Best tours of San Sebastian

If you want to discover the best things to do in San Sebastian during your stay, the best thing to do is to join a guided tour, or plan your own route on board a tourist bus.

In any case, there are many options when it comes to tours of San Sebastian. You can walk through the streets to see the architecture of the buildings and monuments. You can also visit the bars and restaurants to sample the local gastronomy and, if you wish, escape the hustle and bustle in search of the monuments and natural landscapes of the nearby towns.

A private walking tour of the old town of San Sebastian will allow you to familiarise yourself with the streets if you intend to spend several days in the city. Similarly, if you are short of time, you will be able to get to know the main monuments and their history and enjoy the architectural richness of this region. All this in just a few hours.

You will be able to visit the Bretxa Market, where you can see the ruins of the walls that once protected San Sebastian. You will also see a photographic record of the city, be able to buy local products at the market and try the famous pintxos (traditional gastronomy).

You will also visit:

• Plaza Konstituzio. An important square that has served as a stage for local celebrations since ancient times.
• Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro. You will enjoy a representative Baroque architectural work, dating back more than 200 years.
• Church of San Vicente. In this 16th century building, you will see an old French organ and be amazed by the exquisite design of its altar.

This tour also usually includes a visit to the San Telmo Museum to see its exhibitions and, finally, a walk to Mount Urgull, where you will have a privileged view of the city.

Details of interest

• Price: from 45€ per person.
• Duration: 2 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will see the main monuments of San Sebastian in a short time.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity does not usually include food and drink.

Embarking on an electric bike tour in San Sebastian with an experienced local guide is definitely a great way to get the most out of your visit to San Sebastian in 3 days or less. You will explore the most outstanding areas: beaches, monuments and much more. All this in a short time and in a fun way.

The activity usually covers approximately 10 destinations, starting from the Buen Pastor Cathedral, as it is a central point in the city. This is usually the meeting point with the guide.

Among the places to visit are:

• Miramar Palace, known for being the former residence of Queen Maria Cristina. From there, you will have an amazing view of the bay.
• Monte Igueldo, you will walk along the beach route until you reach Igueldo.
• Paseo Eduardo Chillida, where you will pass by to observe for a few minutes the imposing sculpture Peine del Viento.
• Playa de La Concha, Playa Kursaal and Playa Zurriola, you will roll along these paths while watching the crystal clear waters.
• Edificio Tabakalera, towards the neighbourhood of Gros.

Details of interest

• Price: from 43€ per person.
• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: you will see the main monuments of the city and you will have enough time to stop and explore each one of them.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour does not include any kind of food.

In the city of San Sebastian you will find a wide gastronomic selection, which you can sample as part of a guided tour of the city's restaurants and bars. You'll give your palate a real treat while you learn about the different preparations.

To start your tour on this gastronomic tour of San Sebastian, you'll usually meet up with the culinary expert assigned to you in the city centre. Afterwards, you will walk through the lively streets of the old town and visit some restaurants.

During the experience, you will have the opportunity to try:

• Pintxos or the Basque version of tapas.
• Crispy squid.
• Cod omelettes, as an accompaniment to any meal.
• Tender pork fillet.
• Basque cake, filled with pastry cream.
• King prawns
• Marmitako, which is a stew with white tuna.

Of course, the tastings may vary depending on the tour you select. However, all tours incorporate the best places to eat pintxos in San Sebastian, as these tapas are very popular in the region.

Details of interest

• Price: from 128€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn about the history of each of the preparations while you delight your palate.
• Disadvantages of this option: these tours do not usually include transfers to and from the hotel.

If you want to make the most of your 1-day visit to San Sebastian, then a good option is to take part in a sightseeing bus tour with free stops through the streets of the city.

It's a route of about an hour, in which you will discover the main monuments of San Sebastian from the first floor of the bus, while enjoying the commentary of an audio guide.

During this bus tour with free stops, you will see the Miramar Palace, the arch of the María Cristina Bridge, the Aquarium on Paseo Nuevo, Plaza Guipúzcoa, the Old Quarter, the Buen Pastor Cathedral and many interesting beaches such as La Concha beach, Zurriola beach, San Sebastián beach, Ondarreta beach, among others.

The best thing is that you can get on and off the bus as many times as you want at any of the 29 stops indicated, to explore the places of your interest.

Details of interest

• Price: average price of 12€ per person.
• Duration: 1 hour (Approx.)
• Means of transport: tourist bus.
• Advantages of this option: you can create your own itinerary according to your interests, as you can get on and off the bus.
• Disadvantages of this option: the buses do not have a roof, so you should take precautions regarding weather changes.

To make the most of your visit of at least 4 days in San Sebastian, you can join a free tour of the city with a professional photographer. You will be able to visit some highlights and take amazing pictures for memories and social media.

This tour usually starts near the bay of La Cocha, where you will meet the photographer to start the tour. This way, you will visit the Clocks of La Concha Beach, La Perla Shopping Promenade, the Bicentennial Balcony, the Parrot's Peak, the Wind Comb, Ondarreta Beach, the Miramar Palace, the Eduardo Chillida Promenade, among other places.

In each of the mentioned places you will stop and the guide will tell you which are the best angles for your pictures. This way, you will be able to take advantage of the light, the shadows and, of course, the unique landscapes of this city.

