2-day San Sebastian itinerary
Let’s get started with this itinerary to visit San Sebastian in 2 days. Below you’ll find the visits I recommend, organized by day, along with some useful tips for your trip.
On your first day, I suggest starting with a walk around Mount Urgull, or at least part of it, before heading up to the top. Then, enjoy the charm of the Old Town and, of course, the famous pintxos. In the afternoon, wander through the Gros neighborhood and make your way up Mount Ulía to take in some truly unique views.
On your second day, I recommend walking the seaside promenade that runs along La Concha and Ondarreta beaches. Along the way, stop by the Miramar Palace. After reaching Peine del Viento and looping back, head up Mount Igueldo for stunning panoramic views. Finish the afternoon in the city center, soaking up the relaxed atmosphere of San Sebastian.
Day 1 of 2 days in San Sebastian
On your first day in this beautiful Basque city, I recommend visiting the following spots:
- Mount Urgull.
- San Sebastian Old Town.
- Gros.
- Mount Ulía.
Mount Urgull
I’d suggest starting your morning with a good walk up Mount Urgull. This hill, located right next to the Old Town, is one of San Sebastian’s most iconic spots and offers some truly spectacular views. From its viewpoints, you’ll get a clear sense of the city’s layout and be able to spot its different neighborhoods.
Before heading uphill, I recommend walking around Mount Urgull, or at least part of it, via the Paseo Nuevo. It’s a lovely walk that starts at Alderdi Eder Park, then continues past the harbor and along the Paseo del Muelle until you reach Paseo Nuevo. From there, you can begin your ascent using one of the trails that lead to the top.
Once you’re on Mount Urgull, you’ll find plenty of paths, viewpoints, and little corners to explore. Don’t miss the Baluarte del Mirador, the English Cemetery, the Mota Castle, and Napoleon’s Battery.
If you fancy a short break, stop for a drink at Polboriña Bar, located at the top of the hill. The views from there are absolutely stunning. Just keep in mind that the minimum card payment is €10.
When you finish your visit to Mount Urgull, make your way towards the Old Town by exiting through the Zuloaga Square access, right next to the San Telmo Museum.
🛏️ RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN SAN SEBASTIAN If you’re only spending 2 days in San Sebastian, I recommend choosing a centrally located hotel. On one of my trips, I stayed at this boutique hotel in the Old Town, which was fantastic. It has stunning port views and beautiful decor. I highly recommend staying in one of their rooms! Below, you’ll find more recommendations and you can also check out my article on where to stay in San Sebastian.
Old Town of San Sebastian
The streets of the Old Town are full of life, with shops, iconic buildings, and, of course, plenty of bars. You could easily spend several hours exploring, especially if you plan to stop multiple times to try the city’s famous pintxos.
When wandering through the Old Town, make sure not to miss these spots:
- Basilica of Our Lady of the Chorus.
- Calle Mayor.
- Donostia City Hall.
- La Bretxa Market.
- Plaza de la Constitución.
- San Vicente Church.
- San Telmo Museum.
By the time you’ve wandered through the streets, lunch will probably be calling and there’s no better way to enjoy it than hopping from pintxo bar to pintxo bar in the Old Town.
Some of the most iconic bars I recommend include La Cuchara de San Telmo, Borda Berri, Bar Sport, and Bar Txepetxa. And for dessert, don’t miss the legendary cheesecake from La Viña.
🎟️ If you enjoy learning about the history of the places you visit, taking a guided tour is a great idea! I recommend checking out this free tour of the old town and city center. Along with a guide and a small group, you’ll explore some of the city’s most important sites over two and a half hours. Take a look at the best free tours in San Sebastian.
Gros
After exploring the Old Town and enjoying pintxos like never before, take a stroll down the Alameda del Boulevard and cross the Zurriola Bridge to reach the Gros neighborhood.
Gros is one of the city’s trendiest areas and a must-visit in San Sebastian. It has a much more relaxed, youthful vibe, and it’s also home to the surfers’ favorite beach in town.
Start by walking along the promenade of Zurriola Beach. You can go all the way from the Kursaal Center to the Paloma de la Paz sculpture. It’s a great spot to pause and watch the surfers catch the waves up close.
Afterwards, wander through the streets of Gros and grab a drink at one of the local cafés. Don’t miss Cataluña Square, which is always buzzing with life.
Mount Ulia
San Sebastian has three hills that I recommend visiting: Mount Ulia, Mount Urgull, and Mount Igueldo.
Mount Ulia is located at the eastern end of Gros. You could walk all the way through it to reach Pasajes, but since that would take several hours, I suggest just heading up for the incredible views of San Sebastian. If you can do it at sunset, even better!
