San Sebastian is a city open to the sea, protected by the Igeldo, Urgull and Ulía mountains. It offers beach and mountain activities. It is an active city, with a wide range of activities and a busy festive calendar, which fills the streets with music and colour.
- Cultural calendar
- FESTIVALS
The city’s calendar is packed with music, film or theatre festivals all year round. From music to film or theatre, Donostia-San Sebastián has a long cultural tradition punctuated with several events of this kind throughout the year.
- MUSEumS
Donostia-San Sebastián offers locals and out-of-towners alike a wide range of museums dedicated to different areas of knowledge: the sea, science, art, history, and many others.
- ART GALLERY
There is an array of galleries in town playing host to interesting temporary exhibitions.
- PERFORMANCE ARTS VENUES
Donostia has high-quality scenic equipment with a large number of shows.
- LIBRARIES & CULTURAL CENTRES
Donostia-San Sebastián has a vast cultural infrastructure and many public libraries in which all citizens, from the little ones to the elderly, can attend cultural activities that suit their taste.
- SPORT
Donostia-San Sebastián offers a wide range of public sporting facilities (football pitches, fronton courts, outdoor courts and sports centres) throughout the city. The sports centres are located in different neighbourhoods.
The San Sebastián Race Course, also known as the Lasarte Race Course, is in the area of Zubieta.
Full information about the sports available in the city can be found at www.donostiakirola.org
In Donostia-San Sebastián there are four golf courses, tennis facilities and various possibilities for horse riding and equestrian sports. The city is also an ideal place for surfing, and every year surfers flock to La Zurriola beach.
Sports are managed by the different sports federations, and in Donostia-San Sebastián people can do all kinds of land, water, and air sports.
- EATING OUT: PINTXOS
Donostia-San Sebastián is the world capital ofpintxos. Where good food comes naturally, the essence of local good food is the pintxo, a small serving of an exquisite, sophisticated, well-prepared meal that can be sampled at most bars in town. It must be ordered separately from drinks.
Cold “pintxos” are generally displayed on the bar and you can help yourself or ask the waiter. Hot “pintxos” must always be ordered from the waiter, who puts your order through to the kitchen so they can be prepared or heated immediately.
“Pintxos” are usually accompanied by a glass of red wine (called “txikito”) or a “zurito”, referring to a small glass of beer.
- BARS, CLUBS AND PUBS
San Sebastián, a modern, contemporary city ideal for walking, offers many bars, pubs and outdoor cafés where you can socialise and have a good time. They are mainly in the Historic Quarter, around El Boulevard, the area of Reyes Católicos, Gros, Miraconcha and Ondarreta
- RESTAURANTS
Donostia-San Sebastián’s restaurants are considered to be among the best eateries in the world. In fact, this city has a higher concentration of Michelin stars than any other city in the world. Search all Donostia-San Sebastián restaurants by different criteria and tastes.
- SIDRERÍAS (CIDER HOUSES)
These are “gastronomic houses” typical of Gipuzkoa. The standard menu includes cod omelette, fried cod with peppers, pork chops, and cheese with quince jelly and walnuts for desert. Although you will find ‘sidrerías’ in almost every municipality of Gipuzkoa, the cider universe is concentrated in Astigarraga and Hernani, although with a good representation in Usurbil, Urnieta and Donostia.