San Sebastian

What to see in San Sebastián in one day, the Pearl of the Bay of Biscay

Do you want to know what to see in San Sebastian? Known as La Bella Easo or the Pearl of the Bay of Biscay, San Sebastián is for many the most beautiful city in Spain and an impressive place to spend a few days.

Here we are going to tell you what is the most important thing to see in San Sebastian in one day and the most interesting so that if you visit the beautiful Basque town you will leave with a great taste in your mouth, and not only because of the pintxos that you will be forced to eat.

Remember to read our travel diary to San Sebastian for more information. And if you have more days, do not miss our article with the best things to see in San Sebastián in two days.

The best tour to see San Sebastian in one day

The Wind Comb

San Sebastian - Comb of the WindOur walk through San Sebastián can begin at one of the ends of the bay, next to Ondarreta Beach, where one of the most emblematic places to see in San Sebastián is located.

This is the Peine del Viento, the famous sculpture by Eduardo Chillida built in 1976 and where an unforgettable show takes place when the tide is high.

The famous sculpture is located at the foot of Mount Igueldo, the other place in the city from which you can have great views of the Bay, although if you are going to be alone for a day, you still won’t have time.

La Concha Beach, the most beautiful in Spain

San Sebastian - BoardwalkNow it’s time to enjoy a pleasant walk along the famous Playa de la Concha, which many consider the most beautiful in Spain.

And not only because of the beach itself, but because of the views from it with the Island of Santa Clara looking out to sea and the palaces and stately homes that are next to the promenade.

One of these beautiful buildings to visit in San Sebastian is the Miramar Palace, located just at the end of Playa de la Concha, from where you have a great view of the Bay thanks to its privileged location and because it is on top of a small mount. Today it is a public park but for many years it was the summer residence of the Royal House.

The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd

San Sebastian - Cathedral of the Good ShepherdAfter admiring the Playa de la Concha, it is time to go to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, leaving aside the Palace of Justice, an imposing building that will not leave you indifferent.

The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, located in the square of the same name, stands out for having a single central tower 75 meters high and an architecture reminiscent of the great medieval German and French cathedrals.

In neo-Gothic style, its construction was completed in 1897 and it is worth visiting both for its exterior and its interior where we can find some beautiful stained glass windows, a very interesting organ and a very simple but very beautiful main altarpiece dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

San Sebastian City Council

The City Hall building, the gateway to the Old Town, was built as a large casino in 1887 and was used for that until gambling was banned in 1924.

Since 1945 it has been the seat of the City Council and one of the most beautiful places to visit in San Sebastiá n.

Before entering the Old Town we can take a walk through the Port of Donostia, enjoying the typical houses of the sailors and the Aquarium, located at the end of the walk.

The Old Town of San Sebastian

San Sebastian - Constitution SquareIn the Old Town we also find two of the three most important churches in San Sebastián.

On the one hand we have the Church of San Vicente, built in the 12th century but rebuilt 2 centuries later after being destroyed by fire. On the other hand, there is the Church of Santa María del Coro, from the 18th century, and one of the most beloved churches by the people of San Sebastian.

Another of the obligatory visits to do in the Old Town is the Plaza de la Constitución, which, although it may not seem like it, was formerly a bullring. It is currently the nerve center of the city

Don’t miss the San Telmo Museum either, which was an old Dominican convent and deserves to be visited both for the architecture of the building where it is located and for its permanent and temporary exhibitions.

San Sebastián Boulevard and the Kursaal

San Sebastian - KursaalGoing back, we enter the most commercial area of ​​San Sebastián full of shops and restaurants that give the neighborhood a very special atmosphere until we reach the Boulevard, a meeting place for people from San Sebastian and tourists.

At the end of the Boulevard we find the Urumea River. But before crossing the Kursaal Bridge, we must admire two of the most imposing buildings in San Sebastian and the ones that give the city the most glamour.

These are the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, from 1912 and home to the main cultural events in the city, and the Hotel María Cristina, whose design transports you to the Belle Epoque.

Now yes, we can cross the beautiful Kursaal Bridge, with its picturesque white and green lampposts, and reach the Kursaal, a former casino and current congress and exhibition center, the work of Rafael Moneo, who thought of two enormous cubes, not exempt from controversial in its day, and which today host the San Sebastian Film Festival.

You can find more information about what to see in San Sebastian on the official San Sebastian tourism page.

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