Destination guideBasque Country · Spain
26 Things to Do in Donostia (2026)
Discover the beauty and culture of Donostia.
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Enjoy the local cuisine, explore historic landmarks, and experience the vibrant atmosphere.
- 26 spots
- 7 must-try dishes
- Researched October 2026
- 24 sources
Must-try in Donostia7 dishes
La Gilda Where to order it in Donostia
Burnt Basque Cheesecake Where to order it in Donostia
Kokotxas (Hake Throats) Where to order it in Donostia
Txangurro a la Donostiarra Where to order it in Donostia
Bacalao al Pil-Pil Where to order it in Donostia
Argentine-Basque Fusion Where to order it in Donostia
Risotto de Puntalette con Idiazabal Where to order it in Donostia
The short answer
- The top things to do in Donostia, from 24 sources researched October 2026, start with:
- San Telmo Museum (Donostia / San Sebastián)
- Eureka! Zientzia Museoa (Donostia / San Sebastián)
- Mount Igueldo Viewpoint (Donostia / San Sebastián)
- Kursaal (Donostia / San Sebastián)
- Basque Culinary Center (Donostia / San Sebastián)
- 7 must-try dishes are on the map, each with the places to order them.
26 places worth your time in Donostia
Things to see and do
San Telmo Museum
Why it’s on the map
Housed in a 16th-century Dominican monastery with a striking contemporary expansion, this is the oldest museum in the Basque Country.
Plaza Zuloaga, 1, 20003 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Eureka! Zientzia Museoa
Why it’s on the map
An interactive science center located in the Miramón Technology Park, featuring over 170 experimental modules designed for hands-on learning.
Mikeletegi Pasealekua, 45, 20009 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Mount Igueldo Viewpoint
Why it’s on the map
Perched at the western end of the bay, this summit offers the definitive panoramic vista of San Sebastián’s scallop-shaped La Concha Bay and Santa Clara Island.
Itsasargi Pasealekua, 134, 20008 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Kursaal
Why it’s on the map
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rafael Moneo, this structure consists of two translucent glass cubes that overlook the Bay of Biscay.
Zurriola Hiribidea, 1, 20002 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Basque Culinary Center
Why it’s on the map
Designed by the studio VAUMM, this innovative building is characterized by its U-shaped plan and a facade that resembles a stack of plates.
Paseo Juan Avelino Barriola, 101, 20009 Donostia / San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Mountain Peak · Donostia / San Sebastián
Sculpture · Donostia / San Sebastián
Art Museum · Hernani
Museum · Pasai San Pedro
Mountain Peak · Gipuzkoa
Tourist Attraction · Donostia / San Sebastián
Cultural Center · Donostia / San Sebastián
Where to eat
See the full Donostia food guide: where to eat and what to order.
Market · Donostia / San Sebastián
Basque Restaurant · Donostia / San Sebastián
Dessert · Donostia / San Sebastián
Spanish Restaurant
Restaurant · Donostia / San Sebastián
Breakfast Restaurant · Donostia / San Sebastián
Restaurant · Donostia / San Sebastián
Tapas Restaurant · Donostia / San Sebastián
Cake Shop · Donostia / San Sebastián
Brunch Restaurant · Donostia / San Sebastián
Restaurant · Donostia / San Sebastián
Shops and markets
Clothing Store · Donostia / San Sebastián
Shopping Mall · Donostia / San Sebastián
Store · Donostia / San Sebastián
21 more places on the map
11 to eat · 7 to see and do · 3 to shop · 7 must-try dishes with where to order each
Start
When is the best time to visit Donostia?
- The best time to visit Donostia (San Sebastián) is from June to September, when the weather is warm and ideal for the city’s urban beaches. While summer offers the most sunshine, it is also peak tourist season with higher prices and crowded pintxo bars, so consider May or October for a quieter experience with mild, albeit unpredictable, temperatures. Regardless of the season, bring an umbrella or raincoat, as the Basque Country is known for frequent rainfall year-round.
How do I get around Donostia?
- Air and Rail Access Fly into San Sebastián Airport (EAS) for domestic flights, or use Bilbao (BIO) or Biarritz (BIQ) for international routes, followed by an Euskotren or Alsa bus connection directly into the city center.
- Dbus Public Bus System The city features a comprehensive and punctual bus network known as Dbus, which covers all neighborhoods and major tourist sites; using a rechargeable Mugi card significantly reduces the fare per trip.
- Walking and Bicing Donostia is highly pedestrian-friendly, especially along the La Concha promenade, and offers a public electric bike-sharing scheme called Dbizi with numerous stations and dedicated cycling lanes throughout the city.
What should I know before visiting Donostia?
- Avoid wearing swimwear or walking shirtless away from the beach areas to respect local dress standards.
- Validate your Mugi transport card upon entry and exit on intercity buses to ensure you are charged the correct fare.
- Stand on the right side of escalators in metro stations and public spaces to allow others to pass on the left.
What’s new in Donostia in October 2026?
- New Basque Cuisine 50th Anniversary: San Sebastian Gastronomika (Oct 5-7) and city-wide tributes are currently celebrating the half-century of the culinary movement that revolutionized Spanish gastronomy.
- Iturritik Dance Festival: Running from October 19-25, 2026, this city-wide event features contemporary and traditional Basque dance performances in both theaters and public squares like Okendo Square.
- Tsai Ming-Liang's 'Walker' Exhibition: A major site-specific conceptual art installation at Tabakalera, open now through December 6, 2026.
- New City Openings: Viral local spots like Obaia Donostia and Marrua Burgers (Parte Vieja) are trending for their farm-to-table meat and artisanal focus as of late 2026.
Research receipt
How this Donostia guide was researched
- Live web search, 14 of 14 research areas completed.
- Places verified against real place data — address, hours and coordinates come from the place record, not the article.
- Researched October 2026. A newer build for Donostia replaces this page automatically.
Sources checked
Planning questions
What are the top things to do in Donostia?
Start with San Telmo Museum, Eureka! Zientzia Museoa, Mount Igueldo Viewpoint, Kursaal, and Basque Culinary Center: the places Varedelo's research (from 24 sources researched October 2026) puts first, each with its reason in the list on this page. All 26 places are pinned on the Donostia map.