San Sebastián Travel Guide

San Sebastián, the vibrant resort town on the Bay of Biscay is at the top of my list for must-see travel destinations in Europe. Located in the north of the Basque Country, in the Spanish province of Gipuzkoa, the city features lush hillsides, golden beaches and a thriving culinary scene.

Upscale shops and pintxos bars that dot the old town and picturesque beaches make San Sebastián a perfect getaway for those looking to enrich their culinary palette, unwind and be immersed in Basque culture.

Before my trip to San Sebastián, I reached out to Basque Luxury, a concierge for all things luxury in the Basque Country. They laid out a full itinerary of luxurious things to experience during my stay, which made the planning process a breeze. The company offers personalized organized trips, private guides and chauffeur driven luxury cars to ensure your time in San Sebastián is one to remember.

I had the opportunity to visit their studio where they offer workshops, hold exhibitions amongst other events and let me just say, the space is stunning! @basqueluxury

Length of stay in San Sebastián:

My recommendation would be to spend at least a week (preferably 2) in San Sebastián to allow enough time to experience the city as well as take day trips to other parts of the Basque Country including Bilbao, Getaria, La Rioja, and Hondarribia.

For day trips outside of San Sebastián, allow Basque Luxury’s chauffeur service to transport you to your destination. Sit back in your Mercedes S or V-Class car and enjoy the stunning views of the Basque hillsides. No more fuss about rental cars and the frustration of navigating foreign roads!

What to do in San Sebastián:

Pintxos Bars

Pintxos are small snacks traditional in northern Spain, especially popular in the Basque Country. They are bites packed with so much flavor, small enough to allow you to try 3-4 dishes from one bar.

Some bars are extremely busy to the point where you’re almost yelling to the person behind the bar to take your order and others are more relaxed. The beauty of this genius concept is that guests are able to experience a few dishes from one bar. This completely solves the problem of, “what should I eat tonight?” Just order all three!

Here are my favorite pinxtos bars in San Sebastián:

Borda Berri

La Cuchara De San Telmo

Casa Urola

Mata La Uva

Mimo Experience

Mimo, headquartered in San Sebastián provides cooking experiences, food tours, dining + wine experiences – essentially, all things food in San Sebastián. I had the opportunity of experiencing the Michelin Star Secrets Cooking class – a hands on, educating course in techniques of Michelin chefs. The day course is an immersive experience with a Michelin chef, allowing participants to enhance their culinary skills while being enveloped in Basque cuisine.

Mimo offers pintxo tours, wine tastings and other culinary experiences for you to enjoy on your trip to San Sebastián. The company has quickly expanded into Sevilla, Algarve, London and Mallorca. If you’re in those places, I highly recommend a course or tour with Mimo! @mimosansebastian

Explore the Beaches

San Sebastián has a thriving and glamorous beach scene, and in summer months visitors can expect the beaches to be filled to full capacity. The foremost beach is La Concha, which stretches from Parte Vieja (aka Old Town) west to Miramar Palace. Calm waters make this beach ideal for sun bathing and swimming.

Ondarreta Beach is located in the west of La Concha Bay and is the perfect place for families looking to spend a day in the sun.

Stroll through Old Town

Parte Veija is the heart of San Sebastián. The cobble stone streets are dotted with century old buildings that house bars, restaurants and shops. Stop in to a few pintxos bars to fuel up for a few hours of exploring the charming town.

Monte Urgull

If you’re up for a short hike (trust me it’s very short) for stunning views of the city, head up to Monte Urgull. From the top you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views of the city.