We ordered our piece (which actually comes in two small slices per serving) and a glass of sherry to pair with it. This sherry is more like a fortified wine and is great to either sip in between your bites or just pour over the slices. It totally elevates the cheesecake and is a must in my opinion.

You can find Basque cheesecake at other spots in San Sebastian, but it originated at La Vina so we needed to try it at least once here. It was the perfect amount of creamy and not overly sweet, which was just right for me as someone who is not a big fan of traditional cheesecakes.

Mendaur Revisited

Because we enjoyed Mendaur so much, we went back for a second time to try some different dishes. Normally, I don’t like to revisit restaurants in one trip, but it was easy to grab a bar seat here without any wait.

My favorite dishes from our second visit: a pulled pork wonton “taco” with guacamole and a fried calamari talo (which is essentially a taco with a tortilla). Both excellent dishes and a good way to end a fantastic second day in San Sebastian!

Day 3 in San Sebastian

Our third and final day in San Sebastian fell on a Monday, which meant I had to get a little creative with my planning to make sure we found spots that were open. Many restaurants close either on Sundays or Mondays, so you need to check hours ahead of time to hit the spots you want!

We started our day at Antonio Bar for their famous tortilla for breakfast, and then relaxed at our hotel for a bit. My husband ended up booking a massage to help his back at the spa at our hotel, while I finished up a writing assignment. Then, we spent the afternoon pintxos bar hopping over in the Gros neighborhood which is a whole different vibe from the Old Town.

Day 3 Highlights

Tortilla de patatas at Antonio Bar
Spa and Massage at Catalonia Donosti
Pintxos bar hopping in Gros at Kbzon Haundi & Bar Desy
Craft beer flights at Mala Gissona
Evening Txakoli and pizza

The Best Tortilla in Spain

After visiting Antonio Bar on our first day and figuring out better hours to try their tortilla de patatas, we made our way over to the bar just before 10:00 a.m. They only make a limited amount of tortillas in the morning (I believe the current number is eight) and two for dinner service. These tortillas are so popular, they sell out before noon!

The tortillas here are massive, made with 35 eggs (getting about 35 slices from each) and the onions are caramelized for a lengthy time to give them the best depth in flavor.

The most beautiful tortilla in all the land!

There is no contest – I think Antonio Bar could have the best tortilla in all of Spain (of course, I’m going to have to put this to the test and try many more but they have set the bar incredibly high).

Spa & Massage at Catalonia

After our savory breakfast, we enjoyed some downtime at our hotel. I had to get a writing assignment done so my husband booked a massage at the spa in our hotel to help with some back pain. When you’re on the go constantly, rest and self-care are necessary (especially as we get older!).

The spa and massage at the Catalonia is husband-approved and you get access to the indoor heated pool as a bonus benefit.

Pintxos at Kbzon Haundi

For our final pintxos crawl experience, we hopped over the river to explore the Gros neighborhood which we found to be much more laid back than the bustling Old Town. I had my eye on Kbzon Haundi – a well-rated pintxos bar just a stone’s throw from Zurriola Beach.

We walked into the quiet restaurant and took a seat at the bar with Ali and made our way through pintxo-sized portions of their menu filled with unique, gourmet dishes. Everything was outstanding, from the morcilla-filled ravioli to the rich foie gras.

Truly exceptional, though, was the charcoal duck and piquillo pepper carpaccio. It was smoky and full of flavor, especially when paired with bites of the charred pepper.

A standout dish – charcoal duck carpaccio at Kbzon Haundi!

Craft Beer at Mala Gissona

Our next stop was a craft brewery called Mala Gissona. When you need a short break from drinking txakoli, a beer can hit the spot. You don’t exactly go to Spain to drink craft beer, but if you’re a beer fan, you do seek it out when traveling. We found this great spot for IPAs and their stout was delish!

Last Call for Pintxos at Bar Desy

The final pintxos bar of our time in San Sebastian was a good one – a classic Spanish bar called Desy in the Gros neighborhood. Its wood bar was topped with pintxos and Basque classics like tortilla de patatas and Gildas and the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. They have a great beer menu here too!

Our order: dos Gildas, a plate of fresh tomatoes topped with tuna, txangurro stuffed peppers, and some of the best bacon-wrapped shrimp I’ve ever had! We lingered here for a bit reflecting on our amazing time in Basque Country.

Bar Desy is also known for their txuleta burgers, which I seriously regret not getting! How could I not know they had these ahead of time. Research fail. They serve these rare with a luscious creamy cheese sauce and they look fantastic. Next time, Desy…next time.

Evening Txakoli and Pizza

As our last evening in San Sebastian came to a close, it was time to pack up – but not before enjoying one last bottle of txakoli that we ordered through room service (and a pizza – because sometimes, you just want a pizza).

San Sebastian General Travel Tips

Here are some additional travel tips that can help any San Sebastian trip go more smoothly:

Breakfast is not a big thing (unless you’re getting tortilla at Antonio Bar). Sleep in a little and keep your stomach empty to prep for lunchtime pintxos bar hopping.
Take advantage of siesta hours, whether it’s actually resting and taking a nap or doing the outdoorsy activities during this time (i.e. walking around Monte Urgull or heading up to Monte Igueldo).
Cash & Currency: Spain’s currency is the euro and you can easily find ATMs throughout the city. However, San Sebastian is pretty cash-free and you won’t need much cash on hand for dining.
Weather: Prepare for the worst and hope for the best! Basque Country weather tends to be rainy and cloudy (weather that keeps the area green and beautiful). My waterproof Vessi sneakers served me well, and I carried an umbrella and light rain jacket with me daily just in case.

Where to Next?

It was hard to think about going anywhere in Spain after our amazing time in Bilbao and San Sebastian. I’ve been dreaming up a second itinerary to visit all the spots we missed (really, I’m just dreaming of all the restaurants I still need to eat at).

Alas, it was time to load up into the train and head down to Madrid for a few days of exploring Spain’s capital before heading back to the U.S.

Basque Country served my stomach well and has me craving so much more!