The climb is a bit challenging, I won’t lie, but the views you get from the various points along the hill are absolutely stunning.
Day 2 of 2 days in San Sebastian
Your second day in Donostia is here, and these are the places I recommend visiting:
- La Concha Beach.
- Miramar Palace.
- Peine del Viento.
- Mount Igueldo.
- San Sebastian city center.
La Concha Beach
Start your second day with a relaxing walk along La Concha Beach. Did you know it’s considered one of the most beautiful city beaches in the world? It’s absolutely stunning!
You can walk along the shoreline or follow the Paseo de la Concha, next to the famous San Sebastian railing. Both options are lovely and offer unique views of the entire bay.
As you stroll, keep an eye out for the building halfway along the beach. That’s La Perla, a spa and wellness center. When you reach the end of the beach, you’ll find yourself in front of Miramar Palace. I’ll tell you a bit more about it next.
After visiting Miramar Palace, continue your walk along Ondarreta Beach until you reach the Peine del Viento sculpture, one of Eduardo Chillida’s most iconic works, located at the very end of the promenade.
Palacio de Miramar
As I mentioned, on your walk from the city center to the Peine del Viento, you’ll come across Miramar Palace, situated between La Concha and Ondarreta beaches.
Miramar Palace was commissioned by Queen María Cristina, who spent her summers here for 40 years. While you can’t go inside, it’s definitely worth strolling through the gardens, reading the information panels, sitting on one of the benches, and, once again, taking in the incredible views.
Mount Igueldo
After walking along the Paseo de la Concha and the promenade by Ondarreta Beach all the way to the Peine del Viento, head back to the entrance of Mount Igueldo.
You can get to the top on foot, by car, or by funicular, which opens at 11:00 a.m. Once up there, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the entire city. It’s absolutely breathtaking! You’ll also find a bar and an old amusement park at the top.
Whether you go up on foot or by funicular, it’s a good idea to come down walking. That way, you can visit the lighthouse and enjoy the views a little longer. After that, you can either continue your walk back to the city center or use public transport.
San Sebastian city center
The city center is home to San Sebastian’s main shopping area. On streets like Urbieta, Fuenterrabia, and San Marcial, you’ll find plenty of shops and cool boutiques. This area is also packed with pintxo bars, restaurants, and cafés.
The center is also where some of the city’s most iconic spots are located, including:
- Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
- San Martín Market.
- Gipuzkoa Square.
- Hotel María Cristina.
- Victoria Eugenia Theatre.
- Santa Catalina Bridge.
I recommend taking a stroll through the center, popping into shops, sitting at a terrace, trying more pintxos, or returning to your favorite part of the city to end the day there.
If the weather’s nice, you could also take a swim at La Concha Beach. Such a nice way to wrap up 2 days exploring San Sebastian!
Where to stay in San Sebastian
As I mentioned earlier, on one of my trips to the city, I stayed at Hotel Sansebay. It’s right in the Old Town, just next to the port. It’s perfect because you can walk to pretty much anywhere in the city. I loved the staff, the breakfast, and how spacious the rooms were. Mine had a view of the entire bay. I highly recommend it!
On my most recent visit, I stayed somewhere completely different. It is a great option if you’re on a tighter budget or traveling by car. Olarain is just outside the city, in the Antiguo neighborhood, a more residential, local area. Parking is super easy, which is always a plus.
If you’re thinking about staying in a different part of the city or have a different budget, here are a few more suggestions:
- $: Koba Hostel. A hostel in the Gros neighborhood with shared, double, and family rooms. It has a terrace and a shared kitchen, and breakfast is included.
- $: Pensión San Jerónimo. Basic accommodation in the Old Town. They offer double and triple rooms with shared bathrooms.
- $$: Pensión Ondarra. Located in Gros, with single and double rooms with private bathrooms. Some rooms have a balcony with views.
- $$$: Boulevart Donostia. A hotel in the heart of San Sebastián with double rooms and studios. Some rooms offer city views.
- $$$$: Maria Cristina. This 5-star hotel is the city’s most iconic. If you can splurge, don’t miss the chance to stay here.
Map for exploring San Sebastian in 2 days
On the map below, you can see all the stops on this route, the hotels I mentioned, and the pintxo bars I recommended:
If you end up having less time in Donostia, check out this 1-day San Sebastian itinerary. Or, if you have more time on another trip, this 3-day San Sebastian itinerary might come in handy.
I hope this 2-day San Sebastian itinerary has been helpful in planning your trip to one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Basque Country.
If you want to share your experience in the city or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. See you next time!
