3-day San Sebastian itinerary
Let’s discover the best places to visit in San Sebastián in 3 days. Let’s get started!
On your first day, I recommend walking along the coast from the Old Town to the Peine del Viento, stopping at Miramar Palace. You’ll get beautiful views of La Concha Beach. Then head up Mount Igueldo to take in the scenery, and end the afternoon strolling through the Old Town and Mount Urgull.
On your second day in San Sebastián, explore the city center, where you’ll find several of the main attractions, such as the Good Shepherd Cathedral. Then wander through Gros, another neighborhood you’re sure to love. Finish the day with a boat trip to Santa Clara Island.
On your third and final day, I suggest several plans for you to choose from: hiking to Pasajes through Mount Ulía, relaxing for a while on La Concha Beach, or visiting the surrounding towns, such as Hondarribia, Zarautz, Getaria, or Zumaia.
🛏️ RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN SAN SEBASTIAN On my trips to the city, I’ve stayed in very different types of accommodations, and depending on your budget or needs, I recommend one or the other. The first hotel I suggest is Sansebay, located in the Old Town with views of the harbor. The other option is Olarain, situated on the outskirts of the city in the Antiguo neighborhood. Both can be good choices depending on your situation. In any case, further down you’ll find many more recommendations to make this decision easier.
Day 1 of San Sebastian in 3 days
On your first day in San Sebastian, it’s time to walk along Paseo de la Concha until you reach Mount Igueldo, passing by Miramar Palace and first stopping at the Peine del Viento. Then I recommend taking the funicular up to Mount Igueldo. From the top, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the city.
Head back to the Parte Vieja to wander around and try the famous pintxos. At sunset, walk up Mount Urgull for a pleasant stroll and take in the sea views and the evening light.
La Concha Beach and the Seafront Promenade of San Sebastian
La Concha Walk, an avenue that borders the Concha Bay, is one of the most famous places in the city and one of the best things to do in San Sebastian.
Apart from passing by Miramar Palace, where I recommend stopping, you will also pass by the Hotel Londres and La Perla building. All this while you enjoy a pleasant walk with views of the sea along the Seafront Promenade of San Sebastian.
Miramar Palace
The Miramar Palace is located in front of Concha Bay, between Concha Beach and Ondarreta Beach.
Although you cannot visit the interior, it is highly advisable to go to the palace and take a walk in the surrounding gardens. There are benches and the views are very nice. You will also find information panels, where can learn about the history of this English-style palace.
Peine del Viento
Once you pass Ondarreta Beach completely, continue along Paseo de Eduardo Chillida until you reach the end of it, where Peine del Viento is located.
It is a group of three sculptures designed by Eduardo Chillida, a Gipuzkoan sculptor. Here, nature and human creativity come together to create a unique place. It’s a place that feels incredibly peaceful.
Mount Igueldo, a must-visit in San Sebastian in 3 days
If you’re planning to visit Mount Igueldo by taking the cable car, keep in mind that it opens at 11:00 a.m. from Monday to Friday and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. After having breakfast and taking your first walk around the city, it will probably be open by then. If you’re going to hike to the top, you can go even earlier.
The funicular runs every 15 minutes and costs €3.30 one-way or €4.75 round-trip. If you take the funicular up, access to the viewpoint is included in the ticket price. If you hike to the top, you’ll need to pay €2.50 per person to enter the viewpoint. As you can see, it’s worth going up on the funicular. However, for the descent, I do recommend walking.
Apart from enjoying the views, you can have a drink at the bar with a terrace or try one of the attractions at Mount Igueldo Amusement Park, which was built in 1912.
Old Town of San Sebastian
It’s time to return to the center of San Sebastian to explore the most beautiful part of the city, the Old Town (Parte Vieja). Here you’ll find many of the sights to see in San Sebastian in 3 days.
The places that you can not miss during your walk through this area are the Alameda del Boulevard, the Donostia City Hall, Plaza de la Constitucion, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro, San Vicente Church and San Telmo Museum.
