Best of Basque Country: The Ultimate 1 Day San Sebastian Itinerary

If you are planning a visit to Spanish Basque Country, or País Vasco, then chances are San Sebastian is already at the top of your list of places to visit. (And if it isn’t, then it should be! Seriously, after two years of teaching English in Spain, I was so excited to finally visit!) This charming seaside city is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, stunning mountain scenery, Basque culture, and, perhaps above all, its cuisine!

During my recent visit to País Vasco, I spent two days in San Sebastian (or Donostia in Basque) and couldn’t recommend it more! If you are looking for a relaxed place to visit with a unique vibe and history, incredible scenery, and top-notch dining, then San Sebastian is the place for you!

Without further ado, here are the best things to do in 24 hours in San Sebastian.

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The Itinerary

While one could easily spend an entire weekend relaxing on the beach and eating their way through San Sebastian’s many pintxos bars, I’ve condensed all the best things to do into just one day for those hoping to road trip along the Basque coast or visit other nearby cities such as Bilbao.

I’ve also included additional points of interest on the map in grey for those who have more time in town.

As always, this itinerary is simply a guideline! Feel free to adjust and change it according to your personal tastes, timeline, and interests.

Note: San Sebastian is quite small and easy to walk around. While I’ve arranged the itinerary in this way to avoid backtracking, it won’t take you long to get from place to place on foot!

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A note about language:

In San Sebastian and throughout Spain’s Basque Country, or País Vasco, you are sure to notice something different about the language…it’s primarily Basque! That is why the city goes by two names, San Sebastian and Donostia!

Don’t worry though! You will totally be able to get around with any Spanish (and, in touristy spots, English) that you know. However, you will definitely see and hear quite a lot of Euskera, or Basque, and the language is completely different from Spanish!

Euskera is the oldest language still spoken in Europe, and dates to the Neolithic Era. During Franco’s dictatorship, the language was actually banned, and people today are very proud that the tradition has been kept alive.

While in San Sebastian, you’re bound to see the many differences between the rest of Spain and País Vasco, many of which are due to the region’s Basque roots.

Here are a few Basque words and phrases that might fun if you love languages or want to impress the locals:

• Kaixo-Hello
• Agur- Goodbye
• Bai-Yes
• Ez–No
• Eskerrik asko-Thank you

That being said, don’t worry if you don’t know any Basque, I didn’t and got along just fine in English/Spanish.

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1. Funicular Monte Igueldo

Start your day off on a (quite literally) high note by catching the funicular to Monte Igueldo for the best view of San Sebastian. Once at the top, you’ll arrive at a viewpoint overlooking San Sebastian, Santa Clara island, and La Concha, the seashell-shaped for which the city is widely-recognized.

Be sure to check out their website for hours and prices here.

2. Peine Del Viento

After getting the lay of the land, it’s time to head to Peine Del Viento, “The Wind Comb”. You’ll find this collection of 3 steel sculptures by artist Eduardo Chillida situated between the sea, La Concha beach, and Monte Igueldo. Check the sculptures out, enjoy the crashing of the waves, and, on a particularly wavy day, witness water spray through specially placed holes in the boardwalk.

3. Ondarreta Beach

The shell-shaped bay of San Sebastian is actually comprised of 2 beaches, La Concha (the shell) and Ondarreta beach. As you begin walking closer to the city center, you’ll walk along this beach before heading through a short but beautiful tunnel, the Tunel Del Antiguo. You’ll feel as if you are crossing from one beach to another under the water!

For a lovely viewpoint of Santa Clara island, stop just before the tunnel and check out Pico Del Loro, the place where the La Concha and Ondarreta beaches meet.

4. Miramar Palace

Between the two beaches, you’ll find Miramar Palace, a former vacation home for the Spanish monarchy. You know San Sebastian is special if the royals even went there on holiday! The palace dates back to 1893! Take a look around the palace and the gardens before continuing along the way.

