San Sebastian
Practical know-how for San Sebastian: when to go, getting around, money, tipping and the small things that make a trip easier.
Plan your San Sebastian trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
- Best time to go
- June–September for beach weather; the Film Festival in September is glamorous but busy.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Tipping
- Not expected. Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% for good service is appreciated.
- Language
- Spanish, plus Catalan, Basque and Galician in their regions. English is common in tourist areas.
- Plugs
- Type C/F (two round pins), 230V. UK visitors need an adapter.
- Emergency
- 112
Getting there and around
Airport: Bilbao (BIO). About 1.25 hours from San Sebastián by bus. Biarritz (BIQ) is a little closer for some routes. Direct flights from London take about 1h 56m.
Public transport: a single ticket is typically £1.6–£2.5. A day pass or a travel card is usually better value if you ride several times a day.
Money and tipping
Currency: Euro (€).
Tipping: Not expected. Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10% for good service is appreciated.
Take a debit or credit card with no foreign transaction fees if you can, carry a little cash for markets and small cafés, and when a machine offers to charge you in pounds, choose the local currency.
Typical daily spend: see the San Sebastian cost guide.
Language, culture and daily rhythm
Language: Spanish, plus Catalan, Basque and Galician in their regions. English is common in tourist areas.
Rhythm of the day: Lunch is 1:30 to 3:30pm and dinner rarely starts before 8:30pm. Smaller shops close mid-afternoon and many are shut on Sundays.
- Look for the “menú del día”, a set weekday lunch that is usually the best-value meal.
- Book the headline sights (palaces, cathedrals, Gaudí) a few weeks ahead in busy months.
- Free tapas with a drink is a tradition in some cities, such as Granada.
Booking ahead and saving money
Free things to do: 9 of the 18 places in our San Sebastian guide are free. See them.
Book timed-entry sights, popular restaurants and weekend trains ahead. Flights and hotels are usually cheapest booked 6 to 12 weeks out for city breaks, and earlier for summer beach holidays.
Safety, health and watch-outs
Emergency number: 112.
- Pickpockets work crowded metros and tourist streets: keep phones and wallets in front pockets.
- Midday summer heat is intense: plan sights for the morning and evening.
A UK GHIC gives you access to state healthcare in the EU on the same terms as locals, but it is not a substitute for travel insurance. Take out insurance that covers medical care, cancellation and your activities.
Practical details
Plugs and voltage: Type C/F (two round pins), 230V. UK visitors need an adapter.
Tap water: Tap water is drinkable in most mainland cities; many people drink bottled water on the islands.
Entry and documents: Entry rules, passport validity and any pre-travel registrations change. Always check the GOV.UK foreign travel advice page for your destination before you book and again before you travel.
General guidance for Spain, written for UK travellers. Rules, prices and opening hours change: check official sources (GOV.UK foreign travel advice, venue websites) before you travel.