9 free ways to enjoy Donostia - San Sebastian (or almost free)

I will attach links for everything, because I am not an expert… however, here is a little overview (including some pro-tips).

1. Cristina Enea Park: This park is super close to Tabakalera, the main train station, and Emaus (a secondhand store). The entrance of the park has a little playground and a great green space to play football, read in the sun, or just relax. You can take a stroll through the amazing nature the park offers. There are many different paths, one of which leads you to the Palace of Cristina Enea. Oftentimes, the palace is open to the public and features new exhibitions. In this area of the park there are many birds: peacocks, ducks, and swans. There's a little pond where you can birdwatch, which I highly recommend..

   
   

   

   
   

2. Tabakalera: Tabakalera is a cultural center in San Sebastian. It was a tobacco factory, but now there isn't any tobacco… Instead, it is full of art, cafes, workshops, movies, and more! It is situated next to the train station, near the Cristina Enea park, plus Emaus and Koopera (two great secondhand shops). The building has five floors. On the top floor, there is a balcony where you can enjoy views of the city: the mountains and the ocean, all engulfing the gorgeous city. The exhibits change in the center, sometimes its interactive art, other times its collections of photography. Remember to grab one of their event calendars, which they print out monthly and you can find on the bottom floor. The pamphlets will have a little information about all the events that are there and which are coming. It is a great place for kids, but adults can enjoy it as well! Have a coffee and a croissant, then explore the center.

   
   
   
   

3. Zurriola Beach: Donostia has three beaches: Ondarreta, La Concha, and Zurriola. Zurriola is situated in Gros, which is not gross, it is a neighborhood in San Sebastian- super hip and super cool. Normally, this beach is full of surfers. The beach is near the Kursaal (event center) and Kubo-kutxa (a free art museum of sorts). This plaza is usually full of skaters and people enjoying the views without having to venture into the sand. Zurriola is one of my favorite places in Donostia to enjoy the sunset. You can watch the sun fall behind the statue of Jesus on Urgull Mountain. There are many, many restaurants close to Zurriola, including delicious options for take-away. Grab a poke bowl, and enjoy the views with your lunch.

   
   

   

   
   

4. Miramar Palace: The architecture of Miramar Palace was inspired by the English. So, it's an interesting mix of Spanish, Basque, and English architecture. Additionally, the area around the palace is gorgeous. You can relax in the yard in front of the palace, with views of the sea and the city. Just like the name implies, you can “mirar al mar” (“look at the sea”). Don’t forget to explore the grounds, there are many beautiful, although hidden, gems around this palace. For example, there is a little intimate park behind the palace. The palace used to have a cafe, but it has been closed since the pandemic.

   
   
   
   
   
   

5. San Telmo(only on Tuesdays): Normally, you must pay to enter this museum. However, Tuesdays are free. I should also mention, the museum has many discounts… for students, for the elderly, and so on and so forth. Another tip, have a coffee in the museum’s cafe. The terrace is enchanting and you can enjoy your drink while listening to happy kids playing in the playground in front of the museum. San Telmo is an impressive museum, covering Basque history dating back to prehistoric times until today. You can learn a lot about the customs of ancient fishermen or the habits of the aristocrats. Also, this museum is located in a historic and beautiful building. There is a church inside San Telmo full of art and information. The museum gift shop is also great, be sure to check it out for a quality souvenir.

   
   

6. Comb of the Winds: This is a little bit out of the city center. You'll need to walk 25 minutes, more or less, but it's a gorgeous walk. You'll stroll along the beaches of Donostia, past cool places like La Concha and the Miramar Palace, so you can break up the walk. The Wind Comb is a statue made by Eduardo Chillida, a famous and influential Basque artist. The “combs” are big, and impressive. However, my favorite part of this installation is the floor. There are little holes, tunnels, in the ground. When the waves hit the coast, the air runs up and out of these holes. This art exhibition is made to be enjoyed with all of your senses.

   
   

   

   
   

7. Kutxa Fundazioa Kubo: Kutxa Banco is a bank in the Basque Country, but it's international, so, it has some money. Because of this, Kutxa has created a ton of free areas to enrich the communitites it serves. Classic PR, but it is what it is. One of these great places in situated in Gros, next to Zurriola Beach. It's not super big, but it has nice exhibitions which often change. Whatsmore, this is a great place to visit when the weather is bad.

   
   

8. Urgull Mountain: A friend of mine recommended this place! It is a little hike up the mountain, which is an easy mountain to find- just look for the statue of Jesus. There are ruins and views of La Concha. About half way up the hike, there is a little bar. This bar has gorgeous views of the city and sea- and a pretty decent playlist. You should get to the bar a good amount of time before sunset to secure a good spot for the views. Relax with a kalimotxo or a mosto and enjoy. 

   
   

   

   
   

9. Pasealeku Berria or the New Walk: This path is super interesting because it is not available all year. During the winter, the waves are too big to pass safely. But, during the months that this passage is available, you should take advantage. Take a walk and enjoy the views it has to offer. You should start at Zurriola Beach, then cross the bridge towards Urgull Mountain. Turn to the right, and go straight. The path will wind you around the coast, wtih the beach to your right and Urgul Mountain to your left. Takw your time and enjoy the walk, it'll take between 15 to 30 minutes. You'll com eupon a wonderful view of the Santa Klara island, then soon after your find the aquarium. This New Walk ends in the old town of San Sebation, so grab a pintxo! If youre gungry or thirsty at all, this passage takes you to the perfect place!

   
   

   

   #SanSebastian #Euskadi #PaisVasco #Donostia #Donosti #EuskalHerria #BasqueCountry

   *This post is available in Spanish, check out the blog main page