11 Best Sights in San Sebastian, Bilbao and the Basque Country

In Hernani, a 10-minute drive south of San Sebastián (close to both Martín Berasategui's restaurant in nearby Lasarte and the cider houses of the Astigarraga neighborhood, like Sidrería Petritegi), the Eduardo Chillida Sculpture Garden and Museum, in a 16th-century farmhouse, got a face-lift after years of neglect and finally reopened in 2019. It is a treat for anyone interested in contemporary art. The indoor-outdoor restaurant on the premises punches above its weight.

San Sebastián's shell-shaped main beach is one of the most famous urban beaches in the world. Night and day, rain or shine, it's filled with locals and tourists alike, strolling and taking in the city's skyline and the uninhabited Isla de Santa Clara just offshore. Several hotels line its curved expanse including the grande dame Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra. The beach has clean, pale sand and few rocks or seaweed, but only a bit of shade, near the promenade wall. Lounge chairs are available for rent. The calm surf makes it a favorite pick for families. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; sunset; walking.

On the western side of the bay, this promontory is a must-visit. You can walk, drive up, or take the funicular (around €4 round trip), with departures every 15 minutes. From the top, you get a bird's-eye view of San Sebastián's gardens, beaches, parks, wide tree-lined boulevards, and Belle Époque buildings. There's also a small amusement park. 

For a stroll through and under some 6,000 marine animals—ranging from tiger sharks to sea turtles, with one participative pool where kids are encouraged to touch and try to pick up fish—the aquarium is a great rainy-day activity. The illustrated history of Basque whaling and boatbuilding is also fascinating.

You can see the facade of this 19th-century cathedral from the river, across town. With the tallest church spire in the province, the Catedral del Buen Pastor was constructed in the neo-Gothic style. It's worth a glimpse inside for its beautiful stained-glass windows.

Just in from the harbor, in the shadow of Monte Urgull, is this baroque church with a stunning carved facade of an arrow-riddled St. Sebastián flanked by two towers. The interior is strikingly restful considering the bustling area. Note the sculptures The Harmony of Sound, by Maximilian Peizmann, to the right of the entrance, and By the Cross to the Light, by Eduardo Chillida, in the baptistery.

You can visit the uninhabited Isla de Santa Clara, which rises from the center of La Concha's bay and shields it from high swells. Ferries (around €8 round trip) run from the mainland every 30 minutes and are packed on summer weekends, and reaching the island from the beach is a fun challenge for experienced swimmers. There's a small bar at the ferry dock and lifeguard service at a beach that reveals itself only at low tide. Bring sturdy sandals as the coastline is rocky. In 2021, a 15-ton bronze fountain called Hondalea ("Sea Floor"), by Basque sculptor Cristina Iglesias, was unveiled within the lighthouse; its whooshing flows are meant to mimic the tides.    

Designed by the world-renowned Spanish architect Rafael Moneo and located at the mouth of the Urumea River, the Kursaal is San Sebastián's postmodern concert hall, film society, and convention center. The gleaming cubes of glass that make up this bright complex were conceived as a perpetuation of the site's natural geography, an attempt to underline the harmony between the natural and the artificial and to create a visual stepping-stone between the heights of Monte Urgull and Monte Ulia. Home of the Basque Country's symphony orchestra, the venue is also a favorite for ballet, opera, theater, and jazz performances. It has two auditoriums, a gargantuan banquet hall, meeting rooms, exhibition space, and a set of terraces overlooking the estuary. 

In a 16th-century monastery behind the parte vieja, to the right (northeast) of the church of Santa María, the former chapel, now a lecture hall, was painted by José María Sert (1876–1945). Creator of notable works in Barcelona's city hall, London's Tate Gallery, and New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel, Sert's characteristic tones of gray, gold, violet, and earthy russet enhance the sculptural power of his work here, which portrays events from Basque history. The museum displays Basque ethnographic items, such as prehistoric stelae once used as grave markers, and paintings by Zuloaga, Ribera, and El Greco.

Occupying a century-old tobacco factory, this vibrant cultural center, inaugurated in 2015, epitomizes the creative, forward-thinking verve of San Sebastián. Check the website to see what performances, exhibitions, and screenings are planned ahead of your visit, and drop by to steep yourself in the city's here and now. The roof deck (free) affords pleasing views of the river directly below.

Across the Urumea River from La Concha lies this sprawling, less touristy beach. Exposed to the open Atlantic, the beach boasts waves that are sometimes big enough to surf—and occasionally too dangerous for kids. Amenities: lifeguards; water sports. Best for: surfing.