Logbook · 18 places

What to see and do in Donostia/San Sebastián

What to see and do in Donostia/San Sebastián (Donostialdea, Gipuzkoa): 18 places across monuments, nature, activities and curiosities, with a photo and a Google Maps location.

1 Villages · 7 Monuments · 4 Nature · 3 Activities · 1 Historical milestones · 2 Food and drink

When to go to Donostia/San Sebastián: festival calendar

August: Aste Nagusia / Semana Grande (semana del 15 de agosto)

How far each place is from the centre of Donostia/San Sebastián

Towns near Donostia/San Sebastián

What to see in Pasaia 5 km · 9 places
What to see in Astigarraga 5 km · 7 places
What to see in Hernani 6 km · 9 places
What to see in Lezo 6.6 km · 5 places
What to see in Errenteria 6.6 km · 7 places
What to see in Lasarte-Oria 6.6 km · 4 places
What to see in Urnieta 8.2 km · 4 places
What to see in Usurbil 8.2 km · 5 places

Spain › Basque Country › Gipuzkoa › Donostialdea › Donostia/San Sebastián

What to see and do in Donostia/San Sebastián

Donostia/San Sebastián
Village
Capital of Gipuzkoa and head town of the Donostialdea comarca, with 189,866 inhabitants (INE, 2025) and 60.89 km² in area. The town center is at 12 m altitude, while the highest point in the municipality (the Urdaburu exclave) reaches 585 m.
Playa de la Concha
Nature
Urban beach 1,350 m long and 40 m wide on average, in the bay of the same name; it is one of the city's defining landmarks.
Monte Urgull
Nature
127 m hill overlooking the Bay of La Concha, with a castle and historic defensive remains at its summit.
Monte Igueldo
Nature
205 m hill at the western end of the bay, accessible by funicular.
Isla de Santa Clara
Nature
Islet located in the middle of the Bay of La Concha, accessible by boat during the summer.
Peine del Viento
Monument
Sculptural group by Eduardo Chillida installed in 1977 at the western end of Mount Igeldo, where the city meets the sea, with the surrounding urban design by the architect Luis Peña Ganchegui. Its three steel pieces each weigh more than nine tons.
Catedral del Buen Pastor
Monument
Neo-Gothic cathedral of Donostia, built in 1897.
Basílica de Santa María del Coro
Monument
Basilica in the old town of Donostia, with an 18th-century Baroque façade.
Palacio de Miramar
Monument
Belle Époque-style palace built as a summer residence for the Spanish royal family, declared a Bien de Interés Cultural.
Palacio de Ayete
Monument
Belle Époque-style palace surrounded by a public park, on the slope of Mount Ayete.
Palacio de congresos y auditorio Kursaal
Monument
Building by the architect Rafael Moneo, opened in 1999, made up of two translucent cubic volumes housing an 1,800-seat auditorium and conference halls.
San Telmo Museoa
Monument
Museum founded in 1902 by the Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País, housed since 1932 in a former Dominican convent built between 1544 and 1562 at the foot of Mount Urgull. It was expanded in 2011, at a cost of 28.5 million euros, with a new building by the architects Nieto and Sobejano built into the hillside. It received 151,290 visitors in 2024.
Festival de Cine de San Sebastián
Activity
International film festival held since 1953, one of the oldest in Europe; it is held annually in September.
Tamborrada de San Sebastián
Historical milestone
Festival of military origin in which societies and companies parade playing drums for 24 hours, every January 20. In 2018 the Basque tamborradas (drum festivals) were declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Jazzaldia
Activity
San Sebastián Jazz Festival, the oldest in Spain, founded in 1966; its first edition was held on September 10 and 11 of that year, and since 1967 it has been held every third week of July.
Aste Nagusia / Semana Grande
Activity
The city's main festivities, held every year during the week that includes August 15.
Arzak
Food and drink
Restaurant run by Juan Mari and Elena Arzak, with three Michelin stars since 1989.
Akelarre
Food and drink
Restaurant of chef Pedro Subijana, on the slope of Mount Igeldo, founded in 1970 and awarded its third Michelin star in 2007.