Interesting details

• Price: from 10€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: this type of tour does not require a minimum number of participants, so you can do it alone or with a companion.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not suitable for people with mobility difficulties.

Whether you have 2 days in San Sebastian or you decide to extend your visit for a longer period of time, you should incorporate a boat trip along the coast of this city into your itinerary.

The adventure usually starts in the fishing port of San Sebastian, in the bay of La Concha. You will board a boat and the captain will immediately start sailing along the city's coastline.

The trip usually lasts approximately 2 hours, during which you will discover a number of interesting sites, which may vary according to the route you have booked:

• The mouth of the Urumea River.
• The Peine del Viento sculpture
• The Kursaal Auditorium.
• Mount Ulia.
• Mount Igeldo.
• Zurriola Beach.
• Pico del Loro (Parrot's Peak).

Details of interest

• Price: from 240€ per person.
• Duration: 2 hours. (Approx.)
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages of this option: by travelling by boat along the coast of San Sebastian, you can enjoy a different perspective of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity does not include food, but you can buy it on board the boat.

If you are a film enthusiast, then you should take advantage of your stay in San Sebastian to see the places where some famous films have been shot and where various festivals have been held.

This type of tour usually starts outside the Donosti Bookshop. There, you will connect with a local guide, who will take you to see some filming locations.

For example, the route of this activity usually incorporates:

• Cristina Enea Park, where scenes were filmed for Negociador (2014), which is a comedy by Borja Cobeaga.
• Loiola pedestrian street, where part of the film Embarazados (2015), directed by Juana Macias, was filmed.
• Miramar Palace, used for some scenes of Handia (2017). This is a film based on real events and winner of several Goya awards.

You will also visit some of the places where the San Sebastian Film Festival is usually held. Such is the case of the Hotel María Cristina and the Kursaal Auditorium.

Details of interest

• Price: the average price of the experience is 15€ per person.
• Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: the tour offers a sign language interpreter, in case you are hearing impaired.
• Disadvantages of this option: this activity is usually aimed at groups with a minimum of four people, which could be a disadvantage if you are travelling alone or as a couple.

The guided tour of the Mercado San Martin is another must-do in San Sebastian during your stay. There, you will be able to observe and purchase a range of local products. All this in the company of a professional chef with whom you will then prepare delicious recipes.

Once you meet the chef outside the market, you will begin your tour of the building, whose history dates back to 1884. Inside you'll find retail seafood shops , butchers and fresh vegetable sales. You will also see some cafés and restaurants.

In addition to learning about the market and the products sold there, you will have the opportunity to learn how to cook some of the city's traditional recipes. To do this, the chef-guide will take you to his home kitchen to prepare pintxos, pil pil cod, txangurro (crab meat), among others.

Details of interest

• Price: from 200€ per person.
• Duration: 8 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn how to select the best ingredients and prepare various traditional recipes in the company of a professional chef.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity does not usually include tastings during the market tour.

If you are a surfing enthusiast, then during your visit to San Sebastian you can't miss the opportunity to take part in a day experience at La Concha beach. You'll be able to ride the best waves and have the beautiful view of the city as a backdrop.

You'll only have to walk about five minutes from the city centre and you'll immediately find the emblematic La Concha beach, which stretches for 1.3 kilometres.

There, you'll have the chance to connect with a surf school. A professional instructor will teach you the basics of the sport and the code of conduct for surfing on the beach. You will also be provided with a board and a wetsuit.

After surfing, you will join the group for lunch in one of the restaurants along the promenade of the bay.

Details of interest

• Price: from 30€ per person.
• Duration: 6 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: the activity is aimed at children from 6 years of age, so if you are travelling with children they can participate in this experience.
• Disadvantages of this option: the surf lesson does not include food and drinks.

If you don't know what to do in San Sebastian in winter, then you can incorporate a 40-minute tour aboard a tourist train into your itinerary. You'll ride through the main streets of the city without fear of an unexpected precipitation ruining the tour.

To go on this tour, you'll have to go to Paseo Salamanca. There, you'll pay an average price of approximately €5 and you'll be able to start a route that will take you all around the historic centre and see:

• La Concha Bay.
• Miramar Palace.
• Mount Urgull.
• Victoria Eugenia Theatre.
• Buen Pastor Cathedral.

The train has a couple of carriages, panoramic windows and a glass roof, so you can enjoy the scenery from different perspectives. There is also a screen with information about each monument.

Details of interest

• Price: average price of 5€.
• Duration: 40 minutes (approx.)
• Means of transport: tourist train.
• Advantages of this option: you will tour the historic quarter and other areas of interest in a comfortable way and in a short time.
• Disadvantages of this option: The tour does not include an audio guide.

When you go on one of the tours of San Sebastian you should take into consideration some basic tips to improve your experience.

For example, you should wear comfortable shoes that allow you to walk long stretches without getting tired and wear clothes that match the weather (light clothing in summer and warm clothing in winter).

It is also important to arrive at least 10 minutes before the meeting with the guide and to find out about the bus stops near where you are staying. The latter in case the tour does not end at the door of your hotel.

Taking a tour of San Sebastian is a way to save time during your stay, thanks to the help of the assigned guide or the audio guide provided.

You will be able to discover the most important destinations and see the best sights, without fear of getting lost in the streets of the city. You will also learn about the history of each place and learn some anecdotes.