San Sebastian hotels

Hotels in San Sebastian

If you could only pick one destination in Spain to put on your 'must-see' list, it might need to be San Sebastian. This city is internationally revered for the San Sebastian International Film Festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003 and is one of the world's leading cinema festivals. The resort is also home to exquisite restaurants, a spectacular aquarium, and a fabulous sandy beach overlooking the Bay of Biscay.

The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus

There are no photos or videos that can truly give this magnificent baroque church justice. The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus, in the city's charming Old Town (Parte Vieja), was designed in the late-18th century and is known for its decorative towers and elaborate portal. It is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Spain, and can be accessed via the picturesque Calle Mayor street.

Urgull

The hill of Urgull offers fantastic panoramic views of the city and the coastline, and was originally a strategic military defence from the late-Middle Ages onwards. You can also see the splendid Mirando a San Sebastian museum, where you can learn about the history of the city and its maritime heritage.

Playa de la Concha

This arc-shaped beach is one of the cleanest in Europe and is ideal for swimming, although the sea temperature here is a little cooler than the Mediterranean. This vast bay also has a particularly large tidal range, and can be translated into English as the 'Bay of the Shell'.

The San Sebastian Aquarium

Spain's oldest natural science museum, the San Sebastian Aquarium opened in the 1920s and is acclaimed for its Oceanario pool, which surrounds a tunnel and is 30m in length. The attraction, which was remodelled in the 1990s, houses aquatic species from all over the world, and has a total capacity of almost two million litres.

Dining suggestions

San Sebastian has an outstanding reputation for its culinary excellence, and contains three three-Michelin-star restaurants, which means the city is home to almost half of Spain's three-star Michelin star restaurants. In fact, the city has more than a dozen Michelin star restaurants in total, some of the best known of which include Mugaritz, Akelarre, Martín Berasategui and Arzak. Other reputed restaurants near San Sebastian hotels include the Spanish-themed Borda Berri, Sirimiri and Zelai Txiki, while La Cuchara de San Telmo offers delightful Basque cuisine.

Accommodation in the city

Choose the elegant Hotel Villa Soro for comfortable surroundings and excellent hospitality, or book a stay at the affordable and stylish Barcelo Costa Vasca or the Silken Amara Plaza Hotel. Other accommodation establishments you might want to consider include the opulent Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, the Hotel Maria Cristina, and the Hostel Astoria 7.