1. Free walking tour of San Sebastian
If you are only going to book one free walking tour in San Sebastian, I recommend you joining this one, since it is the best you’ll find and the one that shows the most important places to visit in San Sebastian. Thanks to this two-and-a-half hour tour with a guide, you will get to know the main attractions of the city.
The tour begins in Plaza de Cervantes, located between the Old Town and Playa de la Concha. From here you’ll begin walking towards the historic center of the city, making a first stop at Plaza de Gipuzkoa, where the Provincial Council of Guipúzcoa is located.
Then the group will advance to Alameda del Boulevard, the one that divides the old and new part of San Sebastián. A few minutes later, you will arrive at Plaza de la Constitucion, one of the most beautiful places to visit in San Sebastian. You will also visit the Church of San Vicente, the oldest monument in this Basque town.
In this part of the city you can see the large number of bars where they serve the famous pintxos. You can’t leave town without trying a few! The visit will conclude after visiting Calle Mayor, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Choir and the façade of the Town Hall.
Tour rating: 9.5/10.
🛏️ If you haven’t booked a place to stay yet, I recommend you the hotel I stayed at: Sansebay Hotel. The room was very spacious and beautiful and it is in the old town.
2. Free tour of la Belle Epoque (in Spanish)
If you are spending at least 2 days in San Sebastian, I recommend booking a free tour of the Belle Époque. In 1893, Queen Maria Cristina, along with the rest of the court, began to spend the summer in the city. Little by little, several buildings with a marked French style began to be built. Thanks to this visit, you will be able to see some of the most emblematic buildings of the era.
This free tour begins at Alameda del Boulevard. From here you will walk to the Maria Cristina Hotel, where the aristocracy of the Belle Époque used to stay. The guide will tell you interesting stories about this hotel. The Victoria Eugenia Theater is located right next to it. Before continuing along Paseo de la Concha, you will be able to see the exterior of the Kursaal Conference Center and Auditorium.
In Playa de la Concha there is also La Perla spa, which was very popular at the time. The tour ends in front of the facade of the Buen Pastor Cathedral.
Tour rating: 9.6/10.
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3. Free tour of the mysteries and legends (in Spanish)
Would you like to discover some of the most surprising mysteries of San Sebastian? By booking this free tour about the mysteries and legends of the city, you will discover some of the secrets of Donostia while you walk through its streets. I recommend booking this activity if you are spending at least 3 days in San Sebastian.
The tour begins at the Alameda del Boulevard music kiosk. Then continues through Bretxa Market, where they tell you about some very bloody events that occurred at the beginning of the 19th century. Then, the tour takes you to the Victoria Eugenia Theater and the María Cristina Hotel, where you can discover more facts that will surprise you.
Next to the Kursaal bridge you will be able to find out what happened during the last night before the Grand Casino in the area closed to the public. Once you reach the Old Town, they will tell you about ghosts, miracles, spies and plagues. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?
On the other hand, in the port of San Sebastian, the guide will tell you stories of love and war. Here they will also tell you mysteries about the Santa Clara Island. The tour finishes at La Concha Beach, one of the best areas to stay in San Sebastian.
Tour rating: 9.4/10.
🚗 Do you need to rent a car for your trip to the Basque Country? I recommend checking out Discover Cars, a highly-rated car rental search platform. I have used it several times and it has always been great!
Check my Spain travel guide to keep planning your trip to this country!
I hope that this article about the best free walking tours in San Sebastian has been very useful to you in planning your trip to this beautiful city in the Basque Country. If you have any doubts or questions, I encourage you to leave a comment or send me an email. Until next time, travelers!
