by Keta (cropped) / [CC BY-SA 2.5
One of the Most Charming and Atmospheric Cities in Spain
Table of Contents
A. About San Sebastian
Nickname: SanseThe beautiful Basque seaside resort San Sebastian (Donostia in the local Basque language called Euskara) is easily one of the most charming and atmospheric cities in Spain.
The city possesses without a doubt one of the finest city beaches in Europe.
Relax at these stunning beaches, visit its several scenic viewpoints, and try the authentic pintxos, the famous Basque version of tapas in the quaint Old Town.
➕ The Good
With its iconic crescent-shaped Bay of Concha with a cute little island in the center, elegant San Sebastian offers, first of all, an extremely scenic location.
Furthermore, the city is a very safe place with clean streets.
One of the highlights is of course the incredible tasty Basque food (the pintxos!).
Finally, in its picturesque center, San Sebastian possesses numerous pedestrian zones.
➖ Negative Aspects
San Sebastian is relatively small when it comes to size. So, after one or two days in the city, you may have seen almost everything.
B. Best Things to Do in San Sebastian in 2025 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)
In total, we count more than fifteen sights in San Sebastian. The following sights and attractions contribute to a rather low score of 5.65/10 in this most important category:
# Old Town (Casque Vieja) 5
Cobblestoned traffic-free lanes oozing with excellent pintxo bars, historic churches, and centuries-old buildings characterize the atmospheric Casque Vieja (Old Town) of San Sebastian.
# Miramar Palace and Aiete Cultural Park 5
This English Tudor-style palace with an octagonal tower was built in 1893 as a vacation home for the Spanish royal family. While the palace itself isn’t open to the public you can visit its beautifully manicured surrounding gardens.
# Peine del Viento 4
Located at the western end of La Concha Bay, this collection of three sculptures by Eduardo Chillida was arranged as an architectural work by the Basque architect Luis Peña Ganchegui.
by Reinhold Möller / CC BY-SA 4.0
# Aquarium Donostia 3
The Palacio del Mar houses an oceanography museum and a small aquarium.
The aquarium features a 360-degree underwater tunnel, thirty-one different exhibits broken up by region housing more than two hundred species.
Aquarium Biggest Tank: 1.5 million liters | Tunnel: small one | Species: 200 | Established: 1928, renovated 1998 | Rank in Our List of the Best 30 Aquariums in the World: None
C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in San Sebastian
#11 | Iglesia de Santa Maria del Coro 3
Iglesia de Santa María del Coro in San Sebastián is a remarkable example of Baroque architecture, boasting a captivating façade, opulent interior, and rich artistic heritage.
by Spike / CC BY-SA 4.0
D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from San Sebastian
Bilbao 7
Nearby Bilbao with its titanium-covered Guggenheim Museum is easily one of the most rewarding destinations in Spain.
City Distance from San Sebastian: 101 km
by Tjp finn / CC BY-SA 4.0
E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in San Sebastian (including close-by excursions)
To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend you when visiting San Sebastian for at least two entire days: