Alderdi Eder Park sits on the seafront in San Sebastián, beside La Concha beach and directly behind the City Hall. The gardens have colourful flowerbeds, palm trees and tamarind trees, with benches in both sun and shade. The playground and the historic carousel suit children, and the views over the bay suit everyone. The park is open around the clock, so you can walk through it at dawn or after dark.
The bronze Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
Since 1973, bronze figures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, both on horseback, have sat in a corner of the gardens. The sculptor Lorenzo Coullaut-Valera, from Seville, made them.
Many people assume this pair is a small copy of the figures he made for the Plaza de España in Madrid. The material says the opposite. The San Sebastián pair is the prototype he produced first, and the Madrid figures were made from it.
Layout and planting
The gardens were planned in detail at the end of the 19th century. The beds are colourful, and tamarind trees, which grow in the coastal areas around San Sebastián, stand alongside palm trees.
Flowers line the paths that run from the City Hall, so the walk from the building into the park is one of the most photographed parts of the visit.
The carousel and the seafront playground
The historic carousel is one of the park's best-known features and is suited to all ages. The playground sits on the seafront, just outside the old town, and works well as a stop after a walk along the bay.
A tourist train runs nearby, and a ferry leaves from the beach for the island that lies in front of it.
Festival days in the park
The Aste Nagusia festival opens in front of the City Hall, inside the park. A cannon is fired, and the crowd sings El Artillero in Basque. The celebrations run until the following Sunday.
During Semana Grande, the International Fireworks Contest traditionally starts from the gardens. The displays are launched daily at 22:45, and teams come from around the world to compete during the week.
Around the park
The Cathedral of San Sebastián is a short walk away, and the Church of San Vicente and the San Telmo Museum lie further into the Old Town, where the Museum covers Basque history and culture. La Concha beach is next to the park, and the Miramar Palace and the Queen María Cristina monument are nearby.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is Alderdi Eder Park open 24 hours?
Yes. The park is listed as open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
Can I bring a dog to Alderdi Eder Park?
Dogs are allowed, and the park has a dog park.
Is the park wheelchair accessible?
The entrance and the parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
When is the best time to visit?
Weekdays or early mornings are the quietest times. On sunny days the park can be crowded.
