13 Unique, Fun, & Awesome things to see off the beaten path in San Sebastian, Spain
Introduction
And now a brief history of San Sebastian. San Sebastian was founded in the year 1180. Due to its close proximity to the ocean it was established as a port city as well as a military fortress. Walls were constructed around the city with accompanying artillery scattered about it to defend against would-be attackers. It has been recorded in history that Queen Isabella would frequent San Sebastian in the summers for the purpose of treating her skin condition. She would treat her skin condition by bathing in the ocean on her doctor's orders. The Spanish elite would follow her in tow to San Sebastian and as a result the city developed both economically and socially. It garnered a reputation for being a prestigious city that still exists to this very day.
Top Things to do in San Sebastian
San Sebastian Old Town
The Old Town of San Sebastian is littered with a plethora of shops and restaurants. At the heart of the Old Town is the Plaza de la Constitución. The Plaza de la Constitución is the center of activity in the city. It has always been my experience in Spain that food in the city plaza’s is infinitely more expensive. If you must go to a restaurant in the plaza, then consider only ordering a drink. Save your money for cheaper and better food.
After experiencing the plaza endeavor towards the churches of San Sebastian. There are two churches in the old town: San Vicente Church and Basilica of Santa Maria. San Vincente is the oldest church in San Sebastian and is famous for its gothic style and romanesque altarpiece. The Basilica of Santa Maria dates back to the 18th century and is known for its large sculpture of San Sebastian's martyr and an altarpiece dedicated to the city’s patron saint.
Book Your Walking Tour Old Town Here
San Sebastian food
San Sebastian has long been considered the food capital of Spain, and for good reason. The food is absolutely amazing. I have heard that San Sebastian has the largest concentration of Michelin Star restaurants per square meter in the entire world. San Sebastian is littered with innumerable pintxos and tapas bars. What are Pintxos you ask? Pintxos are essentially tapas nestled on a small slice of bread.
My advice is to do a Pintxos/Tapas crawl throughout the numerous streets of the Old Town. Pintxos are cheap enough that you can eat a ton and not be full. Pintxos will be displayed in the windows of Pintxos bars, so if you see something you fancy, go inside to the bar and place your order. If you do not speak spanish use this phrase while pointing at what you want: “me gustaria uno de estos.”
Book Your Evening Pintxo Tapas Tour Here
San Sebastian Hike
Monte Urgull is the hill that overlooks San Sebastian and is dominated by a massive statue of Jesus atop the hill. At the top of Monte Urgull there is a castle called Castillo de la Mota. From the castle you can look down at San Sebastian and get some breathtaking views of the surrounding ocean.
The statue of Jesus is named Sagrado Corazon. The sculpture of Jesus is 40 feet tall and is reminiscent of the statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro. You cannot miss the statue once you are at the top. You can see the statue from miles away!
The British Cemetery is located on the side of the hill facing the sea and dates back to the First Carlist War in 1836. The Carlist Wars were essentially civil wars fought for the succession of the Spanish throne. British legions volunteered to fight on both sides. Those that passed away in the heat of battle were buried on Monte Urgull. The cemetery has largely been taken over by the plant life of the hill but you can still see tombstones poking their heads out from the foliage.
Book Your Coastal Hiking Tour HERE
Best Beaches in San Sebastian
There are numerous beaches in close proximity to San Sebastian. A few that are worth checking out are: Zurriola Beach, Ondarreta Beach, and La Concha Beach San Sebastian. La Concha Beach literally translated means “the shell.” When looking out over the beach you can tell why it received that name. San Sebastian La Concha Beach is the perfect beach for families. Zurriola is located on the eastern side of the city and is known for accommodating younger crowds. I also hear that it has some decent surfing if you are into that sort of thing. Ondarreta Beach is basically an extension of La Concha. Like La Concha it tends to be more of a family beach, which means it is quieter.
Conclusion
San Sebastian is a wonderful city that has some of the best food in the world. The city is green, beautiful, abounding in nature, possesses rich culture, and home to amazing beaches. When planning a trip to Spain, San Sebastian should be high on your list. I believe it has more to offer than the bigger cities of Spain.
