San Sebastian lifestyle: sea, sport & gastronomy

San Sebastian is a city that you have to visit at least once in your lifetime. This is a must-see city due to its cuisine, culture, active lifestyle and natural beauty.

Awards

award tripadvisor
La Concha. 3rd best beach in the world, for Trip Advisor travelers
Award michelin
2nd city with the most Michelin stars per m2 in the world: 16 stars
award forbes
One of the best cities to travel to
award national
Among the best surf cities in the world

Our essentials

 
what to see

What to see in San Sebastián

Discover the Top 10 of our city: the local neighborhoods, the best museums, sculptures and natural gems such as the best hikes or our surfing beach.

Discover te Top 10

San Sebastian’s treasures

Discover the distant history of a city that was once a military fort, commercial port and, nowadays, a tourist hot spot. Visit Mount Urgull and the narrow streets in its Old Town, full of pintxo (tapa) bars and culinary gems...

Old Town and Urgull

Discover the neighbourhoods

best gastronomic destination

Best gastronomic destination

San Sebastian has received international acclaim and awards for its cuisine. 16 Michelin stars, its pintxos (tapas), cider houses, local restaurants, etc. have made it an essential visit for lovers of good food...

Gastronomic activities

Experience the txotx

Let’s go out for pintxos (tapas)

Who are the Basques?

San Sebastian continues to maintain the essence of Basque culture. The traditions of this age-old town are reflected in its streets, its people, its cuisine and festivals.

The Basque Culture Museum

Basque culture trip

open air museum

Open air museum

San Sebastian is an open-air museum. On its streets you can find sculptures by distinguished figures such as Chillida and Jorge Oteiza, architectural works from the 19th century and modern buildings like the Kursaal...

Sculptures in San Sebastian

Chillida Leku museum

Discover the architecture

Art galleries

sport and aventure

Sport and adventure

By land, sea and air, sport and adventure are both essential parts of your trip to San Sebastian. Surf the waves in one of the world’s top cities for this sport.

Surf the waves

Donostia running

Explore our surroundings on a bike

On St. James’s Way

Chillida 100 years

Discover the program of exhibitions, music and celebration of the Centennial of the artist Eduardo Chillida.

Centenary of Chillida

Thematic walking routes

Discover the 4 walking routes told by 4 protagonists of our city: a scientist, a retiree, a rower and our ancestors.

Discover the walking routes

royal style

Royal style

Do you want to feel like a queen of the XIXth century bathing in a 100-year thalassotherapy or having fun in a vintage amusement park with the best view of the city?

La perla thalassotherapy

Mount Igeldo amusement park & view

Shopping: Made in San Sebastian

Discover local products in small shops scattered in the wide avenues of the romantic area or the narrow streets of the Old Town. If you prefer exclusive designs, Cristobal Balenciaga’s museum is made for you...

Shopping

Balenciaga Museum

ciudad festivales 2

A festival city

Cinema, art, music, dance and theatre flood the city throughout the year. After all, San Sebastian is the stage for some of the most famous and oldest festivals in Europe. Enjoy the Heineken Jazzaldia on the beach or enjoy some of the best movies in an outstanding setting at the International Film Festival.

From festival to festival

sailing and fishing

Sailing and fishing

Discover the coast surrounding San Sebastian with all kinds of boats and activities...

Discover the activities from the sea

HONDALEA

HONDALEA: New sculpture on Santa Clara Island

Excavated inside the hollowed-out lighthouse, Cristina Iglesias's work incorporates the peculiar geology and ecology of the Basque coast and the wild waters of the ocean that surround the island.

Download our guides

City guide

Download the complete guide to Donostia / San Sebastián. Ongi etorri!

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2024 Agenda

Discover our cultural activities for this year... Ondo pasa!

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