SAN SEBASTIÁN
Plans for couples
Plans for couples
We suggest romantic plans and places to make your getaway or weekend perfect.
One of the most beautiful and ideal cities to enjoy with your partner.
This place has wonderful architecture, plenty of walking trails and stunning green spaces, and a real focus on food and wine.
Here is a list of the most suitable activities to make your trip idyllic.
Recently renovated, the San Telmo museum is one of the most prestigious in the city and undoubtedly the most beautiful. It is built in a former Dominican convent from the 16th century, which gives the place a special atmosphere. It is without doubt a must-see for anyone travelling to San Sebastian.
We recommend a formidable walk along the slopes of Mount Urgull. It runs from the city’s port alongside the mountain along the coast to the mouth of the Urumea River, next to the Kursaal.
The Paseo Nuevo has often become famous for the images that appear on television and thousands of photographs that circulate on the internet with impressive waves hitting the promenade when the tides form large waves, making the collision of these waves with the promenade a fantastic spectacle, although also somewhat dangerous if the appropriate measures are not taken.
On the Paseo Nuevo there is a well-known sculpture by Jorge Oteiza.
This small mountain located between the Old Part and the Paseo Nuevo of Donostia, facing the Cantabrian Sea, at one end of the Bay of La Concha, surprises us with some of the best views of the entire capital of Gipuzkoa. On clear days, these panoramic views allow us to contemplate the city and all that surrounds it.
Mount Urgull invites us to enjoy points of interest such as the Casa del Castillo de la Mota, the battery of the ladies, the cemetery of the English and the battery of the Governor, among others, representing one of the most interesting defensive complexes in the Basque Country.
We recommend going up one of its sides and coming down the other, so that you can enjoy totally different views as you explore the different areas of Mount Urgull.
The 4 routes to climb Mount Urgull start from Paseo Nuevo, from Plaza Zuloaga (next to the San Telmo Museum, in the Old Town), from Paseo de los Curas (behind the Aquarium) and from the back of the Basilica of Santa Maria.
It is one of the most complete aquariums on the Cantabrian coast. Such is its success that it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Basque Country. Located in the heart of the old part of Donostia / San Sebastian, it offers us the opportunity to enjoy the promenades along the coast and the good atmosphere and gastronomy of the old part of the city before entering its facilities. The building where the San Sebastian Aquarium is located was built in 1928 and consists of 2 floors dedicated to the maritime heritage of Gipuzkoa, a building with a lot of history.
**We also have a 10% discount for the aquarium when you stay with us; ask for it at our reception!
Traditional Basque restaurant specialising in seafood and fresh fish.
La Rampa offers not only the best fish and seafood, but also a friendly and close attention, thanks to a magnificent team of people, who take care of each customer with care, to make them feel at home.
C/ MUELLE 26-27 (junto al Aquarium)
CONTACT / RESERVATION +34 943 421 652
The port of San Sebastian is a triangular-shaped port, with a fishing area and a recreational area.
A magnificent promenade where you can eat karrakelas or Donostia pipes while looking at the fishermen’s houses in the port.
It also has a terrace on the quay, from where you can enjoy magnificent views of the bay.
It is also interesting to know that there are boat trips from the port for anyone who wants to enjoy a pleasant trip around the bay.
The La Concha promenade runs along the beach of the same name and offers the possibility of taking a relaxing stroll along the seashore on foot or by bicycle.
We will continue through the Alderdi Eder gardens, passing by the famous Relojes (clocks), a meeting point for many Donostiarras, to the centre and on to La Perla Centro Talaso Sport.
Nor should we forget the La Perla thermal baths, the only thalassotherapy centre in the city located on the promenade itself, which reminds us of the times when San Sebastian was a spa town.
It’s one of the most romantic places you’ll find on your getaway, so be sure to visit it!
In addition to the views of the bay of La Concha and the island of Santa Clara, this lively promenade has numerous stately buildings and constructions in the vicinity that are well worth seeing, such as the English-style Miramar Palace: The English-style Miramar Palace.
