San Sebastian is recognized for its sunny beach locations and charming Old Town. This classy vacation resort is situated in the bay of Concha, a crescent-shaped bay.
The coastline extends For a lot of kilometers, bounded through the Urgull hills and Igeldo hills. San Sebastian is actually a metropolis that delights with its natural elegance and tasty cuisine. It truly is properly-recognized for its Michelin-starred dining places, and likewise surprises readers with its vivid atmosphere and cultural attractions.
Vacationers will adore checking out the palace and its gorgeous gardens, and walking along the terraced beach promenade overlooking the city's breathtaking architecture. Then they might wander as a result of cobblestone lanes to locate reliable pintxos - the Basque version for tapas. You can enjoy these delicious small bites of pleasure, which include salted cod omelet, marinated sardines and seasoned olives.
Discover the greatest attractions and things you can do in San Sebastian with our list.
La Concha Bay's Seaside Class and exquisite Seaside
Essentially the most well-known sight in San Sebastian is the Bahia de la Concha Beach front. This Seaside stretches for over a kilometer and encompasses a amazing turquoise shoreline. The bay is safeguarded and presents Harmless swimming waters.
The Playa de la Concha, or Seashore of Concha, is located in the guts of San Sebastian. It truly is effectively-noted for its classy atmosphere and loaded regal heritage. About the shores, the La Perla spa is located. The Palacio de Miramar, the summertime home in the Spanish royals until 1973, are available around the hillside higher than the Seaside. Rows of parasols with blue-and-white stripes add to your vintage glimpse in July and August.
La Perla Thalassotherapy Heart offers therapeutic solutions since the Belle Epoque. The spa is an opulent retreat with Jacuzzis and saunas, in addition to steam baths and also a health club. You can find also an aquatherapy pool which can be useful for therapeutic functions.
The La Perla Thalassotherapy Heart also offers Seaside obtain along with a 5,500 sq.-meter swimming area. It is found on the previous Royal Bathing Pavilion. Queen Maria Cristina, in 1868, established San Sebastian being a distinguished summer months resort and specified Playa de la Concha a "Royal Beach front".
Vacationers will love to stroll La Concha, Besides sunbathing or swimming. The Paseo De la Concha is a beautiful promenade that runs alongside the Coastline with street lamps and decorative railings.
This Seashore is preferred with sporty kinds for its kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding chances. Boat visits departing from Bahia De la Concha port can be used for fishing excursions or scenic cruises.
The Playa de la Concha is effectively-Outfitted to obtain website visitors. It's got general public toilets and showers in addition to lounge chairs and parasol rentals. Lifeguards are on obligation through high seasons.
The tree-lined Alameda del Boulevard is located inside of strolling length with the Bay of Concha. This space is really a central hub of San Sebastian's tradition with a lot of stores and places to eat. Tourists may also investigate San Sebastian's charming Previous Town from below.
Parte Vieja (Outdated City)
Involving the Alameda del Boulevard and Monte Urgull, you will see the Aged City of San Sebastian. This lively region is a popular spot for vacationers and locals.
The Parte Vieja's highlight will be the arcaded Plaza de la Constitucion. This huge community Area was when residence to bullfights, although spectators watched within the rows over.
Nearby attractions include the Neoclassical municipal Library and the normal food stuff stalls of your Mercado De la Bretxa. This protected shopping mall was inbuilt the 19th century.
Near the Plaza de la Constitucion, is usually the sixteenth-century Iglesia de San Vicente.This Gothic church is San Sebastian’s oldest and contains a richly carved Retablo that dates back again to 1584.
Strolling alongside cobblestone streets seeking classic Basque tapas is a favorite pastime in Old City. This quarter is filled with authentic pintxos restaurants. It is actually alive in the evening when equally travelers and locals go to the region.
Pintxos, which can be smaller snacks which can be served alongside a food, are tasty and filling. These delicious gastronomic delights involve deep-fried cod, marinated anchovies, and crisp home made croquettes. Basque cuisine is centered on sampling pintxos.
Monte Urgull & Monte Ulia: Historic Internet sites & Nature Walks
The Paseo Nuevo commences on the aquarium and wraps around the overall Monte Urgull. It truly is crowned with the Castillo de la Mota a powerful twelfth-century fortress along with a statue of your Sacred Heart.
On heat sunny days, the promenade at Paseo Nuevo is a great location to take a stroll, particularly when there is sand-holiday vacation atmosphere. In Wintertime, waves can crash on to the promenade earlier mentioned the sea wall. Travellers are astonished for the gorgeous sights of La Concha Bay and also the Cantabrian Sea.
A seafront promenade extends eastward to Monte Ulia, just past the river's Puente de la Zurriola bridge. The bridge was in-built the early 20th century and characteristics futuristic lamps and a Modernist layout. Close by may be the Teatro Victoria Eugenia an opulent Belle Epoque theatre that hosts live shows and various cultural activities.
The expansive Parque De Ulia, Positioned just beyond the Zurriola Seaside, is a shocking purely natural location that is great for hiking or picnicking. The Mirador de Ulia restaurant presents panoramic sights from its perch in the Monte Ulia cliffs.
Museo San Telmo
The Museo San Telmo, a museum dedicated to the cultural heritage and tradition of the Basque Nation, is phenomenal. It is situated within an Old Town convent from 16th century, which was in-built Renaissance.
The museum has quite a few departments represented, such as Archaeology (precolombian, Egyptian and Phoenician artifacts); Fantastic Arts which incorporates a significant collection of paintings, drawings and engravings; and Ethnography (focused primarily on Basque tradition).
