Old town of San Sebastian
If you are thinking of visiting the city of San Sebastian and you still don’t know all the areas, curiosities, etc. that you can find there, we will give you a small preview of the most interesting places to visit in our city.
To do so, you can take different tours, either on your own or with a guide, where you will discover every corner of this beautiful city.
The Old Town of San Sebastian is located at the foot of Mount Urgull, and a stroll through its streets will take you to the social centre of Donostia.
One of the hallmarks of San Sebastian’s Old Town are its cobbled streets. These streets offer the city’s excellent gastronomy with its delicious pintxos and countless of the city’s most famous high-end restaurants.
Pintxos are a food that identifies Donostia’s gastronomy. Stroll through the streets of the Old Town and you’ll find bars full of pintxos in all the restaurants in the area.
Therefore, you should make the most of your visit to the city and go from bar to bar to live the experience like a true txikitero from San Sebastian.
In the Parte Vieja we also find places of interest to visit such as the basilica of Santa María del Coro and the church of San Vicente.
This is also where the most famous square, known as Plaza de la Constitución, is located and where most of the events and festivities take place.
Port of Donostia
On leaving the Old Town, we find the Port of Donostia, the ideal place to get to know the roots of the city. This area is always crowded with tourists and is one of the most incredible sights of the city, which contrasts the maritime area surrounded by boats anchored to the port with the area of fishing houses and restaurants.
If you are interested in learning more about the relationship that the inhabitants of Donostia have had with the sea over the centuries, we invite you to visit the Aquarium and the Naval Museum.
Boulevard Area
Around the Old Part of the city we find the Boulevard area. The Boulevard is considered a meeting place, frequented by young and old alike.
An area that links the Old Part of San Sebastian with the rest of the city. The city centre is surrounded by the most romantic streets of the city, which you will undoubtedly fall in love with.
This area enjoys unparalleled beauty, with historicist-style buildings such as the Victoria Eugenia Theatre.
Further on you will find the famous Plaza Gipuzkoa, a place to rest and where children can enjoy the swans and ducks in the pond.
If you like the neo-gothic style, walk a little further and you will find the Cathedral of el Buen Pastor, which pays homage to medieval European cathedrals.
On the Boulevard we can enjoy the views of the Buen Pastor Cathedral, the highest point of San Sebastian, which we can easily distinguish with its elongated spire.
Places to go shopping in San Sebastian
If, in addition to a cultural visit, you want to make a stop for shopping, you should know that the Romantic area is famous not only for the beauty of its streets but also for being the place where you will find all the best-known international brand shops, as well as small boutiques.
There are several markets in San Sebastian, but the most representative are the Bretxa and San Martín markets.
The Bretxa market is located on the west side of the river, with a neoclassical architectural style characterised by its large windows and the clock in the centre of the main door. Here you will find different types of food stalls. It owes its name to the breach left by the wars in the city wall.
While the San Martín market was considered the oldest market in San Sebastián, it was rebuilt at the beginning of the 21st century and now has a more modern and innovative look.
The Parte Vieja area is one of the city’s nightlife hotspots. During the day and most of the evening it is in the pintxo bars where you will find the best atmosphere for both young and old.
In addition to the bars in the Old Part of San Sebastian and after midnight, you can also enjoy the most popular nightclubs in our city.