Discover the city of San Sebastián - Donostia

The city of San Sebastian - Donostia

In an unrepeatable connection, before the imposing presence of the land, the sky and the sea, Donostia-San Sebastián, rejuvenates daily breathing the sea breeze after bathing in its Bay of Biscay. This is how it protects its inhabitants and offers its visitors the ever beautiful Easo, Donostia-San Sebastián.

Through the noble art of strolling, that tradition so typical of San Sebastian, in the following lines, we will walk through the most representative parts of this beautiful city, Donostia-San Sebastian, caressed by the breeze and without haste?

Our starting point is in the city centre. The widening of the city designed by the architect Cortázar, nowadays is the core of the commercial activity. Known as the Romantic Area, it offers us a stately urban centre, with a grid of wide pedestrian streets, where elegant architecture of notable French influence stands out. With emblematic buildings from the Belle Époque of San Sebastian, such as the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, the María Cristina Hotel, the neo-Gothic Buen Pastor Cathedral, the Fine Arts Theatre, the School of Arts and Crafts, now the Post Office, and in the heart of the Ensanche, the Plaza de Guipúzcoa, a carefully landscaped area with a swan pond, presided over by the neoclassical palace of the Provincial Council of Donostia-San Sebastián.

As a transversal axis that divides the centre, we will find Avenida de la Libertad. This financial section will connect us with the Gros neighbourhood, to the east of the Ensanche, and to the west, where we will continue, the Bay of La Concha opens up before us.

As we walk along its iconic morphology, we will discover noble buildings such as the Hotel Londres, the La Perla spa and we will go up to the Miramar Palace. The original Royal seat, where we can observe the beautiful panoramic view of the Bay, protected by the mountains of Igeldo, Urgull and the precious pearl, the Island of Santa Clara. Here we receive the sea, in two carpets of toasted sand, the Playa de la Concha and its sister Ondarreta.

We will descend to the original Old Quarter and the expansion of villas, gardens and beach, Ondarreta, built in the 1920s by the Brunet family. This will lead us to the apex of La Concha, discovering the Comb of the Winds, where Chillida and Ganchegui, on the slopes of Igueldo, comb the wind and the sea, before they surround this shelter opened by the Bay of Biscay.

On the way back, skirting the silhouette to the other vertex, we will discover treasures such as the Abrazo del Pico del Loro, the Gran Casino from the beginning of the 20th century, the current town hall, or the rationalist Real Club Náutico (Royal Yacht Club). And from leisure to business, between boats, fish markets and little fishermen's houses, the charming fishing port, with the Naval Museum and the Aquarium. Surrounding the foot of Mount Urgull, we will ascend to this sanctuary of a past that hides cannon batteries, the English cemetery or the Castillo de la Mota with the Sacred Heart, and exceptional views over the city. We will go down the breakwater of the Paseo Nuevo, visiting the Empty Building by Oteiza, the San Telmo Museum and on the other side of the river Urumea, the Kursaal Auditorium. A figurative tribute to two imposing rocks that protect us, this time with culture, on the Zurriola beach in the Gros district of Donostia-San Sebastián.

At this moment, it is possible that the second brain is sending us an intelligent signal. Time to taste another treasure that awaits us in this land, its gastronomy. Entering the small walled town that was Donostia-San Sebastián, its Old Part, along the Boulevard or like Anglo-Portuguese soldiers along the Bretxa. Towards Fermín Calbetón, 31 de Agosto or the Plaza de la Constitución, passing through gastronomic societies, restaurants, bars and markets, fiefdoms erected for the art of good food.

And here, where the beautiful city that it is today was born, we will end our walk and await your return, caressed by the breeze and without haste... this is our Donostia-San Sebastián.

Discover the best neighbourhoods in San Sebastián - Donostia

Old town in San Sebastián - Donostia

The emblematic old part of the city is a succession of narrow streets where you can enjoy traditional Donostia pintxos at every turn. It is an area where you will find an endless number of bars, restaurants, shops and part of the city's nightlife.

Like the neighbourhood of Gros, the old part is made up of sea and mountains. The sea surrounds this emblematic area, through the mythical fishing port where you can eat, have a drink or take the boat to Santa Clara Island, along the Paseo Nuevo where you can see the wonderful sculpture by Oteiza and along the Paseo de Salamanca where you will find the mouth of the Urumea River. The old part of the city lies at the foot of Mount Urgull, where part of the city's history is buried and where you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view.