While you visit these places, be sure to enjoy some of the most famous pintxos in San Sebastian. I recommend you go to Paco Bueno, Atari Gastroleku, La Mejillonera, Borda Berri, Bar Sport, Txuleta and Bar Néstor. For dessert, don’t miss the opportunity to try La Viña’s cheesecake.
🎟️ Another way to explore the Old Town is by joining this free tour of the city. It’s a guided tour where you pay what you want. It’s a great way to learn about the city’s history and discover some interesting facts. Check out the best free tours in San Sebastian.
Mount Urgull
To end your first day in San Sebastian in the best possible way, I recommend you take a pleasant walk through Mount Urgull. You can go around it through Paseo Nuevo or visit the interior thanks to the different paths.
I accessed Mount Urgull through the entrance located very close to San Telmo Museum. I visited several areas of the mountain, such as Baluarte del Mirador, the English Cemetery and La Mota Castle, and I rapped the day up by watching the sunset from the bar located on the same mountain. The name is Urgulleko Polboriña.
Day 2 of San Sebastian in 3 days
On the second day in San Sebastian, it’s time to visit several places in the city center and the Gros neighborhood.
In the city center, you’ll find very interesting spots such as Plaza de Gipuzkoa, the Good Shepherd Cathedral, María Cristina Bridge, and Zurriola Bridge. Then, I recommend taking a stroll through Gros and along Zurriola Beach. In the afternoon, if you feel like it, you can take a boat trip to Santa Clara Island.
Gipuzkoa Square, the first public park in San Sebastian
The first stop will be in Gipuzkoa Square, where the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa headquarters are located. It is also the first public park in the city.
The square, apart from being full of plants and flowers, houses a pond with ducks, a marble hour table and a monument dedicated to the musician from San Sebastian, José María Usandizaga.
Good Shepherd of San Sebastian Cathedral
Not far from Plaza de Gipuzkoa, you’ll find the Good Shepherd Cathedral of San Sebastian. It was inaugurated in 1897 and is built in a neoclassical style. Its tower reaches 75 meters in height. This cathedral is located just one kilometer from the Basilica of Santa María del Coro, with no buildings in between.
Maria Cristina Bridge
Once you have finished walking through the center of San Sebastian, cross the Maria Cristina Bridge and head to the other side of the Urumea River. This bridge is one of the most beautiful ones in the city. It was built in 1904 and designed by José Eugenio Ribera and Julio María Zapata.
Gros and Zurriola Beach
When you cross María Cristina Bridge from the city center, you’ll arrive in the Egia neighborhood. Before heading into Gros, you can visit Tabakalera, a cultural center located in a former tobacco factory. You can also stop by Cristina Enea Park.
Now, walk towards Gros, one of San Sebastian’s main neighborhoods. It’s a fairly modern area with a more youthful vibe. In Gros, you’ll find plenty of bars, cafés, and shops. I recommend wandering through its streets and discovering some of its most interesting corners.
The main tourist attraction in Gros is Zurriola Beach, where there are usually many surfers. If you travel to San Sebastian in the summer, you can take advantage of the afternoon to stay on this beach. I also recommend you walk along the promenade until you reach the sculpture of the Paloma de la Paz.
La Zurriola Bridge
This time, return to the center of San Sebastian by crossing the Zurriola Bridge, built in 1915. It stands out for its white and green street lamps.
Once you cross this famous bridge, you’ll see the Victoria Eugenia Theatre and the María Cristina Hotel on your left, two of the most iconic buildings in San Sebastian.
Boat cruise to Santa Clara Island
This activity is completely optional, but if you have time and feel like it, you can join this boat trip to Santa Clara Island, located in La Concha Bay. Besides seeing the island up close, you’ll also enjoy a pleasant boat ride. The trip lasts half an hour and costs €8 per person.
Day 3 of San Sebastian in 3 days
There’s a lot to see in San Sebastian in 3 days, especially if you include the city’s incredible surroundings. For your third day in the city, I’m going to suggest several plans. Pick the one that appeals to you the most!