The Historic Artwork Collection contains paintings by check here El Greco and Rubens Cano, Depiece, Moran. Ribera can be represented. Ugarte and Zubiaurre are represented, together with Echague, Salaberrias, Arteta and Zuloaga.
The museum is open up from Tuesday to Sunday. Tuesdays are free.
Palacio de Miramar
This Tudor-fashion English palace in English Tudor design was created by Selden Wornum, an English architect. It had been concluded by Benito Olasagasti. The palace, which is situated around La Concha Bay in Spain, was at first built as a holiday house to the Spanish royals. This was the summertime holiday vacation location for several Spanish queens.
It's distinguished by its fifty percent-timbered specifics and octagonal tower. The facade is decorated With all the coat of arms through the Habsburg Dynasty (a lineage on the Spanish royal relatives).
This tasteful, but uncomplicated household capabilities two flooring: one particular for that personal residence and 1 for the servants.
The palace is surrounded by a few hectares truly worth of parkland. Wonderful sights of the sea may be noticed from the estate's gardens. A promenade operates alongside the Bahia de la Concha from underneath the gardens.
Miramar Palace is cost-free to the public each day, except for occasions.
Enjoy the sights and check out the amusement park on Monte Igueldo
Monte Igueldo provides stunning sights of San Sebastian's surroundings. This mountain is located just further than the Playa de Ondarreta, at the conclusion of the beach near the Royal Tennis Club.
Visitors have the option to have a funicular approximately the top. It is actually 184m earlier mentioned the sea and provides amazing views.
A favorite vacationer attraction will be the Parque de Atracciones de Monte Igueldo amusement park. The charming carousels, as well as the roller coasters, undoubtedly are a delight for households with children.
The observatory, that has an outlook tower, is another emphasize. For gorgeous sights on the bay of Concha and also the rolling hills of Basque state, climb the tower.
The Mercure San Sebastian Monte Igueldo gives 4-star luxury accommodation. Company can love tasty eating and gorgeous sights on the lodge's good-eating restaurant, or pintxos Bar. Basque cuisine is definitely the specialty of this cafe, which utilizes seasonal and native ingredients. The pintxosbar delivers an out of doors terrace that has amazing views of San Sebastian's coastline.
Basilica de Santa Maria del Coro
The magnificent 18th-century Baroque church is found within the Outdated City in the foot of Monte Urgull. The Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro, considered one of San Sebastian's most popular tourist points of interest, was built within the location of the ancient Roman temple.
The church features a shocking Churrigueresco facade (Spanish Baroque). It encompasses a statue depicting Saint Sebastian in a niche, and two towers. The outside is a wonderful example of Churrigueresque architecture. It's a great deal of extravagant aspects that provide it the looks if a marriage cake.
The Basilica de Santa Maria del Coro, a must-see attraction in San Sebastian, is a must-see. The interior is grandiose and characteristics wonderful Neo-Gothic vaulting in addition to amazing pillars with elaborate capitals.
The Basilica is open up to the general public all calendar year round. Guided tours may also be offered. Every now and then, organ concerts are held here.
Loosen up at Playa de Ondarreta
In summer season, this Seashore is crowded with holidaymakers. The Playa de Ondarreta, Found within the Bahia de la Concha borders Monte Igueldo plus the grounds of Palacio de Miramar.
The Seashore's high-quality golden sand is perfect for sunbathing and strolling together the promenade. The shoreline is a hundred meters large and will accommodate high-season crowds.
The beach is crowded with families, sunbathers, Beach front volleyball gamers, h2o sporting activities fans and Beach front volleyball gamers in the summer months months of June, July and August. The youngsters's Participate in space is successful with Children.
Winter waves bring many surfers and bodyboarders to the Beach front.
Aquarium San Sebastian
The San Sebastian Aquarium is situated from the Outdated Town in the Bahia de la Concha's finish. This aquarium is part an Oceanographic Museum, which was established around a hundred several years in the past. It's 1 the first museums in Europe to generally be devoted completely to marine sciences and marine everyday living.
The San Sebastian Aquarium is a well-liked vacationer attraction. It's 31 habitats which can be filled with aquatic species. These range between sharks and tropical fish to People native to the Atlantic and Cantabrian locations. In excess of 40 species of fish is usually viewed by website visitors.
The Oceanarium is definitely an underwater show Place that should not be skipped. The aquarium incorporates a walkway that contributes to a transparent tunnel presenting 360-degree sights on the sharks, swimming fish, and turtles.
The Bokado Mikel Santamaria provides holidaymakers a singular seaside dining encounter. Ground breaking Basque cuisine is served at this contemporary-type gastronomic establishment. The eating room has ground-to-ceiling views of La Concha Bay.
San Sebastian Aquarium is open up all year, other than Mondays. The aquarium is open each day, even Mondays, throughout July and August.
Catedral del Buen Pastor
The Cathedral of The nice Shepherd, the largest church in San Sebastian is situated in the New City close to the bustling Calle de San Martin. This landmark metropolis landmark is distinguished by its magnificent tower measuring seventy five meters large.
This Neo-Gothic cathedral, built by Manuel de Echave (Basque architect), was developed around nine decades and inaugurated in 1897 through the Spanish royal family members.
Designed from sandstone taken from Monte Igueldo, the cathedral is really a masterpiece of architecture. It addresses an astonishing one,915 square metres.
The spaciousness and abundant decoration of the inside is awe inspiring. It incorporates a Latin cross-formed symmetrical structure with 3 naves, a transept, and 3 naves.
The sanctuary has a lot of stained-glass windows that provide it an ethereal and soul-inspiring experience. The windows in fact cover practically the entire cathedral's sides. Juan Bautista Lazaro developed the stained-glass Home windows.