A Unique 2 Day San Sebastian Itinerary
Our San Sebastian itinerary will give you everything you need from a memorable beach walk discovering art, to uncovering the best things to do in San Sebastian. This one of my favourite Spanish Basque cities. San Sebastian, also called Donostia, sits on the northern Spain coast near the French Basque Region. This small city of around 100,000 is known for pretty beaches and tasty food.
Are 2 Days Long Enough?
Two days in San Sebastian is the perfect time for a comprehensive San Sebastian itinerary. It’s enough to explore at a relaxed pace without missing top sights. And you’ll have time to see more of the Basque region and Spain.
San Sebastian Itinerary Day 1:
The Beach Walk
Who Created the Beach Walk? Eduardo Chillada
Where is the Beach Walk? La Concha promenade
What is the Main Sculpture Called? “Comb of the Wind”
Basque artist Eduardo Chillida mostly lived in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain. A lot of his work is on display across Basque Country. In addition, in San Sebastian, you can see Chillida sculptures for free by walking along La Concha promenade.
Also, the San Sebastian promenade is a pretty walk, passing several of the artists smaller sculptures. It ends at Chillida’s Comb of the Wind. This sculpture is one of his grandest projects.
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Where to Start the San Sebastian Beach Walk
You can start the walk to see Chillida’s Comb of the Wind sculpture in San Sebastian’s promenade from many spots.
A good place to start your walk from would be in the Old Town after eating pintxos. But you can also set off from the San Telmo Museum or Monte Urgull.
From the Old Town, it’s about a 3 kilometre (2 mile) walk to the sculpture. You can do it in 30-45 minutes. But you’ll likely take more time since there’s much to see. Make a day of it to visit beaches and cafés on the way.
After leaving the Old Town and passing City Hall and the library, you’ll come to Alderdi Eder Park first. These gardens are a nice spot to relax. In addition, there’s also a fun carousel for kids.
From the park, you can easily find the promenade. Furthermore, look down the curving bay and you’ll spot the final destination, with the ocean behind it. Moreover, signs for the “Comb of the Wind” sculpture also guide the way.
Sights to See Before the Sculpture
This first beach is La Concha Beach. Also, La Concha means “The Shell.” You can see how the bay looks like a shell. In addition, the whole promenade is also called La Concha Promenade.
Isla de Santa Clara in the Bay
Along the La Concha Promenade, you can see Isla de Santa Clara in the bay. Though small, Santa Clara Island has a lighthouse, views of San Sebastian, and a small bar and restaurant. You can reach it by a seasonal boat from the Old Town or, if adventurous, swim there.
Near the end of La Concha Beach is the Monument to Fleming, the first Chillida sculpture. It honours Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin. Chillida designed this granite work in 1955. It has stood here since 1991.
Afterwards, the path goes through the Old Tunnel under the park by Miramar Palace. The tunnel has beautiful ceiling art.
It’s easy to overlook another Chillida sculpture called “Abrazo” (Hug) from 1992. It sits on land projecting into the sea beyond the tunnel that separates the beaches.
Ondarreta Beach and Park
After the tunnel, you walk along Ondarreta Beach. You can walk the promenade, sand, or shoreline gardens. At the end, the promenade curves in the direction of the north. There’s a restaurant and beer garden at the tennis centre if you need refreshments.
Chillida’s Comb of the Wind
The name means “The Comb of the Wind.” Eduardo Chillida and Luis Peña Ganchegui created this powerful monument for the city they loved. This was Chillida’s favourite San Sebastián spot. It’s easy to reach but connects you to nature. The bay and city are behind you now.
Furthermore, Chillida’s Comb of the Wind is found at the promenade’s end, where the city meets the sea. Conditions here are harsh. I had seen the seawall battling the Atlantic Ocean near town. In contrast, El Peine del Viento embraces the challenge rather than resisting.
What starts as a plain plaza keeps marching to the sea to form an amphitheatre. This is where the magic starts. Architect Luis Peña Ganchegui connected the plaza to the ocean. Waves rush under the stone. Strong jets shoot up through seven holes, one for each Basque province.
Standing by the holes (or above if willing to get sprayed), you hear the cold waters flooding below. Also Crashing waves make constant background noise, punctured by the blow holes’ sound.
Eduardo Chillida’s three metal sculptures perched on the rock blend perfectly with their surroundings. The curved steel shapes are part of it all, but the sea still dominates—a forceful reminder of nature’s power.
This completes the first day of our San Sebastian itinerary, focusing on the beautiful coastal walk and Chillida’s sculptures. If you’re looking for more ideas on how to spend your time in Spain during winter, check out our guide to the best places to visit.
See also: Is Madrid worth visiting?
San Sebastian Itinerary Day 2:
The 7 Best Things to do:
1. Enjoy Pintxos in Parte Vieja Old Town
No visit to San Sebastian is complete without an evening pintxo bar crawl.
