San Sebastián sits on a near-perfect bay on the Basque coast, and it has the self-assurance to know it. The Old Town alone packs more Michelin stars per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Europe, the Belle Époque seafront promenade rivals anything on the French Riviera, and the pintxos bars along Calle 31 de Agosto are reason enough for the journey. Whether you have a weekend or a full week, this city rewards every hour you give it.
What to see in San Sebastián
La Bretxa Market
Established in 1870, this neoclassical market in the heart of the Old Town is where the city's celebrated San Sebastián food scene begins each morning. Over 40 stalls offer the finest Basque and Cantabrian produce — fresh fish straight off the boats, seasonal vegetables, and local specialities that define Donostiarra cooking at its most honest.
Zurriola Beach
On the eastern bank of the Urumea river, Zurriola Beach draws surfers, the younger crowd, and anyone after a livelier atmosphere than La Concha offers. The consistent swell makes it a genuine surfing spot. Throughout summer it hosts concerts and sporting events, and the striking Kursaal building frames the scene at its western end.
Santiago Battery
Tucked within the walking trails of Monte Urgull, these historic military fortifications are a proper reminder of San Sebastián's turbulent past. The upper battery of Santa Clara adds a surprise element: a small bar and terrace with sweeping views across the bay — a fine reward after the climb through the hillside paths.
Hotel María Cristina
Designed by Charles Mewes and completed in 1912, this Belle Époque landmark stands on the Urumea riverbank with considerable poise. It remains the traditional base for the San Sebastián International Film Festival. You don't need to be a guest to appreciate the architecture — the facade alone is worth a slow look.
Albaola – Itsas Kultur Faktoria
Just outside the city in Pasai San Pedro, Albaola is a working shipyard reconstructing a 16th-century Basque whaling vessel using traditional techniques. It's the only living maritime heritage site of its kind in Gipuzkoa. Watching craftspeople rebuild the hull piece by piece is genuinely absorbing — far more so than a conventional museum display.
Igueldo Tower
This 16th-century tower atop Monte Igueldo once served as the city's lighthouse. Today it houses a photography exhibition alongside a panoramic terrace with exceptional views across the bay and the Basque coastline. The combination of maritime history and contemporary art makes it worth the ascent — particularly if you arrive via the century-old funicular.
English Cemetery
On the northern slopes of Monte Urgull, this quiet cemetery marks the final resting place of British and Spanish soldiers who died during the 1813 siege of San Sebastián. It sits along the path to the summit, offering historical context and a moment of genuine reflection. A sombre but worthwhile stop on any walk up the hill.
María Cristina Bridge
Four monumental obelisks, Motrico stone cladding, rose marble, and six Art Nouveau lamp posts — the Puente de María Cristina is one of the most photographed structures in the city, and rightly so. It spans the Urumea with a confidence typical of late Belle Époque design, and it connects the old city to the quieter Gros neighbourhood beyond.
Audio guide for San Sebastián with Guipock
Covering this much ground — Monte Urgull, the Old Town, Gros, the port, the beaches — is straightforward on foot, but having the right information at the right moment makes the difference between walking past something and actually understanding it. That's where the San Sebastián audio guide from Guipock comes in.
The app uses a GPS-guided map that tracks your position as you move through the city. When you arrive at a point of interest, Guipock notifies you so you can open the guide and listen at your own pace. There's no need to follow a fixed itinerary or stick to a group — you move as you like, stop as long as you want, and the app keeps up.
Audio is produced with high-quality generated audio available across a wide range of languages and regional accents — British English, American English, Australian English, European and Latin American Spanish, French, German, and more. Each accent is properly rendered rather than defaulting to a generic neutral voice, which matters when you're travelling as a family with different language preferences.
Speaking of which: the family code feature means one purchase covers everyone in your group. Each person loads the app on their own device and listens in their own language. No need to share a phone or queue up headphones. And for younger visitors, the children's mode offers the same route with adapted language, shorter audio clips, and anecdotes pitched at a younger audience — useful if you're trying to keep children engaged across a full day of sightseeing.
Before you set off, use the offline download option to save everything to your device. Once downloaded, the audio guide app for San Sebastián works without a mobile data connection — worth doing before you leave your accommodation, particularly if you're on a roaming plan.