Hike up Mount Ulia to Pasajes
One of the things I really enjoyed on my visit to San Sebastian was hiking up Mount Ulia all the way to the town of Pasajes. Even if you don’t have time to complete the entire route, I highly recommend hiking Mount Ulia to enjoy the views of the city from there.
If you do want to walk to Pasajes, keep in mind that the route takes about 2 hours. Once you reach Pasajes, you can take the boat from San Pedro to San Juan and explore the town. It’s very charming. I recommend returning to San Sebastian by bus.
Enjoy La Concha Beach
One of San Sebastian’s main attractions is its beautiful coastline, which you can enjoy any time of the year, but especially in the summer.
So, if you’re visiting during the warmer months and get a sunny day, a great plan for your third day in San Sebastián, especially if you feel like doing something relaxing, is to spend some time at La Concha Beach. Did you know it’s considered one of the best city beaches in the world?
Exploring the areas around San Sebastian
In the surroundings of this city, you’ll find many places worth visiting. Since you’re spending 3 days in San Sebastian, it’s a great idea to make a trip to towns like Hondarribia, Zarautz, Getaria, or Zumaia. Each of them has its own charm.
Another good option is the Chillida Leku Museum, founded by Eduardo Chillida, the creator of Peine del Viento. The museum is located in a traditional farmhouse in Hernani and features a landscaped space full of trees and steel and granite sculptures. If you’re interested in art, it can be a very rewarding visit.
Besides these places, there are many other spots near San Sebastian that are worth exploring. If you want to know more, I recommend checking out my article on the best day trips from San Sebastian.
If you have your own vehicle, I encourage you to use it, as it will be the most convenient option. Otherwise, you can use public transport or join an organized tour:
- Hondarribia, San Juan, and San Pedro tour. A 4-hour trip to some of the most beautiful towns east of the city.
- Zumaia, Zarautz, and Getaria tour. This tour takes you to the most popular towns west of San Sebastian and lasts around 4 to 4.5 hours.
- Biarritz and the French coast tour. On this 6-hour trip, you’ll cross the border to explore Biarritz and Bayonne, two of the main towns in the French Basque Country.
Where to stay in San Sebastian
San Sebastian isn’t very large. However, it’s important to choose a hotel in a good location, close to the city’s main attractions, especially if you’re only spending a few days there. I recommend staying in the city center or the Gros neighborhood.
On one of my trips to San Sebastián, I stayed at Hotel Sansebay, located in the Old Town, right next to the harbor. The location is perfect: it’s in the Parte Vieja, yet the street it’s on is very quiet. I also loved the views from the room.
For my most recent visit, I was looking for a more budget-friendly area with good parking, since we were traveling by car and wanted to explore other parts of Gipuzkoa. I chose Olarain, a very basic accommodation located in the Antiguo neighborhood.
If you want more recommendations, I recommend checking out my article on where to stay in San Sebastian, where I go over all the recommended areas and suggest hotels for different budgets.
Here are some other hotel recommendations:
- Hostels: Surfing Etxea, Koba Hostel. Both are located in the Gros neighborhood and offer shared dorms as well as private rooms.
- $: Pensión San Jerónimo. Located in the Old Town, with double and triple rooms, all with shared bathrooms.
- $$: Pensión Ondarra. Located in Gros, offering single and double rooms in different categories, some with balconies. All rooms are soundproofed.
- $$$: Boulevart Donostia. This hotel is located between the Old Town and the city center, offering double rooms and studios with kitchens. You’ll enjoy a very comfortable stay.
- $$$$: Maria Cristina. This 5-star hotel in the city center is the most iconic in San Sebastian, thanks to its incredible history. It offers a luxurious experience you’ll never forget.
Map to visit San Sebastian in 3 days
In the following map of San Sebastian, you can see all the places that I have mentioned in this article and the hotel I recommend:
If you prefer a more relaxed pace, or if you’ll have less time in the city, I recommend checking out my one-day San Sebastian itinerary and my two-day San Sebastian itinerary.
I hope this article on what to see in San Sebastian in 3 days has been helpful for planning your trip to one of the top destinations in the Basque Country.
If you’d like to share your experience in the city or have any questions, I encourage you to leave a comment. See you next time!
