1. Free walking tour of San Sebastian (in English)
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.
🛏️ MY HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS IN SAN SEBASTIAN If you still need to book your accommodation in the city, I can recommend two places I’ve stayed at. They are very different from each other. One is a lovely boutique hotel in the Old Town with views of the port, and the other is a hotel located on the outskirts, in the Antiguo neighborhood, but well connected by public transport. You can also check out my article on where to stay in San Sebastian.
2. Free tour of la Belle Epoque (in Spanish)
Another of the most interesting free walking tours in San Sebastian is the Belle Époque tour, which lasts two and a half hours. During this time, you’ll be able to visit the city’s most notable buildings from this period.
In 1893, Queen María Cristina, along with the rest of the court, began spending their summers in the city. Gradually, several buildings with a distinct French style started to be constructed. This tour allows you to discover some of the most emblematic buildings from that era.
The tour begins at the Alameda del Boulevard. From here, you’ll walk to the Hotel María Cristina, where the Belle Époque aristocracy used to stay. The guide will share fascinating stories about this hotel.
Next to it is the Victoria Eugenia Theatre. Before continuing along the Paseo de la Concha, you’ll see the exterior of the Kursaal Congress Centre and Auditorium.
On La Concha Beach, you’ll also find the La Perla spa, which was very popular during that period. The tour ends in front of the facade of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
💡 ITINERARIES IN SAN SEBASTIAN To make it easier for you to plan your visit to the city, I’ve put together some itineraries for different lengths of time. If you’re interested, check out my daily routes to explore San Sebastian in 2 days or San Sebastian in 3 days.
3. Free tour of the mysteries and legends of Mount Urgull (in Spanish)
Mount Urgull is one of the city’s main highlights, and exploring it on your own is a fantastic plan. However, if you really want to uncover the most interesting stories surrounding this iconic hill, joining this free San Sebastian tour focused on its mysteries and legends is a great idea.
The tour starts at the Gipuzkoa Photographic Society and lasts about two and a half hours. From there, you’ll walk up Mount Urgull. Keep in mind that it’s a 125-meter-high hill, so it can be a bit of a workout but the views and surroundings make it a very enjoyable climb.
On the hill, you’ll visit places such as the Mirador Bastion, the English Cemetery, and the Castillo de la Mota, where the Sacred Heart statue is located, a monument visible from much of the city. Lastly, you’ll pass by the Urgull Lookout and the Damas Battery.
The tour ends at San Sebastian’s port, a perfect spot to continue with a leisurely stroll through the city or to head into the Old Town and recharge with some delicious pintxos.
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 questions, feel free to leave a comment. See you next time!