The heart of the old part is the Plaza de la Constitución, formerly the city's bullring. In this square you can enjoy different bars and terraces where you can have a coffee, a pintxo or a nice drink.

Accommodation in Old town

Downtown San Sebastián - Donostia

The city centre, divided by the Avenida de la Libertad, is where the commercial and financial section of the city is located, offering an urban centre with wide pedestrian streets and elegant French-influenced architecture.

Accommodation in city center

La Concha beach in San Sebastián - Donostia

The iconic Playa de la Concha is a mirror of golden sand that reflects the coastal essence of San Sebastian.

Considered one of the most beautiful urban beaches in Europe, it is a corner where the city merges with the Cantabrian Sea in a harmonious dance. As you walk along its famous promenade, you will come across the emblematic iron railings that have become symbols of the city.

It is the perfect place for both those looking for a relaxing morning swim and for those who wish to stroll at sunset and enjoy the views of Mount Igueldo and Santa Clara Island. At the end of the beach, the Peine del Viento, a masterpiece by sculptor Eduardo Chillida, defies the waves with its majesty.

Cafés and terraces line the beach, offering respite to visitors and locals alike as they soak in the panoramic view of the horizon. La Concha Beach is not only a place to relax, but also a living testimony to San Sebastian's maritime culture and tradition.

View accommodation in La Concha

Gros - Zurriola beach in San Sebastián - Donostia

The neighbourhood of Gros is located in the eastern part of the city across the mouth of the Urumea River. In this neighbourhood is the beach of La Zurriola, a large beach frequented by surfers because it is the one with the best conditions for the practice of this sport. Overlooking the sea is the Kursaal Conference Centre, a building that houses both the San Sebastian International Film Festival and fairs and congresses of all kinds. It is a neighbourhood that has the peculiarity of consisting of sea and mountain, Mount Ulia, from which you will have spectacular views of the city.

It is a neighbourhood with a clear youthful character that offers all the services of a city, in fact, it is a neighbourhood with a large population, some of whom are foreign students. Here you will find supermarkets, bars, boutiques, bakeries, local and international restaurants, etc...

It is worth mentioning the Sagües area, a seafront promenade full of bars where you can have a snack, eat or have a drink while watching the beautiful San Sebastian sunset. There are also several surf schools where you can take surfing lessons or rent a board to practice this sport.

View accommodation in Zurriola

Antiguo - Playa de Ondarreta in San Sebastián - Donostia

El Antiguo is an emblematic neighbourhood in the city of San Sebastian. Located in the western part of the city, it has its own beach, Ondarreta, where the San Sebastian prison used to be located. It is sheltered from the Cantabrian Sea by Mount Igeldo, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city from its summit, and which can be reached by its century-old funicular railway.

In this Old Quarter you will find the famous and beautiful work of Eduardo Chillida, Peine del Viento (Comb of the Wind), where you can take beautiful snapshots of the place. You will also find the Miramar Palace, the former summer residence of the monarchy, where you can stroll or relax in its beautiful gardens and enjoy the beautiful views.

The main street in this neighbourhood is Calle Matia, where you can find small shops, such as butchers, pintxo bars, etc. El Antiguo offers a unique atmosphere.

Accommodation in Ondarreta beach

Cycle Line

San Sebastián is a city that you can visit by bicycle. You can move from one neighborhood to other one thanks to the many kilometers of bike lane that the city has for everybody who want to visit the city in a comfortable and healthy way. The local people call the bike lane ”bidegorri”, which means red road in basque.

Throughout the city there are also parking lots where you can park and lock our bicycle. Finally and if you come with your family, it is recommended that children under 13 years old wear a helmet.

In the next website you can see the map of the cycle line,

See map of the cycle line in San Sebastian

Stores where you can rent a bike:

La bicicleta - Bike Rental. Reyes Católicos Street, 14. You can rent bikes, electric bikes and scooters.

Bici Rent. Zurriola Avenue, 22.

Sanse Bikes. Boulevard Avenue, 25.

Pintxos Donostia (online). Guided pintxo tours with bycicle.

Finally and if you really like ride by bycicle, the city ville of San Sebastián presented few months ago the Route 25. A 25 kilometres way through cycle line with which you will see all the neighborhoods and touristic points of the city.

View our accommodation in San Sebastian

Discover Donostia-San Sebastián