San Sebastián
Visitors come for pintxo bars, a city beach on a curved bay and a compact old quarter on the Bay of Biscay.
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San Sebastián, called Donostia in Basque, is a city on the Bay of Biscay in the Basque Country of northern Spain. Most visitors come for the food. The Parte Vieja, the old quarter behind the beach, is a grid of narrow streets lined with pintxo bars, where you eat small bites on bread, often standing at the counter. People move from bar to bar on a txikiteo, usually starting in the late afternoon.
La Concha is a half-moon bay with a city beach along its curved promenade. Two or three days is enough to cover the old quarter, the beach and a climb or funicular ride for views over the bay. Gros, across the Urumea river, is a surf beach with a quieter feel than La Concha. Swimming and outdoor walks suit late spring to early autumn, though the bars stay busy all year. Bilbao and the fishing town of Hondarribia both work as day trips.
San Sebastián in five
- Eat pintxos bar to bar, not one big mealOrder one or two pintxos and a small drink, then walk on to the next bar. Many bars chalk hot specials on a board, so ask what just came out of the kitchen.San Sebastián in 2 days
- Pick the Parte Vieja, Centro or Gros as your baseThe old quarter puts bars at your door but is loud late. Centro is calmer and flat, and Gros has the surf beach and local bars at lower prices.Where to stay in San Sebastián
- Decide between San Sebastián and Bilbao firstBoth are Basque food cities, but one is a beach town and the other a museum city. Many trips give each a night, and the coach links them in about 1 hr 15–1 hr 30.San Sebastián or Bilbao
- Carry a rain jacket even in summerThe Bay of Biscay brings showers in every month, and the green hills depend on it. Shop and museum days cover a wet afternoon; beach days need a flexible plan.
- Fly into Biarritz or Bilbao, not just DonostiaThe local airport at Hondarribia has limited schedules. Biarritz in France is about 50 km away and Bilbao about 100 km, both reached by road. Any EES check happens at your first Schengen airport.
Things to do in San Sebastián
See all attractions in San Sebastián
Need to know
- Airport
- Biarritz (BIQ) or Bilbao (BIO); small airport at Hondarribia
- Getting there
- Bus or train from Madrid, Bilbao and Pamplona; Bilbao by coach about 1 hr 15–1 hr 30
- Getting around
- Walk; city buses for Igueldo and Gros; buses to Hondarribia
- Best base
- Centro or the Parte Vieja; Gros for surf and lower prices
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cool, TamborradaJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 206 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, Tamborrada
- FebruaryRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, wetFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, wet
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, showersMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, showers
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Spring, rainAprilRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, rain
- MayRain17 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Warm, greenMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low15°Beach seasonJuneRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Beach season
- JulyRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Semana GrandeAugustRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Semana Grande
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°Film festivalSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Film festival
- OctoberRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, wetOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Wet, coolNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 232 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cool
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cold, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 199 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
Average daily high and low in San Sebastián, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jan Tamborrada · Jul San Sebastian Jazz Festival · Aug Quincena Musical de San Sebastián
Right now in San Sebastián
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 15%
San Sebastián
09:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°9°15%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Tue11°8°20%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Wed14°6°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu17°6°8%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri16°6°13%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sat18°8°13%Saturday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun22°14°40%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated 06:48 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- JanTamborradaSan Sebastián
- Feb–MarCarnivals of LantzPamplona, a day trip
- JulVitoria-Gasteiz jazz festivalBasque Country, a day trip
- JulSan Sebastian Jazz FestivalSan Sebastián
- AugQuincena Musical de San SebastiánSan Sebastián
- AugGreat Week of BilbaoBilbao, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Hondarribiaabout 30–45 min by busA walled upper town and a fishermen's quarter at the French border.Read the guide
- Bilbaoabout 1 hr 15–1 hr 30 by busThe Guggenheim and the old town; a night is better than a rushed day.Read the guide
- Pamplonaabout 1.5 hours by busThe old town and the bull-run streets; the San Fermín fiesta runs 6–14 July.Read the guide
Before you go to San Sebastián
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for San Sebastián, checked
- The city tourism office says a tourist tax will be introduced from 2027; check the per-night amount for your dates.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
San Sebastián FAQ
How many days do you need in San Sebastián?
Two full days cover the old quarter, La Concha, Monte Igueldo and a Gros evening. Three lets you add Hondarribia or a rest day on the beach. One day works only as a Bilbao stopover.
Where should I stay in San Sebastián for the first time?
Centro or the Parte Vieja. Both are flat or close to the bars, and walking distance to La Concha. Pick Gros if you surf or want a lower price, and Ondarreta for a quiet beach.
Is San Sebastián worth visiting?
Yes, if you like food and a walkable town on a beach. It is less about sights than about eating, swimming and strolling. Skip it on a very tight two-week route unless pintxos are a priority.
Can you visit San Sebastián as a day trip from Bilbao?
Yes, by coach in about 1 hr 15–1 hr 30 each way, but you lose the evenings, which is when the bars are at their best. A single night in San Sebastián changes the trip far more than a day does.
Is San Sebastián expensive?
It is one of the pricier Spanish cities in July and August, especially in the Parte Vieja. Prices ease in spring and autumn. Eating pintxos at the bar and staying in Gros keeps a budget lower.
Is there a tourist tax in San Sebastián?
The city tourism office says a tourist tax will be introduced from 2027. Check the per-night amount for your accommodation type before you compare totals for stays in 2027 or later.