Planning to spend 2 days in San Sebastian, and looking to see as much as possible? There are so many things to see and do around the city. This is my personal 2-day itinerary that will help you make the most out of your stay in San Sebastian.
Known as one of the most-loved cities worldwide, San Sebastián was voted one of the best cities in Europe in 2023 by many critics. Boasting many restaurants, excellent places to stay, and a rich history, San Sebastián is filled with natural beauty and an ocean climate that’s to die for during the summer.
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Table of Contents
A Comprehensive 2-Day San Sebastian Itinerary
- Day 1: La Concha Beach, Monte Urgull, San Telmo Museum, Old Town (Parte Vieja), Pintxos Tour.
- Day 2: Zurriola Beach, Buen Pastor Cathedral, Mercado de la Bretxa, Mercado de la Bretxa, Monte Igueldo, Comp of the Wind Statues, Miramar Palace, Paseo Nuevo
2 Days in San Sebastian – Day One
La Concha Beach
On one first day, we visited one of San Sebastian’s most iconic places, La Concha Beach. Located right by Santa Clara Island, La Concha Beach has been featured in newspapers and magazines and is known as one of the best beaches in Spain and Europe.
While at the beach, we enjoyed viewing the seaside promenade and swimming in its hypnotic waters. Although the tides can limit the beach space, the water isn’t typically deep in the bay. With more than 1,300 meters of beach and golden sand, we loved walking barefoot on the beach.
As we continued walking on the sandy beaches of La Concha Beach, we found ourselves on a path that led us to Ondaretta Beach, which was separated by a rocky area. Mount Igeldo and Mount Urgell were located on both sides of La Concha to protect its waters, which made it the perfect spot for paddle boarding and canoeing
If you enjoy the calming waters of the sea and prefer swimming or boating, this is an ideal beach!
Monte Urgull
Located towards the bottom of La Concha Bay was Monte Urgull, which looks over San Sebastián Old Quarter. As one of the three major areas of the city, it had a calm atmosphere, walkways spread with vegetation, and areas that provided the most breathtaking panoramic views.
Walking along Monte Urgull, we discovered several historical periods spread about the city and a wall that once surrounded San Sebastián. The different pathways throughout allowed us to visit scenic lookout points that allowed us to see San Sebastián from various perspectives.
We also explored a hidden passage that led us to the summit where the statue of Sagrado Corazón stood, along with the cannons of Castillo de la Mota.
San Telmo Museum
Situated in the heart of San Sebastián was the San Telmo Museum, which boasted an incredible 35,000-piece collection divided into History, Archaeology, Photography, Fine Arts, and Ethnography.
While touring the museum, we saw pre-Columbine artifacts, religious metalwork, ceramics, coins, weapons, and engravings. We could also see baptismal fonts, tombstones, and artwork from famous artists such as Alonso Cano, El Greco, and other Basque artists.
From Tuesday through Sunday between November and March, the museum is open from 10 am. to 7 p.m., and between March and October, the museum is open from 10 am. to 8 p.m.
Old Town (Parte Vieja)
Old Town is one of San Sebastian’s most authentic neighborhoods, where we saw the San Vicente Church and Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus. As we passed through the streets, we walked towards La Brecha Market, a traditional street market with stalls home to many of San Sebastian’s most famous chefs.
A few meters from the boulevard, we came to Plaza de la Constitución. This is the heart of the Old Town and looks over the old City Hall. Next to Plaza de la Constitución was the San Vicente Church where we viewed its gothic-style structure and interior featuring a unique altarpiece with specific scenes from the Passion.
As we made our way closer to the river, we came upon the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, which frequent Hollywood celebrities tend to visit, including Woody Allen, Richard Gere, and Brad Pitt.
Pintxos Tour
With such a variety of food choices in San Sebastián, it can seem challenging to find a place to eat to satisfy your cravings. If you want to venture into the city’s food scene, the Ultimate Pintxos & Wine Tour of San Sebastian is the perfect way to do it! In the Old Town, we discovered where to eat, what to eat, and how to properly explore pintxos bars during our stay in San Sebastián.
During the tour, we enjoyed five drinks in Old Town and more than eight food tastings. We tried mouthwatering seafood dishes and exquisite local meat, made our way to bars that the locals enjoyed, and tried the burnt Basque cheesecake!
Our tour began at a bar where we tasted the town’s best mussels, along with Basque cider. We learned the proper way to pour cider into our glasses and learned the true meaning of what going out for pintxos means. Next, we tried one of Spain’s most famous delicacies, the cured Iberian ham.
From there, we went to the main square, learned about the first pintxo ever invented, and tasted house-marinated anchovies. By the end of our tour, we discovered some of the most unforgettable bars in Old Town and were well-equipped to take on day two of our trip!
Click here for more information and to book this tour.
2 Days in San Sebastian – Day Two
Zurriola Beach
On our second day, we went to Zurriola Beach, where the younger crowd roamed and took in the waves surfing the water. Known as San Sebastian’s most famous stretch of sand, the beach attracts surfers worldwide. This is one of the more lively areas of San Sebastián, where all you’ll see are tourists and locals spending time outdoors moving their bodies.
