San Sebastián, Spain
Where to stay in San Sebastián: the best neighbourhoods and hotels
PicoloIt is easy to fall in love with San Sebastián. The city curves around an almost perfect shell-shaped bay, with Mount Urgull and Mount Igueldo standing guard on either side, and an old town that smells of grilled octopus and fresh bread from morning to night. But where you stay shapes how you experience it.
Do you want the pintxos bars right outside your door, or to wake to the sound of waves on La Concha? Do you dream of surfboards and coffee bars in Gros, or of the view over the whole bay from the top of Monte Igueldo? San Sebastián is small enough to walk almost everywhere, but each neighbourhood has its own rhythm.
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How to choose a neighbourhood
For food and atmosphere: Parte Vieja, the old town with its pintxos bars
For classic elegance and the beach: Centro and La Concha
For surf, coffee and a local feel: Gros
For peace and family holidays: Antiguo and Ondarreta
For views and romance: Monte Igueldo
Distances are short. From Gros to the old town is a fifteen-minute walk along the Urumea river, and from Ondarreta you can stroll all the way to Parte Vieja along the promenade. So choose your neighbourhood for its mood, not its distance.
The Parte Vieja old town in the evening. Photo: Picolo
Parte Vieja: the old town and its pintxos bars
Parte Vieja is the beating heart of San Sebastián. These are the narrow streets where Basques have stood at the bar for generations, a pintxo in one hand and a glass of txakoli in the other. In the evening the streets fill with people moving from bar to bar, and the mood is as lively on a Tuesday as on a Saturday.
Stay here and you are right in the middle of it. In return it can be lively until late, so ask for a room facing the courtyard if you are a light sleeper. See also our guide to the best pintxos bars, almost all of which are here.
Lasala Plaza Hotel: by the old harbour
An elegant hotel by the old fishing harbour, with the old town just around the corner and a roof terrace overlooking the bay.
Book your stay: See rooms at Lasala Plaza Hotel
Hotel Parma: by the river and the beach
A simple, central hotel on the edge of the old town, close to both the pintxos bars and Zurriola beach.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Parma
Hotel María Cristina by the Urumea river.
Centro and La Concha: Belle Époque by the bay
Between the old town and La Concha bay lies Centro, known locally as the Área Romántica. This is where the Spanish elite built their palaces and grand hotels when San Sebastián became the queen’s summer retreat in the late 19th century. The streets are wide, the facades pale and stately, and the promenade along La Concha is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Centro is the most practical choice for most visitors. You have the beach right outside, the old town five minutes away and shops, cafés and restaurants in every direction. It is also where you will find the city’s most legendary hotels.
Hotel María Cristina: the grande dame
The 1912 luxury hotel by the Urumea river is the home of the film festival, and has hosted everyone from royalty to Hollywood stars.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel María Cristina
Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra: views over La Concha
A classic hotel right on the promenade, with rooms looking straight out over the bay and Santa Clara island.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
Hotel Niza: on the beach at a friendly price
A beachfront hotel with a restaurant on the Concha promenade, and one of the more affordable places with sea views.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Niza
Catalonia Donosti: modern comfort with a spa
A modern hotel with a spa near Concha beach, a short walk from both the old town and the shopping streets.
Book your stay: See rooms at Catalonia Donosti
Hotel Arbaso: in the heart of the centre
A hotel with a restaurant, within walking distance of both the beach and the congress centre.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Arbaso
Pension La Perla: affordable and central
A simple guesthouse within walking distance of Concha beach, for those who would rather spend their money on pintxos than on the room.
Book your stay: See rooms at Pension La Perla
The Kursaal bridge leads you to Gros. Photo: Picolo
Gros: surfers, coffee bars and a local feel
Cross the Urumea river on the Kursaal bridge and you reach Gros. The mood here is younger and more relaxed, with surfboards leaning against the walls, specialty coffee bars and pintxos bars filled mostly with locals. Zurriola is the city’s surf beach, with good waves much of the year.
