San Sebastián in 3 days
- Irene
- 6 hours ago
- 7 min read
A Perfect Long Weekend in San Sebastián: Food, Views & Coastal Walks
San Sebastián is one of Europe’s most rewarding short-break destinations. Known for its exceptional food scene, elegant coastline and walkable layout, it offers the perfect balance of culture, nature and gastronomy. This itinerary follows a structured three-day plan combining historic landmarks, scenic coastal walks and a carefully curated pintxos experience.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrival + pintxos in the centre + Old Town and key landmarks
Day 2: Coastal walks, Peine del Viento + Monte Igeldo + Old Town pintxos + Miramar
Day 3: Gros district, Bretxa Market and final lunch
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit San Sebastián is between May and September, when the weather is warm and ideal for walking, outdoor terraces and coastal views are at their best, and you can fully enjoy the beaches and viewpoints. However, it is important to note that the weather in the north of Spain is very unpredictable, so don’t count on guaranteed sunshine as it can be anything! We visited in mid-June and got lucky with the weather because it was sunny; however… we experienced a heatwave! They are not used to extreme heat in the north either, so sometimes finding places with air conditioning, especially in the older bars, was challenging. Regardless, I felt that June was ideal, with long daylight hours and a lively but not overwhelming atmosphere.
General Advice
For travel, the closest international airport is Bilbao Airport (BIO). From there, San Sebastián is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes by bus, with frequent and reliable connections from Bilbao Intermodal station and the airport directly to San Sebastián bus station. This makes it an easy and practical destination for a long weekend.
Book restaurants in advance for popular spots
Do pintxos properly: move between bars rather than sitting in one place
The city is compact and walkable, but allow extra time for stops
Consider a boat trip in La Concha Bay if the weather is good
Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll walk more than expected
Lunch is typically between 1pm–3pm and dinner from 9pm onwards
Day 1 – Arrival & Old Town Exploration
We flew into Bilbao the night before and decided to stay in Bilbao at a hotel near the Guggenheim, as we landed quite late and didn’t want to risk missing the last bus.
The bus that goes directly from the airport to San Sebastián is line DO04, run by the Lurraldebus/Pesa company. It runs once an hour from 07:45 to 23:45 on weekdays, and on weekends and bank holidays from 06:45 to 23:45 every hour.
As mentioned, we stayed right next to the Guggenheim at Meliá Bilbao, as we wanted to have a quick walk around the museum early in the morning and because it is just a 15-minute walk from Bilbao Intermodal, where you can take the bus to San Sebastián as well. The company running this service is Alsa and the journey takes around 1 hour 20 minutes. They offer comfortable coaches with TVs, leather seats and plenty of space at a very good price.
On the first day we started by grabbing a coffee and walking 10 minutes from the hotel to the Guggenheim. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is a world-renowned museum of modern and contemporary art. It was designed by architect Frank Gehry and opened in 1997. Its swirling structure of titanium, glass and limestone is celebrated as an architectural masterpiece. It sparked the "Bilbao Effect", transforming the city's post-industrial decline into an economic and cultural boom.
After this, we headed back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and went to the bus station.
When we arrived in San Sebastián, we went straight to the hotel to check in and leave our luggage. My favourite areas to stay are Gros or Centro. I am not a big fan of the Antiguo neighbourhood personally, as it feels too busy and touristy, while the other two feel more authentic.
If you want to stay somewhere iconic, choose Hotel María Cristina, but as you would expect, it is not cheap. Room Mate Collection Gorka and Hotel ARRiZUL Congress are good alternatives at a better price.
On our first day in San Sebastián, we decided to go for pintxos around the Centro area and we loved it. Our recommended places and pintxos are:
Bar Antonio (located along Avenida—Bergara Street); everything is excellent, particularly the ravioli, Spanish omelette, foie and slow-cooked cheek
Iturrioz - great variety of pintxos and good value options
Sansse - a good spot both for pintxos and proper meals; the calamari is a standout
We spent the afternoon walking through the Old Town (Parte Vieja) and surrounding areas. All stops are close together, making this an easy and enjoyable route and a great introduction to the city.
Cathedral (Buen Pastor) - A neo-Gothic cathedral completed in the late 19th century. It is the largest church in San Sebastián and stands out for its vertical design, tall spire and colourful stained-glass windows.
