Best Day Trips from San Sebastian

Award-winning cuisine, charming beaches, corners of series like Game of Thrones, the route of San Ignacio de Loyola, film festival, movie cliffs, rich culture ... There are several things to see and do in San Sebastian and neighboring areas.

With this post I help you make the most of your visit with the best excursions around San Sebastian. Are you ready? Because it starts now!

Explore a traditional Spanish winery and vineyard with its own collection of wines. This type of excursion from San Sebastian is an oenological, cultural and gastronomic adventure through La Rioja to seduce your senses. Taste a variety of Spain's finest wines at a relaxed pace in the countryside, but not before strolling through two charming villages.

This type of tour often includes stops in San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Briones. In the first village you catch excellent panoramic views of the Ebro River, the walled buildings and the sea of vineyards at the foot of the Toloño mountain range.

The next stop is usually in Briones, with its streets stranded in the past. The Ermita del Cristo de los Remedios hermitage and an imposing Gothic church - the Iglesia de la Asunción - , the ancient sandstone buildings that together place this region among the most beautiful in La Rioja.

Details of interest

• Price: From 255 € per person.

• Duration: 8-9 hours.

• What you should know: The town's fiestas are great fun and, you can enjoy them if you schedule this tour during the last weeks of June.

• What the tour may include: Transfer to and from your accommodation. Lunch. Tour of the wineries. Wine tasting. Local guide service.

• Pros: The walk through the vineyards is a delight and if accompanied by experts, with samples of the local gastronomy you can live an incredible experience. Just what this type of excursion offers.

• Cons: The ride is beautiful, just keep in mind that it will take a couple of hours each way from San Sebastian.

Feel like escaping the hustle and bustle of San Sebastian? You are in luck. On this type of Hondarribia, San Pedro and San Juan tours you explore these fishing villages during a relaxing tour from Donostia.

The first stop often takes place in Hondarribia (Fuenterrabia in Spanish), right on the border with France. Hondarribia is one of the most beautiful towns on the coast of Gipuzkoa. Stroll through the port, the old town and the famous Marina district, which is well worth a visit.

After stopping at a terrace, you go on to the old fishing village of San Juan (Pasaia) before crossing the bay of San Pedro by boat. These two colorful villages are part of the road to Santiago de Compostela from the north. Passing through its bay is the best way to tour Guipuzcoa, plus you can stroll around the Albaola Factory where the ship San Juan was built.

The distance between Donostia and Hondarribia - only 25 kilometers from the center of San Sebastian - makes this half-day excursion perfect for escaping the hectic city life, not to mention that the accommodation on offer is significantly cheaper than in San Sebastian.

Details of interest

• Price: From 50 € per person.

• Duration: 4-5 hours.

• What you need to know: Passing through the Albaola Factory and the boat ride surrounded by a colorful landscape makes it attractive to share with the family.

• What the tour may include: Transfer to and from your accommodation. Professional guide service.

• Pros: It is a midday tour so you will have the rest of the day to explore the surroundings.

• Cons: Food and beverages are not usually included.

If you are looking for an excursion that takes you from the coast of Spain to the coast of France, this is the kind of Biarritz and French Basque Country shore excursion from San Sebastian that has your name on it.

The tour usually has its first stop in Biarritz, where its beaches and therapeutic waters used to be the summer destination of choice for European royalty. Appreciation for the land is widespread, now the area is mostly known as one of the surfers' havens.

And once you leave the beach behind, you move on to Saint Jean de la Luz, a picturesque seaside village where ocean views and pastry specialties such as Les macarons de Saint Jean de Luz and Bayonne chocolate await you.

Details of interest

• Price: From 209 € per person.

• Duration: 4 - 8 hours.

• What you need to know: You can choose between the half-day or full-day tour. The tour is usually for small groups.

• What the tour may include: Transfer to and from your accommodation. Professional guide service. Lunch.

• Pros: It is an excellent opportunity to learn about the history of the Basque Country by witnessing the footprints along the coast of the Cantabrian Sea. The guides are usually enthusiastic and knowledgeable not only about the official data but also about ancient and modern anecdotes.

• Cons: Because of the hikes, it may not be the ideal excursion with children.

Because "winter is here", it is worth doing the Game of Thrones Route in San Sebastian. Get to know the Basque region of Bilbao, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and Zumaia in one of the best day trips from San Sebastian.

This type of full day excursion to Bilbao and Gaztelugatxe usually starts with a minibus ride to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe where the hermitage of John the Baptist is located. The viewpoints with the waves in the background hitting the islet offer an experience that must be lived at least once. Leaving the hermitage behind you find the stone bridge crossed by Daenerys and Jon Snow in the seventh season of Game of Thrones.

The steps to the iron throne continue up the 241 steps of the walkway. Then the group moves on to the Guggenheim Museum. The path continues along the route of Westeros, after glimpsing the entrance to Dragonstone Castle through Zumaia, to visit the beach where Snow met the mother of dragons for the first time.

During the tour stops are made for lunch, refreshments and of course, the respective pintxos to complete this tour of series with a Basque accent.

