San Sebastián
The shell of La Concha between two hills, three-star tables on every side, pintxo bars in the old town, and a short runway at Hondarribia with Biarritz across the border for larger jets.
- Arrival
- San Sebastián · EAS
- To the city
- From Hondarribia, east of the city, by car
- Private jets
- Short runway at EAS; larger jets via Biarritz
- Best time
- June to July
The city
La Concha and the old town.
The Belle Époque made it a resort, with the Maria Cristina on the river and villas up the slopes of Igueldo and Urgull. The bay of La Concha curves between the two hills, and the old town at its eastern end has the densest run of pintxo bars in Spain. Out of town, a few kilometres apart, sit the kitchens that made the Basque country famous: Arzak, Akelarre, Martín Berasategui, Mugaritz.
The Basque coast dries out briefly in June and July, with afternoons of 21 to 24 °C and the Bay of Biscay at 21 °C. August is as warm but wetter, and brings the Semana Grande; the film festival runs for nine days in late September. Rain falls in every month, which keeps the hills green.
Arriving
A short runway, and a longer one over the border.
San Sebastián's airport stands in Hondarribia, east of the city, on a strip of land along the Bidasoa river at the French border. Its runway is about 1,750 metres long, and plans to lengthen it are contested.
- Barcelona 55 min
- Lisbon 1 h 20
- Istanbul 3 h 35
- Accra 5 h 45
- Doha 7 h 05 long-range jet
When to go
June to July.
Atlantic weather on a green coast: mild, showery and never very hot. The Basque coast dries out briefly in June and July, at 21 to 24 °C, and the Bay of Biscay stays at 21 or 22 °C from July to September. Autumn and winter bring more than a hundred millimetres of rain a month.
- 11° J 127 13°
- 12° F 103 12°
- 14° M 103 12°
- 15° A 122 13°
- 18° M 107 16°
- 21° J 77 19°
- 24° J 62 21°
- 24° A 90 22°
- 23° S 97 21°
- 19° O 121 18°
- 14° N 143 16°
- 12° D 133 14°
What to see and do
Days in and around San Sebastián.
-
Landmark
La Concha
The town beach, a shallow curve of sand with its white railing, Santa Clara island in the mouth of the bay.
-
Landmark
Monte Igueldo
The western hill, reached by funicular, with the whole bay below and Akelarre on its far side.
-
Landmark
Getaria
A fishing village half an hour west, where turbot is grilled over coals beside the harbour.
-
Culture
San Telmo Museoa
Set in a 16th century Dominican convent with canvases by Josep Maria Sert in its church, the museum tells the story of Basque society.
Official site -
Culture
Chillida Leku
Eduardo Chillida's sculptures stand in the meadows and woods around the 16th century Zabalaga farmhouse, fully reopened in 2019.
Official site -
Opera & music
Kursaal
Rafael Moneo's two glass cubes at the mouth of the Urumea, opened in 1999, host the San Sebastián Film Festival and the Jazzaldia concerts.
Official site -
Nature
Monte Urgull
Four paths climb from the old town to the 12th century Castillo de la Mota, its small history museum and the Sagrado Corazón statue.
Official site -
Nature
Ulia coastal path to Pasaia
From Zurriola beach the trail climbs Mount Ulia and follows the cliffs past La Plata lighthouse, ending with a launch across to Pasai Donibane.
Official site -
Golf
Real Golf Club de San Sebastián
Founded in 1910, the club plays an 18 hole, par 71 course on the slopes of Monte Jaizkibel near the French border.
Official site -
Wellness
La Perla
On the promenade of La Concha, this belle époque bathing house of 1912 runs a thalassotherapy circuit of hot and cold seawater pools.
Official site
Where to stay
Above the bay, and on the river.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Akelarre Twenty-two rooms facing the open coast on the far side of Igueldo, built around Pedro Subijana's three-star restaurant, and the only hotel in the city with two MICHELIN Keys.
- Hotel Maria Cristina The Belle Époque palace on the river, with 139 rooms and Amelia's two stars at street level.
- Lasala Plaza Hotel An adults-only hotel at the edge of the old town, a MICHELIN Key in the 2026 selection.
- Hotel Villa Favorita Twenty-five rooms on the seafront promenade above the beach, adults only, with a MICHELIN Key.
Where to dine
Three three-star tables within twenty minutes.
From the MICHELIN Guide 2026, shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these restaurants.
- Akelarre Three Michelin stars Creative €€€€ Paseo Padre Orkolaga, Monte Igeldo
- Arzak Three Michelin stars Traditional, contemporary €€€€ Avenida Alcalde José Elosegi
- Martín Berasategui Three Michelin stars Creative €€€€ Loidi, Lasarte-Oria
- Amelia by Paulo Airaudo Two Michelin stars Creative €€€€ Hotel Maria Cristina
- iBAi by Paulo Airaudo One Michelin star Basque €€€€ Getaria Kalea, Centro
- Kokotxa One Michelin star Modern €€€€ Old Town
- Itzuli One Michelin star Contemporary €€€ San Sebastián
Elsewhere in Spain
More reasons to come.
-
Madrid
The Prado, late dinners, and the capital's long nights.
- Barcelona Gaudí, the old town and the city beaches.
-
Marbella
The old town, the Golden Mile and Puerto Banús, under La Concha.
- Ibiza Coves and the old town by day, the island's clubs by night.
- Palma de Mallorca A cathedral city on its bay, with the coves of Mallorca all around.
- Seville Moorish palaces, orange trees and flamenco in the capital of Andalusia.
- Málaga Picasso's birthplace, and the airport of the whole Costa del Sol.
- Valencia The City of Arts and Sciences, the old silk exchange, and paella at its source.
- Bilbao The Guggenheim on the river, and the Basque coast beyond.
Flying to San Sebastián?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.