Pintxos are a type of Basque tapas – bite-sized snacks served at bars across the city. In addition, hopping-between-bars, making a meal of pintxos, is an awesome way to explore the old-town.
Also, don’t leave without trying these traditional tapas of Basque Country! If you’re planning to explore more of the region, be sure to read our guide on the best things to do in Bilbao.
Moreover, crawling the Old Town bars will likely be a highlight. Furthermore, the bars each have signature dishes, so pop into any that catch your interest!
Recommended Tours
2. Lunch at a Local Favourite: La Fabrica
When hungry, stop for lunch at a top Old Town restaurant. Late lunch around 2 pm is the big meal in Spain, so having a 3-course lunch is common. The daily set menus here are reliably delicious. They include a half bottle of wine per person too! Reservations at lunch in Spain are best, especially in summer. Call Fabrica ahead to book a table.
3. Visit the Funicular Railway up Monte Igueldo
At the end of the beach walkway is the funicular railway up Monte Igueldo. Furthermore, buy a ticket to ride up the mountain. In addition, at the top awaits a fun old amusement park. Moreover, Monte Igueldo provides one of the loveliest birds-eye views across the city.
4. Visit the Hip Gros Neighbourhood
Take a cab across San Sebastian to visit the trendy Gros area, near Zurriola beach.
In addition, stroll Playa Gros beach and watch local surfers surf. Inland, explore the young neighbourhood’s leafy-squares and stylish-boutiques.
5. Explore the Historic Old Town
Spend a few hours wandering through Parte Vieja’s narrow streets. The best way to enjoy is to get lost and soak it all in. Filled with beautiful buildings and architecture, San Sebastian’s Old Town is gorgeous.
6. Visit Constitution Square
A top spot in the Old Town is Constitution Square or Plaza de la Constitution. It is the main square in San Sebastian. Though it was once a bull-ring, now it hosts many parties and events. Surrounding the square’s bars and restaurants are a good spot for snacks.
Additionally, the square was once a bull-ring, but now hosts many parties and events. Therefore, the bars and restaurants surrounding the square are a good spot for snacks.
7. Dine at a Top San Sebastian Restaurant
Arzak is one of the best restaurants in San Sebastian, a city with more Michelin stars than anywhere. Trying fine dining is a must here. Food experts know Arzak as one of the world’s best restaurants. Booking far ahead is a must – think months. A meal at Arzak is pricey but worth it. The dining experience is fantastic.
San Sebastian Itinerary for Over 2 Days
If you have over 2 days in San Sebastian, you can extend your San Sebastian itinerary with day trips outside the city to see more of Basque Country, Spain. For those looking to venture further south, our guide to Nerja, Spain, is a must-read.
Visit Chillida Leku Sculpture Museum
Just a 15 minute drive from San Sebastian is Chillida Leku museum. This sculpture garden features work by artist Eduardo Chillida. Reopened in 2019, it’s worth visiting if you have extra time in the city.
Take a Day Trip to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
I can strongly recommend a day-trip to San-Juan de Gaztelugatxe! It’s a perfect day trip from San Sebastian and uniquely beautiful.
Furthermore, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is perfect for anyone looking to discover something truly incredible if not magnificent.
Additionally, Gaztelugatxe is also a Game of Thrones site. Fans will also know it as Dragonstone, home of Daenerys Targaryen. This is where you can play out your favourite scenes!
You will need to hike to the ancient stone bridge and to a tiny church. Then soak up the wild Bay of Biscay in all its beauty.
For nature lovers, Gaztelugatxe’s easily one of northern Spain’s top day trips. Mainly because of it’s remote location and driving there is great. From Bilbao, take highway B1-631. Follow the signs to Gaztelugatxe and park on the top of the hill. Then walk 1 kilometre to the spot.
With this San Sebastian itinerary, you’ll experience the best of what this beautiful Basque city has to offer, from its stunning beaches to its world-renowned cuisine.
See also: 7 cool things to do in Barcelona & the best of Southern Spain
Featured Posts for Spain
Guide for Planning Your Trip San Sebastian
Travel Insurance for Your Trip to Spain
Buying insurance is always valuable when travelling abroad. Therefore, enjoy your holiday in San Sebastian stress-free with one of my favourite providers, Visitors Coverage Insurance.
Renting a Car in Spain
Indeed, renting a car in San Sebastian is easy and is a great way to explore Spain freely. Consequently, I recommend booking yours with Rentalcars.com – they offer a variety of operators for all budgets.
Finding the Perfect Accommodation
The best way to book your accommodation in Spain is with Booking.com. In fact, it’s my go to site to compare and reserve places to stay each night, from affordable guesthouses to luxury hotels.
Booking Flights to Spain
Lastly, for air travel, I recommend booking your flight with Omio. Moreover, it has been my favourite platform for years, as it allows me to book the cheapest flights to visit San Sebastian.
