Where to stay in San Sebastian
Are you ready to discover the best neighborhoods to stay in this city? Let’s start!
1. Old Town, the most beautiful area in the city
The Old Town is the most emblematic and visited place in San Sebastian. It is also one of the best areas to stay in San Sebastian. The old town is located at the foot of Mount Urgull, between the Concha Bay and the Urumea River mouth. During your visit you’ll get closer to the history and culture of the city. Not to mention its exclusive pintxos, which you can find on every corner.
Enjoy a walk through its pedestrian streets while you discover some of the most iconic places in Donostia (San Sebastian). Do not miss the Church of San Vicente, Constitution Plaza and the Basilica of Santa María del Coro. The San Telmo Museum is also located in this neighborhood.
On my last trip, I stayed in this area of the city and I really enjoyed my stay. I chose Hotel Sansebay, a place I really recommend since it is very beautiful and has amazing views.
I recommend you do this free tour of San Sebastian, in which you will be able to visit, together with a guide, the attractions located in this area. Take a look at the best free tours in San Sebastian.
Best hotels in the Old Town
- $: Pension San Jerónimo, Pension El Puerto.
- $$: Pension Basic Confort.
- $$$: Hotel Sansebay.
- $$$$: Lasala Plaza Hotel.
2. City Center, best area to stay in San Sebastian
The city center is another one of the best areas to stay in San Sebastian due to its perfect location. If you stay in the city center, you will be surrounded by the Old Town, Gros and Playa de la Concha, which means that you can visit any of these places in just a few minutes on foot. In addition, the center is much more peaceful than the historic center.
Some of the main attractions in San Sebastian, such as Plaza de Gipuzkoa, the Donostia City Hall, the Buen Pastor Cathedral and buildings such as the Hotel María Cristina and the Victoria Eugenia Theatre are located in the city center. It is also a main shopping area. In streets like Urbieta, Fuenterrabia or Getaria you will find boutiques and international brand stores.
Best hotels in the City Center
- $: Regil Pension.
- $$: Boulevard Donostia, Room Mate Gorka.
- $$$: Maria Cristina a Luxury Collection Hotel.
3. Gros, one of the trendiest areas
Gros is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in San Sebastian. In this part of the city you can enjoy pintxos and nice terraces, quiet walks through Sagues, charming shops and a great atmosphere. Also, if you like surfing, this is definitely the best area to stay in San Sebastian for you. Zurriola beach is a great surfing spot in the city.
Other places that you cannot miss in Gros are Mount Ulia, the sculpture of the Dove of Peace, Plaza Catalunya, the church of San Ignacio and strolling through Ramon Maria Lili. If you area going to spend at least 2 days in San Sebastian, it is a great option.
Best hotels in Gros
- $: Surfing Etxea.
- $$: Pension del Mar.
- $$$: Pension Ondarra.
- $$$$: Hotel Villa Soro.
4. La Concha, in front of San Sebastian’s best beach
If you are visiting San Sebastian to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying yourself, I recommend staying in front of La Concha Beach, known as one of the best urban beaches that exist. Hours and hours spent at the beach, walking along Paseo de la Concha, going to the Old Town to eat some pintxos… You will have a lot of things to do!
Even if you are not going to travel to the city in the summer months, it is still a very good area to stay becasue you will have beautiful views of the sea and, in addition, you will be close to many of the city’s attractions.
Best hotels in La Concha
5. Amara, where to stay in San Sebastian on a budget
Amara is an ideal option for those who are looking for cheap accommodation in San Sebastian. As you already know, the city is quite expensive but by staying a little further from the center, you can save some money. It is a very quiet and not very touristy area, so it is possible to find cheaper hotels.
There aren’t many tourist attractions in this neighborhood but you will be able to enjoy many green areas and establishments frequented by locals, therefore, you will have the opportunity to experience the city in a more authentic way. To get to the center, you will only have to walk about 15 minutes.
Staying here, you will also be closer to other places, such as the Aiete Palace, which I recommend you visit if you have at least 3 days in San Sebastian.
Best hotels in Amara
- $: Pensión Amara, Talo Urban Rooms.
- $$: Hotel Zinema7.
Map of the best areas to stay in San Sebastian
To make your search for accommodation in San Sebastian even easier, I have created this map where I have marked the areas and hotels (and their respective links to Booking) that I recommend:
Don’t forget to check my Spain travel guide to keep planning your trip to this country.
I hope that this post on where to stay in San Sebastian has been informative and very useful when planning your trip to this Basque city. If you have any questions, I encourage you to leave a comment or email me. Until next time, travelers!