Details of interest

• Price: From 235 € per person.
• Duration: 8-9 hours.
• What you should know: The hikes are usually long, it is recommended to wear sneakers for comfort.
• What the tour may include: Shuttle service to and from the hotel. Transfer by minibus or private car. Lunch, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and snacks. Entrance to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Entrance to the San Juan Chapel.
• Pros: These are all-inclusive tours where you spend a memorable day following in the footsteps of the iconic HBO series. On the other hand, the atmosphere is imposing and, the walk through the streets of Bilbao will surely not leave you indifferent.
• Cons: Be prepared to walk, but enjoy an experience of 10.

The Basque Country is rich in natural jewels, avant-garde architecture and history, and spirituality has an important footprint in this last point. Three of the most important temples in Spain are located in Gipuzkoa, just 6 kilometers from San Sebastian's Paseo Marítimo:

Sanctuary of Loyola - Azpeitia

The route to the three temples follows the Ignatian Way, where art and spirituality become one, following the pilgrimage route that St. Ignatius of Loyola made in 1522 on his way to Jerusalem.

It is the birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola. There he was born and grew up to become a knight of the royal court. The Jesuits were born there, who, guided by the saint, built this sanctuary during the 17th century.

The Hermitage of Santa Maria: La Antigua - Zumarraga

This hermitage is a faithful exponent of the Basque Romanesque style and is considered the Cathedral of the hermitages in San Sebastian. The oak woodwork in the interior of the Hermitage of Santa Maria is worthy of admiration. It is said that the saint prayed there before undertaking his pilgrimage to Jerusalem and later the space was a key piece during the wars after the 18th century.

Sanctuary of Arantzazu - Oñati

It is said that the image of the Virgin Mary appeared to the shepherd Rodrigo de Baltzategi in 1468. The event was quickly commented as a miracle and a modest sanctuary was built.

St. Ignatius of Loyola chose this place to pray his last vigil before going to Montserrat. From the structure remained the faith and the land, which was later modified by almost a dozen Basque architects until the imposing Sanctuary of Arantzazu was built.

Details of interest

• Price: From 196 € per person.
• Duration: 6-7 hours.
• What you should know: It is possible to go directly from the airport. In those cases where you visit San Sebastian in 2 days or you have a tight schedule, it is convenient.
• What the tour may include: Round trip transportation service from the hotel. Entrance fees to the three temples. Lunch.
• Pros: It is an all-inclusive excursion that leaves believers and atheists alike breathless. One of the necessary visits in the territory of San Sebastian.
• Cons: During some special times the hermitage of La Antigua closes its doors as the tour is readjusted directing visitors to the hermitage of San Telmo.

This excursion is ideal for those who wish to explore the surroundings of San Sebastian in 1 day. The tour takes you to some of the most beautiful places on the Basque coast, such as Guernica and its Peace Museum, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, while the left wave of the Biscayan coastline of Mundaka and the fishing village of Bermeo catch you with their sea breeze.

The first stop of the tour is usually thePeace Museumof Guernica, where you learn all about the tragic bombing that took place there during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The museum was inaugurated in 1981 and displays various works of art and artifacts related to this event.

Moving on with the excursion, you head to Mundaka, on the border of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Once there, you make your way to discover the picturesque fishing village and its coastline, famous for its surfing waves that attract professional surfers from all over the world.

The last stop of the tour is Bermeo, a traditional fishing village that among the cliffs and rocks of the Biscay coast, showcases the Basque coastal lifestyle at its best.

Details of interest

• Price: From 205 € per person.
• Duration: 8-9 hours.
• What you should know: During the summer they celebrate: the Basque Festival or Euskal Jaia, the feast of San Pedro, as well as various surfing competitions. And in February, the Euskadi Carnival, one of the oldest and most popular in Spain, attracts thousands of visitors. If you want to participate in the busiest tourist season, make sure your trip is during these seasons.
• What the tour may include: Round trip transportation service from the hotel. Entrance to the Gernika Peace Museum. Lunch. Professional guide service.
• Pros: It is an all-inclusive tour to let yourself be seduced by the charms of the Basque Country.
• Cons: The trip between San Sebastian and Mundaka is approximately 90 minutes. Consider that it will be about 3 hours of journey, with beautiful landscapes around.

During this excursion you will be able to attend mass at the basilica and visit the House of Bernadette as well as walk around the sanctuary itself to learn about the history of Lourdes. You will also have time for private contemplation or prayer at this sacred site.

Lourdes is a 2-hour drive from San Sebastian and during the first leg of your tour, your guide will take you to visit the heart of Lourdes, including a stop at theChateau Fort, where you can take in breathtaking views of the countryside and surrounding area from the top.

Daily masses are held here for visitors seeking spiritual renewal or healing through prayer. Once mass is over (which lasts about an hour), you can go to the cave or crypt of the Immaculate Conception and, drink water from the miraculous spring that gushes from the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous.

You can then explore the Houseof Bernadette before returning to San Sebastian.

Details of interest

• Price: From 260 € per person.
• Duration: 7-8 hours.
• What you need to know: This type of tour is often done in small groups so the time at each stop is adjusted to the group.
• What the tour may include: Shuttle service to and from your accommodation. Entrance fees to the Castle and Sanctuary in Lourdes. Lunch. Professional guide service.
• Pros: This tour combines the best of two worlds: the beauty of nature and the spirituality of a historic pilgrimage site.
• Cons: This type of tour is less popular with children.