5. La Concha Beach

Once you’ve crossed over from Ondarreta, you’ve reached La Concha, San Sebastian’s most popular and well-known beach. Walk the entirety of its shell-shaped curve along the boardwalk, or venture onto the sand for some swimming and sunbathing if you happen to be visiting during the summertime. I visited during the spring, so it was a bit too cold for taking a dip! However, if you happen to visit during the summer, you’ll find that there are plenty of beach activities to be had here such as swimming, paddleboarding, and even kayaking.

As you get closer to the city center, you’ll discover some beautiful squares and architecture as the beach ends and the city’s old town begins.

6. Santa Clara Island

If you are visiting during summer and have time, consider heading to Santa Clara Island, the small, yet iconic island in the bay of San Sebastian. If you are a strong swimmer, you can even reach it yourself by swimming, or you can go by paddleboard/kayak. For those who would like to visit without venturing too much into the water, there is a ferry service available throughout the summer months with two routes, a scenic and direct. You can learn more about the ferry service as well as there hours here. Once you’ve reached the island, there is a white lighthouse, restaurant, and beach where you can relax and enjoy the day.

I visited during the springtime, so I had to settle for views of this island, as there was no boat service running and it was too cold to swim.

7. Mount Urgull + Mota Castle

If the views from Monte Igueldo weren’t enough, or if you’d like to see the bay from a different perspective, then head on over to Mount Urgull. This viewpoint overlooks the city and bay of La Concha, and there are several different pathways one can take to reach the top. Along the way, you’ll discover various elements from the fortress atop the hill, which are fun and interesting to check out. I highly recommend traveling up the hill via one path and down via another, so you get different views and scenery each way.

Once you’ve reached the top of  Mount Urgull, you’ll discover Mota Castle and the 12-meter tall Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart) statue, which has been a symbol of the city since 1950.

Take some time to enjoy the views and check out the 12th century Mota Castle and the small museum within, before returning down the mountain. I stopped and enjoyed a glass of wine with an incredible city view before finishing my decent!

Note: The “hike” should take between 20-30 minutes each way and isn’t terribly difficult-I managed to reach the top with a sprained ankle!

8. Explore the Old Town

At the base of Mount Urgull, you’ll find the city’s old town. Wander the oldest streets in the city be sure to stop at the Basílica de Santa María del Coro, Saint Vicente Church, Constitución Plaza, and the 31 de Agosto Kalea, among other points of interest. In the Old Town, you’ll also find some of the best dining in San Sebastian (and possibly the world) which leads me to our next stop…

9. San Sebastian Pintxos Crawl

Foodies, you’re in luck! San Sebastian is famous internationally for its cuisine. In fact, the city is home to the second highest number of Michelin star restaurants (per capita) in the world, and some of the planet’s best restaurants can be found in San Sebastian.

In San Sebastian, Pintxos, (small plates not to be confused with tapas!) reign supreme, and a visit to San Sebastian wouldn’t be complete without an evening spent hopping from pintxos bar to pintxos bar in search of the best food in the city.

During my visit, I hopped on Devour San Sebastian‘s Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour, and tried a variety of local specialties like mussels, anchovies, modern and traditional pinxtos, cider, wine, and…the world’s best cheesecake. If you’d like to learn more about the food history and culture of San Sebastian, or learn about some of the best places in town, be sure to check out my post all about the tour here.

Warning: may cause hunger!

Special thanks to Devour San Sebastian for inviting me to join the tour! This post contains affiliate links, which help keep this blog up and running. As always, my opinions are 100% my own! 

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If you have more time in San Sebastian:

• Good Shepherd of San Sebastián Cathedral-19th century gothic revival cathedral
• Zurriola beach-the third beach of San Sebastian
• Mount Ulia-another hilltop with views of the city and sea
• San Telmo Museum-Basque culture, art, and history museum
• Day trip: Best of Basque Country: How to Spend 1 Epic Day In Bilbao
• Day trip: Best of Basque Country: Epic Day Trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (Dragonstone!)
• Explore nearby coastal cities-Zumaia (a Game of Thrones location!) Getaria, and Zarautz, among others

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