Used for many years as accommodation for the Royal House during their holidays, today it is a beautiful plot of land accessible to everyone with large gardens where there is a beautiful panoramic view of the whole bay of La Concha.
Located at the end of Ondarreta beach, at the western end of San Sebastian and at the foot of Mount Igeldo, the Wind Comb is one of the best-known works of the brilliant sculptor Eduardo Chillida.
On stormy days, when the waves crash with all their fury against the rocks of the cliff, be careful! Don’t get lost or you will become the perfect target.
If you want to know more about the works of Eduardo Chillida, we recommend a visit to the museum of the same author located at: Jauregi Bailara, 66, 20120 Hernani, Gipuzkoa
The Chillida-Leku Museum is a large space of gardens and woods and a remodeled farmhouse, where the sculptor Eduardo Chillida Juantegui distributed a large sample of his work.
How to get there
Public transport from Donostia-San Sebastian: Bus BU05
Buses every half hour from the city center. The stop called ‘Chillida Leku’ is at the door of the museum. For more information and timetables:
Finally, we recommend climbing Monte Igueldo
With more than 100 years of history, the funicular is the most popular way to climb Monte Igueldo. Take a trip back in time in its wooden carriages and go up just as the casino and ballroom attendants did decades ago.
Consult the timetables and rates on the following website here:
When you reach Monte Igeldo you will be immersed in a world of fantasy. An amusement park where you can find magic carpets, Swiss mountains that dance on the sea, enchanted houses, infinite labyrinths and mermaids that you can greet as you sail along the mysterious river.
Traditional dishes, specialising in rice dishes, in a spacious restaurant with a terrace and windows overlooking the bay of La Concha.
It is a very wide beach where you can practise various sports, especially surfing. Thanks to its waves, it has become a very important tourist destination for lovers of this sport.
We recommend the school: Zurriola Surf Eskola where you can enjoy private lessons or rent boards to practice this sport.
Here you can see the webcam of the beach to see the tides and forecasts.
The Kursaal Centre is a Conference Centre and Auditorium designed to hold events of great interest, such as the San Sebastian Film Festival, as well as various cultural activities. In the following link, we leave you the agenda of the different activities that are scheduled over the coming months so that you can enjoy them.
At the end of the Zurriola beach, you will find the Sagüés wall and a street full of bars where you can watch the sunset while watching the surfers waiting for the wave, drink a few beers and have a snack while the sun slowly sets. This is a great idea for any sunny day.
Mount Ulía stretches from Zurriola beach at its western end to the port of Pasajes at its eastern end. This is why we recommend a walk of approximately 2.5 hours where you can see the impressive cliffs that end in the sea.
At the end of Zurriola beach is the Oquendo Cultural Centre. You have to take the stairs to Zemoria Street. A steep climb that in ten minutes of effort and without loss leads to the first point of the route: the Mirador de Iradi.
Here you can find the route
Refined cuisine in a sophisticated restaurant with views of the sea, the mountains and the city.
Cuts of meat and fish grilled and served in a sophisticated country house with tables in the garden.
Elegant versions of traditional food and homemade sausages in a restaurant overlooking the city from the terrace.
Innovative Spanish and Italian cuisine and local beer in a cosy wood-panelled tavern with a terrace.
The pintxopote is a closed offer of pintxo and drink offered by some bars that is a little cheaper than on a normal day.
The busiest pintxopote in Donosti is the one in Gros. Every Thursday from 7:30pm to 22:30pm the street and the bars are filled with all kinds of people, although there are two distinct areas.
Zabaleta Street is the most youthful area for pintxopote, where size is generally more important than quality. You can see a multitude of young people between 18 and 30 years old sitting on the ground all along the street looking for the patatas bravas of la Gaviota or the meat ball of Capricho, it is without a doubt a cool place if you think about partying in Donosti.
