In which quarter house in Saint Sebastian?

Are you going to explore the charms of the Spanish Basque country? Here's our selection of neighborhoods to stay in Saint Sebastian!

Otherwise called Donostia – in Basque – and San Sebastián – in Spanish – Saint Sebastian is bordered by the Cantabrian Sea north of Spain, at the mouth of the Urumea River. Famous for its Concha Bay and the Igeldo and Urgull Mountains, the city has many historic buildings and countless museums. Its population is 186,122 inhabitants, in an urban area of 436,500 people.

To stay in Saint Sebastian, the price is not a problem. There are hotels and accommodations at various rates and services. Here is our mini-monograph of the neighborhoods where to sleep in Saint Sebastian.

Antiguo

It is one of the oldest quarters of the city, a singular mix between modernity and tradition. It is accessed by the Promenade de la Concha, leaving on the beach of Ondarreta to swim. A funicular can take you to the Ideldo amusement park, ideal to do if you are with children. It is a leap in the past, at the beginning of the 20th century. In its entangled streets, gardens, squares, parks are home to a rather dynamic and young local social life: a good atmosphere guaranteed, a good neighborhood where to stay in Saint Sebastian.

Old town

The historic district is located at the foot of Mount Urgull between the port and the Urumea River, and is the heart of the city’s social activity. It features a maze of paved and pedestrian alleys, with a kyrielle of bars « pintxos » – sort of Basque tapas bar – where to take the aperitif by swallowing a good glass of beer. It is the district where the famous Tamborrada, a popular festival celebrated on 20 January since 1836, commemorates the Napoleonic occupation. It is truly an authentic neighborhood, a charming concentrate where to party.

Attention, there are many Frenchmen who flock to it just to drink to the dawn: the premises can sometimes be exasperated to see their neighbourhood turn into a zoo for the noctambules of the Hexagon. In the north of the district, the Zuloaga Plaza and the San Telmo Museum allow you to discover the history of the Basque country. Finally, on both sides of Gipuscoa Square, there are large green spaces to rest. The neighborhood is very tourist, so frequented, and more expensive than elsewhere to stay in Saint Sebastian.

Quartier de Gros

On the other side of the Urumea River, the Gros district is popular for the beach of Zurriola, where many young and surfers come to practice their passion. The bars at pintxos are renowned and affordable hotels. In the south, Cristina Enea Park offers a picnic on large lawns. Mount Ulia, to the east, gives a flamboyant point of view punctuated from sunset: a successful romantic day if you travel with a couple. If you’re young, that you like to party by surfing, it’s the area where to sleep in Saint Sebastian.

Amara

After following the lace of the Urumea River, one of the largest neighborhoods of Saint Sebastian: Amara. It is a typical atmosphere of the city that unfolds. It houses many spaces to where to walk. Discover, for example, the walk along the banks of the river. There too, many cafes and bars pintxos Smell the streets. It is a lively neighborhood where to sleep in Saint Sebastian, with small concerts, embracing, flower markets and a groubling population all year round, from Sancho el Sabio Avenue to Madrid Avenue.

Main Photo Credit: Flickr – Titanet