A Laid-Back 2-Night Getaway to San Sebastián

Getting There

For me, a short city break needs to feel easy from the moment you set off, and San Sebastián was exactly that for us!

We flew direct from London City Airport, which instantly set the tone. If you’ve flown from there before, you’ll know it’s so much more relaxed and efficient than the bigger airports.

Before we knew it, we’d arrived in the Basque Country, ready for our girls trip.

For our two-night stay, we checked into Catalonia Donostia. It’s in a great spot: around a 10-minute walk from the old town, so close enough to wander in and out whenever you like, but just far enough away to feel peaceful at night.

That’s one of the things I loved most about San Sebastián: you can walk pretty much everywhere.

Parte Vieja / The Old Town

We spent most of our time in Parte Vieja, the old town, and it absolutely lived up to the hype!

Narrow streets, pintxos bars squeezed side by side, locals spilling onto the pavements and that lovely buzzy atmosphere that makes you want to keep going from one bar to the next all evening.

You don’t really “go out for dinner” so much as happily graze your way around.

One thing worth knowing: a lot of bars shut for siesta in the afternoon, then come back to life later on, especially between about 8 pm and 10 pm.

A couple of stand-out bites from our trip was: The sea urchin at Bar Sport  and The famous Basque cheesecake at La Viña. Both absolutely worth tracking down if you go!

In between eating stops, we did a bit of window shopping of course.

Parte Vieja has some lovely independent shops and little boutiques, perfect for mooching.

Beach Walks and Beautiful Views

Right in the heart of the city you’ve got La Concha Beach, an urban beach that somehow manages to feel both lively and yet really quite calm.

The curved promenade around the bay became one of our favourite spots for an evening walk, especially after a slightly over-enthusiastic pintxos “lunch” that ended up more like a feast!

We also took the funicular up to Mount Igueldo for the big postcard view over the city and coastline (If you can, try going first thing in the morning or during siesta to dodge the queues).

At the top, there’s a wonderfully old-school amusement park that feels a bit like stepping back in time: slightly quirky, very nostalgic and unexpectedly charming.

The highlight for me was the little boat ride that winds around the waterway at the top of the mountain, so quirky and old-fashioned which only added to the charm! The best 2.5 euros I spent!

If you prefer somewhere that feels a bit wilder and less touristy, Monte Urgull is another great option for views over the bay, with more of a local, laid-back feel.

For the Foodies

San Sebastián is legendary for its food, and if Michelin-starred dining is your thing, you’re spoilt for choice.

Three big names that come up again and again are:

Arzak

Akelarre

Martín Berasategui

We didn’t manage to squeeze these into this short trip, but they’re very firmly on the list for next time.

From everything I’ve heard, you do need to book well ahead, so it’s one to plan in advance.

Final Thoughts

We were only there for two nights, but San Sebastián completely charmed me.

It has such a lovely mix of relaxed seaside town, serious foodie hotspot and elegant little city break, all wrapped up in a size that feels manageable to get around in a few days.

You never feel like you’re rushing around trying to “do it all”.

Whether you’re plotting a foodie weekend, a trip with your partner or your friends, or you just want somewhere with beautiful scenery, great walking and a brilliant atmosphere, San Sebastián is one of those places that quietly sneaks its way into your favourites list!