There are daily surfing classes, beach tennis, football, volleyball, and surfing championships. Zurriola Beach is one of the best beaches with giant waves, which explains why surfing is the number one activity in this area.
The intense waves allow tourists and locals to surf at any tide, and it’s usually rare that surfing needs to be suspended due to the swell. In the area, we noticed Zurriola Beach had several surf clubs and surf schools, great for those who are beginner surfers or advanced surfers.
If you’re visiting San Sebastián and enjoy surfing, you shouldn’t leave without hitting the waves at Zurriola Beach!
Buen Pastor Cathedral
Known as Manuel de Echave designed the cathedral of Donostia, the Buen Pastor Cathedral attracts tourists with its Neogothic covering. It has decorative stained-glass windows and was built using sandstone. Upon visiting, we noticed that the cathedral was the tallest building in San Sebastián.
The building has sharp, pointed arches, gargoyles, and pinnacles, which show its Neogothic style. The second thing we noticed was the tall bell tower atop its entrance. Before entering, we saw a sculpture created by Eduardo Chillida, a piece of artwork that paid tribute to the cathedral’s centenary.
The stained-glass windows covered the walls, bringing in primarily natural light. I highly recommend walking around the cathedral to view the Gothic features over other areas of the cathedral.
Mercado de la Bretxa
Situated at the bottom of the La Bretxa shopping center is Mercado de la Bretxa, a famous food market located in the Old Town of San Sebastián. The market has many shops and restaurants, while its lower level is filled with food stalls that sell fish, fresh meats, and sausages.
Located in the back of the market, we noticed other stalls which sold cheese, flowers, and vegetables. One of the most captivating aspects of Mercado de la Bretxa is its stunning architecture with modern and traditional designs.
While visiting, we indulged in authentic Basque cuisine and watched as the locals made their way around to buy groceries for their homes. Since the food market is located in the city’s center, it’s an easily accessible location for locals and tourists and a short walking distance to city attractions and landmarks.
Find here some of my favorite pintxos bars and restaurants in San Sebastian:
– Bergara Bar, Calle del, General Artetxe Kalea, 8
– Zabaleta Bar, Zabaleta Kalea, 51
– Bodega Donostiarra, Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 33
– Arenales Bar, Boulevard Zumardia, 11
– Cervecerías La Mejillonera, Portu Kalea, 15
– Gandarias, 31 de Agosto Kalea, 23
– Sirimiri Gastroleku, C. Mayor, 4
– Bar Desy, Ronda Kalea, 4 (for the burger)
– Casa Vergara, C. Mayor, 21
– La Viña, 31 de Agosto Kalea, 3 (famous for the Basque cheesecake)
Monte Igueldo
If you’re looking for a place to take a break from sightseeing and to have full-blown fun, Monte Igueldo is a great amusement park for adults and children. With approximately 20 attractions, there’s a ride for everyone.
One of the first rides we tried was the Swiss Mountain roller coaster, which sat next to the Cantabric Sea and a series of up-and-down hills. Next, we explored the boat pond, where we rode beautifully tailored boats. We showed off our navigation skills by passing through roller coaster arches. Monte Igueldo was a refreshing way of revisiting our childhood!
Comp of the Wind Statues
As one of the essential works of Basque architects, the Comb of the Wind statues is a three-sculpture collection made with natural rocks from the Cantabrian Sea. Situated at the end of La Concha Bay, this is an area where the sea and wind collide, which inspired its artist to create the sculptures using natural elements.
As we viewed the sculptures, we noticed a sense of energy and movement with the crashing waves and whistling wind. It was beautiful to view waves shooting through blowholes in the background. The statues are a must-visit if you’re interested in sculptures and architecture.
Miramar Palace
After we visited the statues, we went to Miramar Palace, a charming cottage that sat dividing the beaches of La Concha and Ondaretta. Designed by Selden Wornum, the venue hosts several events and, during the summer, hosts summer courses for the University of Basque Country.
We were taken back by its patterned brickwork, rounded towers, and lythe chimneys. While walking the grounds, we noticed Cristina Enea Park, where geese and ducks paddled across the pond. You can tour Miramar Palace at your own pace or using an electric bike.
Paseo Nuevo
As one of our final stops, we went to Paseo Nuevo, a famous promenade for sightseeing and viewing the breakage of waves. The Paseo Nuevo stop was an excellent way to take the panoramic route and enjoy stunning views of Bahiá de la Concha.
On the promenade, we found the sculpture made by artist Jorge Oteiza and an open-air parking location where we parked our rental while exploring. This was an hourly parking area, but you could leave your car here for an extended timeframe to walk around the city.
After spending 2 days in San Sebastián, we quickly understood why it’s gained its reputation as one of the most popular cities to visit. In our itinerary, we’ll share where we stayed and some of the best things to do during a two-day trip!
Where to Stay in San Sebastián
As we spent 2 days in San Sebastián, we booked a room at Hotel Okako, where our room had its personality and style. The rooms here were decorated with various styles that included everything from recovered furniture to contemporary art. During our stay here, we felt incredibly relaxed at this charming hotel in San Sebastián.
Located in the heart of Donosti, the neighborhood overlooks the Cantabrian Sea and is one of the most lively and energetic neighborhoods thanks to its charming shops, terraces, and bars.
Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.