But on the other hand, the pintxopote in Karkizano street and the surrounding area, in general, are of higher quality. This area is more focused on a more adult public, from the 40s to the 60s, and this is noticeable in the quality of the pintxos and the price.
The pintxopote route with the best bars in Gros
- EZKURRA (Miracruz 17) Ensaladilla rusa
- DEMEL (Karkizano 12) Albóndiga de pollo al roquefort
- BIDEA BERRI, «el Andaluz» (Karkizano 9) Arroz negro
- AMALUR, (Karkizano 7) Chorizo criollo
- TXOFRE BERRI (Glora 2). Paella
- LA CARNICERÍA VEGANA (Txofre 2) Perrito caliente vegano
- TXOKO DE RAMIRO (Txofre 4) Revuelto de miura.
- TXARTELA (Bermingham 24) Callos
- TXALOTA (Bermingham 26) Brocheta de carne
- KELLYS (Nafarroa Plaza 3) Pimiento relleno de carne
- URTXORI BI (Bermingham 17) Bacalao al txakoli
- KIXKI (Secundino Esnaola 41) Empanada argentina
- IPOTX (San Francisco 42) Croqueta de jamón
- BSIETE (Bermingham 7) Bola de carne
- MIL CATAS (Zabaleta 45) Brocheta de gambas
- ELOSTA (Paseo Colón 41) Sushi
- LA PIAZZETA DE GROS (Usandizaga 23) Pizza
There is nothing better than ending your route through the Gros neighbourhood like a good Donostiarra, accompanied by an ice cream; and what better ice cream than those from the Paperino ice cream parlour. The ice creams are 100% natural and handmade.
This romantic promenade, which runs parallel to the River Urumea, is located between the bridges of María Cristina and Santa Catalina. Strolling along it on foot or by bicycle along the cycle path, between palm trees and different groves of trees, while contemplating the river almost reaching its mouth at the Cantabrian Sea, is a real pleasure.
Another of the activities we propose for couples is to discover the Urumea River by canoe.
Arrauning offers you the possibility of renting a canoe and discovering the river that crosses the city while enjoying this experience.
Tabakalera is a centre for contemporary culture with a dual vocation: to be a production centre and to offer a public programme of activities.
On the 5th floor, it has a balcony that will give you another beautiful view of Donostia.
And finally, you can take the opportunity to have a bite to eat at the bar on the ground floor: Arizmendi: a different vegetarian sourdough pizza every day. Homemade desserts, small-production wines, craft beer and natural soft drinks to accompany it. Our name, Arizmendi, is a tribute to the founder of the cooperative movement and the project that inspired us in Berkeley (California).
Cristina Enea is an urban park in the city of San Sebastian and is considered one of the most interesting historical urban parks in Spain, following the English garden typology.
In this park, you can see the ducks, swans and peacocks that live permanently in Cristina Enea.
La Farándula Microteatro is a meeting place in the Egia neighbourhood for those who want to enjoy culture, art and gastronomy in a unique experience. A bar where 15-minute plays are performed every week in its three 20-square-metre rooms, exclusively for 20 spectators.
Other plans
Scenic park with gardens and a historic mansion that currently houses a cultural center.
As a curiosity, we tell you that our Hotel Villa Eugenia, is inspired by this beautiful palace.
The Victoria Eugenia Theater is one of the most emblematic buildings in San Sebastian. Steeped in history, the theater has witnessed since its inauguration in 1912, the main cultural events of the city.
It is a sports center with a climbing wall and a boulder for the practice of climbing.
Restaurant with a romantic atmosphere and haute Basque cuisine with wine cellar and terrace overlooking the bay.
Tasting menus of modern and creative dishes and wine pairing in a chic space overlooking the sea.
Tasting menus of daring Basque cuisine focused on seafood.
Kokotxa is a gastronomic restaurant located in the heart of the old part of San Sebastian. Located in the romantic area next to the Basilica of Santa Maria, the Seaport and the Concha beach.
Modern retro-style restaurant, eclectic international cuisine, cocktails, craft beer and brunch and DJs on weekends.