Gros is a good choice if you have been to San Sebastián before, or want to stay a little away from the main tourist flow. The old town is just fifteen minutes away on foot.
Zinema7: a boutique hotel by the Kursaal
A boutique hotel with a bar and lounge, inspired by the film festival and set beside the Kursaal congress and festival centre.
Book your stay: See rooms at Zinema7
Villa Soro: a palatial villa east of Gros
An elegant boutique hotel in a historic villa with a garden, a quieter option just east of Gros.
Book your stay: See rooms at Villa Soro
Egia: Tabakalera and cultural life
Next to the railway station lies Egia, home to the Tabakalera cultural centre in a former tobacco factory. Here you will also find One Shot Tabakalera House, a modern hotel at the heart of the city’s cultural life.
Book your stay: See rooms at One Shot Tabakalera House
Antiguo and Ondarreta: calm and a family beach
At the western end of La Concha bay, where the beach becomes Ondarreta, the city grows quieter. Here you find villas and gardens, a beach that is often less crowded, and at the end of the promenade Eduardo Chillida’s famous iron sculptures, the Comb of the Wind, defying the waves.
Antiguo suits families and anyone who wants peaceful evenings. The old town is a beautiful half-hour walk along the water, or a short bus ride.
Hotel Ezeiza: at the foot of Monte Igueldo
A beachfront hotel with a restaurant at the very end of Ondarreta, close to the Comb of the Wind.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel Ezeiza
Barceló Costa Vasca: a calm family base
A modern hotel with a restaurant and pool in Antiguo, close to Ondarreta beach.
Book your stay: See rooms at Barceló Costa Vasca
San Sebastián from above. Photo: Picolo
Monte Igueldo: the view over everything
Ride the old 1912 funicular up Monte Igueldo and you will understand why San Sebastián is called one of the most beautiful cities in the world. From here you see the whole of La Concha bay, Santa Clara island and the city stretching inland towards the mountains. At the top is a nostalgic amusement park that children love.
Staying on Monte Igueldo is for those who want the view to themselves. You will need a car, taxi or the funicular to get down to the city, but the reward is sunsets over the Bay of Biscay from your own window.
Mercure San Sebastián Monte Igueldo: the hotel with the view
A family hotel with two restaurants at the top of Monte Igueldo, with panoramic views over the whole bay.
Book your stay: See rooms at Mercure Monte Igueldo
Akelarre: a Michelin dinner and a night’s stay
Pedro Subijana’s legendary three-Michelin-star restaurant also has an exclusive hotel on the hillside overlooking the sea. The ultimate food journey.
Book your stay: See rooms at Akelarre
Tips before you book
Book early for events: Hotels fill quickly during the film festival in September, the Jazzaldia jazz festival in July and the Tamborrada on 20 January.
Summer is peak season: July and August are busiest and most expensive. May, June and September often bring warm weather and better prices.
Think about noise: The old town stays lively late into the night. Ask for a room facing the courtyard.
Parking is expensive: If you arrive by car, choose a hotel with parking or stay in Antiguo.
Planning something romantic? See our tips on hotels for a romantic weekend, and read the complete hotel guide.
Frequently asked questions about where to stay in San Sebastián
Which is the best area to stay in San Sebastián?
For most visitors Centro by La Concha is the best choice, with the beach outside and the old town five minutes away. If you want the pintxos bars on your doorstep, choose Parte Vieja. For a more local feel, choose Gros.
Is it noisy to stay in the old town?
Parte Vieja is lively until late, especially at weekends. Ask for a courtyard room if you are a light sleeper, or stay in neighbouring Centro.
Which hotels in San Sebastián have sea views?
Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra and Hotel Niza sit right on the La Concha promenade, while Mercure Monte Igueldo has panoramic views over the whole bay.
Where should you stay in San Sebastián with children?
Antiguo and Ondarreta are calm and family-friendly, with a beach that is often less crowded. Barceló Costa Vasca and Hotel Ezeiza are good choices for families.