San Sebastian is a wonderful city, right on the border with France and is often called the “pearl of the north”. The city is an incredibly panoramic combination of the sea, mountains and a beautiful bay. Wonderful beaches and a small island, as well as monuments in the city are perfect attractions for a holiday here.
San Sebastian lies on a wonderful shell-shaped bay, hence the name – La Concha. It is surrounded by hills on both sides. The city is the capital of the Spanish province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country.
Sightseeing
El peine del viento
1. Basílica de Santa María del Coro
2. Museo San Telmo
3. Plaza de la Constitución
4. Teatro Victoria Eugenia
5. El peine del viento
6. Palacio de Miramar
7. Cathedral of San Sebastián – Catedral del Buen Pastor de San Sebastián
8. Alderdi Eder Parkea
Bridges
Puente de María Cristina Bridge
In San Sebastian you will find many interesting bridges. The most famous bridges in the city include: Puente de Zurriola, Puente de María Cristina, Puente de Mundaiz, Puente de Santa Catalina, Puente de la Real Sociedad, Puente de Lehendakari Agirre and Pasarela Mikel Laboa. Interestingly, some of these bridges do not have any supports. The oldest is Puente de Santa Catalina, it dates back to the 19th century. The most impressive is Puente de María Cristina, with four obelisks that are very richly decorated.
Amusement Park
Monte Igueldo amusement park
It is worth taking a ride on the historic railway to the top of Igueldo and seeing the extraordinary views from the top of La Concha Bay. At the top there is also a small but charming Monte Igueldo amusement park. The vast majority of its attractions are intended for younger children, up to about 10 years old, but older ones should also have fun with them. In the park you will find, among others: toy cars, haunted house, trampolines, carousels, boat rides and rope park.
Beaches
La Concha Beach
La Concha is the main beach of the city of San Sebastian. This is one of the most beautiful resorts in Spain. La Concha is located on the coast of the bay of the same name. The beach is located in the center of San Sebastian, between the rocky outcrop of Pico del Loro and the local fishing port. There is fine sand on the coast and bottom, and the beach is shallow and susceptible to tides.
Concha means “shell”, the name of the beach was the shape of the bay in which the resort is located. Tourists relax here all year round, even in winter, when the water temperature is quite cold. The resort is suitable for families with small children and groups of adults.
La Playa de Alabortza
Beautiful beaches also include Zurriola beach, Ondarreta Beach and Playa de Alabortza. The latter is a rocky beach, the rocks give it a characteristic atmospheric look, especially at sunset. There is an area with loose sand for sunbathing.
Santa Clara Island
ISLA SANTA CLARA
ISLA SANTA CLARA Santa Clara Island is a beautiful island in San Sebastian. It’s a lovely little corner in the middle of the bay. The island has a small beach, a lighthouse, paths with picnic tables and a bar on a seaside terrace. You can swim to the island all year round.
Good to know
Old Town, San Sebastian
You cannot miss the characteristic narrow streets in the old town, filled with cafes, bars and restaurants, loved by both local residents and tourists. When talking about the cuisine in San Sebastián, it is impossible to ignore the regional snacks called pintxos. They can be enjoyed in most bars and restaurants throughout the city. The local food is delicious so it’s worth trying. It should be added that one of the most important film festivals in Europe is organized here – the San Sebastián International Film Festival (Festival Internacional de Cine de San Sebastián). This famous event also promoted the city and attracts a lot of tourists.