Town Hall (~8–10 min walk) - Originally built in 1887 as a casino during San Sebastián’s golden era as a royal seaside resort. Today it serves as the city hall and still reflects the elegance of the Belle Époque period.
Basilica of Saint Mary of the Choir (~5 min walk) - A baroque church dating back to the 18th century, located at the entrance of the Old Town. It marks the historical religious centre of the city.
Constitution Square (2 min walk) - The centre of the Old Town and one of the most recognisable squares in San Sebastián. It was historically used as a bullring, and the numbered balconies indicate where spectators would watch from.
The Port (~5 min walk) - A traditional fishing harbour where you can see the city’s maritime heritage. It’s also a great place to sit and take in views across the bay and towards Monte Urgull.
For dinner, we went to Saltxipi, which is a very nice restaurant in a more residential area with a beautiful terrace, specialising in fish. We tried the hake, the cocochas and the crab, and everything was amazing.
Day 2 – Coastal Walks & Panoramic Views
On the second day, we headed towards the other side of the city, specifically La Concha Walk and Peine del Viento.
You can do a very scenic coastal walk following the full stretch of La Concha Bay until Peine del Viento; this walk takes around 45 minutes. As we were there during a heatwave, we decided to take an Uber instead. There are not many Ubers in San Sebastián and waiting times can be a bit long, but for us it was worth it given the 35-degree heat.
Peine del Viento - Located at the western edge of the bay, this installation by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The steel sculptures are embedded in the rocks, directly exposed to the Atlantic. On windy days, waves crash dramatically through the site, creating an immersive natural experience.
Monte Igeldo – After that, you can head towards the funicular (10 minutes walk from Peine del Viento), which will take you to Monte Igeldo. The funicular takes around 5 minutes and has been operating since 1912.
At the summit, you can enjoy panoramic views over La Concha Bay, the Old Town and the surrounding mountains, and visit the small vintage amusement park, which adds to the nostalgic charm of the location.
For lunch, we headed towards Parte Vieja for pintxos. I think it is important to note that while the food is still very good, this area felt much more touristic. I would recommend the following places:
Bar Goiz Argi – known for its prawn skewer
Bar La Viña – famous Basque cheesecake
Bar Txepetxa – specialises in anchovies served in different styles
Cuchara de San Telmo – known for foie, beef cheeks and suckling pig
Txuleta Restaurant – steak croquetas
Sport – classic foie pintxo and sea urchin cream
Gandarias – cheese, mushrooms and mini burgers
Atari – more creative combinations like pork belly and slow-cooked egg
In the afternoon, you can head back to Palacio de Miramar (~25–30 minutes) or, if you prefer, visit it in the morning before lunch.
Palacio de Miramar - A former royal summer residence built for the Spanish monarchy in the late 19th century. It was designed in an English-style architecture, reflecting the aristocratic past of San Sebastián. The surrounding gardens are open to the public and offer one of the best elevated viewpoints over La Concha Bay.
For dinner, we went to Iraeta Taberna for steak, tomato salad and peppers (they don’t have anything else on the menu), and it was so good. It is a very authentic place full of locals, with not many tables, and I loved it. I highly recommend booking in advance given how small it is.
Day 3 – Gros District & Local Market
Spend your final morning exploring Gros, a more local and relaxed area of the city.
La Zurriola Beach - The city’s surf beach, noticeably different from La Concha. It has a more local feel and is popular with surfers and younger crowds.
Kursaal Congress Centre - A modern architectural landmark designed by Rafael Moneo. Its two glass cubes facing the sea represent “beached rocks” and contrast strongly with the historic Old Town.
Hotel María Cristina - A historic luxury hotel that has hosted celebrities and film stars, particularly during the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Bretxa Market - (open Monday to Saturday, 08:00–21:00). Located next to the Old Town, Bretxa Market is a traditional market where locals shop daily.
For lunch, I recommend going to a restaurant inside a different market: Maun (inside Mercado San Martín). It is run by chefs from the Basque Culinary Center and offers a short but high-quality menu.
After another great lunch to end our time in San Sebastián, we headed towards the bus station to take the bus to Bilbao Airport.
After spending a few days in San Sebastián, it’s easy to understand why so many people fall in love with this city. It has a unique ability to combine world-class food, stunning natural scenery and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, all within a very compact and walkable space. Whether you are visiting for the pintxos, the coastal views or simply to slow down and enjoy the Basque way of life, it’s the kind of place that leaves you already planning your next trip before you’ve even left.
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