Day-by-day eating plans for San Sebastián. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

San Sebastian weekend: the canonical pintxos crawl ★ 4.8

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A first-time weekend built around the Parte Vieja pintxo crawl, one Michelin tasting and the Gros wave. Two days, eight bars, one beach-side dinner.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Old Town pintxo crawl, harbour cider, midnight cocktail

    Morning
    Mercado de la Bretxa at 09:30 for the fish counters and a coffee at Old Town Coffee inside Mercado San Martin. Walk to La Vina at 11:00 for a wedge of tarta de queso to start.
    Afternoon
    Pintxo crawl from 13:00. Start at Bar Nestor for txuleta (sign the list on arrival), then Bar Txepetxa for two anchoas, then Borda Berri for the risotto de Idiazabal, then La Cuchara de San Telmo for the carrillera al vino tinto.
    Evening
    Cider and the harbour at Akerbeltz from 19:00. Dinner upstairs at Casa Urola at 21:00, kokotxas and txuleta. Nightcap at Museo del Whisky.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: Gros breakfast, Mirador de Ulia lunch, beach evening

    Morning
    Sakona Coffee Roasters in Gros at 09:30 for a single-origin filter and a pastry. Walk across Zurriola beach for the view.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Mirador de Ulia at 13:30 for the hilltop Michelin Plate tasting menu over the Cantabrian. Coffee at Koh Tao Cafe afterwards.
    Evening
    Sunset Txakoli at Atari Gastroteka on the Santa Maria church steps from 19:00. Dinner at Topa Sukalderia at 21:00 in Gros, the IXO Grupo Basque-Latin American room with Sunday service.

San Sebastian three days: the Michelin triple ★ 4.9

Fine-dining traveller, three days3 days

Three days built around three Michelin tasting menus, balanced with daytime pintxos and a Getaria fish-grill day trip. Book the rooms 8 weeks ahead.

  1. Day 1: Friday: Arzak lunch, Old Town pintxos evening

    Morning
    Sakona Coffee Roasters in Gros at 10:00. Walk down to the Maria Cristina Hotel for the lobby aperitif.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Arzak at 13:30, the three-Michelin-star Juan Mari and Elena Arzak tasting menu (3.5 hours).
    Evening
    Pintxo crawl in the Old Town from 21:00. Start at Atari Gastroteka for Txakoli on the church-step terrace, then Ganbara for the autumn setas, then A Fuego Negro for the black-squid rabas.

  2. Day 2: Saturday: Amelia lunch, Gros dinner

    Morning
    Old Town Coffee at Mercado San Martin at 09:30 with a pastry from the Otaegui counter.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Amelia by Paulo Airaudo at 13:00 inside the Hotel Maria Cristina, the two-Michelin-star Italian-omakase tasting in San Sebastian.
    Evening
    Sunset cocktails at Bataplan on Paseo de la Concha at 19:30. Dinner at Topa Sukalderia in Gros at 21:30, the Aduriz Basque-Latin American kitchen.

  3. Day 3: Sunday: Akelarre lunch on Mount Igueldo, Getaria evening

    Morning
    La Vina at 11:00 for a wedge of tarta de queso and a glass of Pedro Ximenez at the counter.
    Afternoon
    Taxi up Mount Igueldo to Akelarre for the 13:00 Sunday-lunch tasting menu in chef Pedro Subijana's hilltop room, the Aranori menu over the Cantabrian.
    Evening
    Drive or train 25 minutes to Getaria for a sunset txuleta-and-rodaballo dinner at one of the dockside brasas. Return by car.

San Sebastian long weekend: the modern Gros wave ★ 4.7

Returning visitor, three days, modern focus3 days

Three days that skip the Michelin headline rooms and dig into the modern Gros wave: Galerna, Casa 887, Topa, plus a sagardotegi night at Astigarraga.

  1. Day 1: Friday: Gros morning, Old Town pintxos, modern dinner

    Morning
    Sakona Coffee Roasters in Gros at 09:00 for a single-origin pour-over. Walk Zurriola beach.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Bodegon Alejandro at 13:30, the Old Town room where Martin Berasategui won his first Michelin star.
    Evening
    Pintxo crawl on Calle 31 de Agosto from 19:30: La Cuchara de San Telmo, Borda Berri, then dinner at Casa 887 in Gros at 21:30 for the Asian-Basque tasting.

  2. Day 2: Saturday: Sagardotegi cider house lunch at Astigarraga

    Morning
    Old Town Coffee at 10:00 for a flat white. Browse Mercado San Martin for cheese and bread to take to Astigarraga.
    Afternoon
    Bus or taxi to Astigarraga for the 13:00 sagardotegi at Petritegi Sagardotegi. Stand at the kupelas for the txotx menu (tortilla bacalao, txuleta, cheese, walnuts) with all the cider you can pour.
    Evening
    Return to Gros by 19:00. Galerna Jan Edan at 21:00 for the chef-partners' modern Basque tasting menu.

  3. Day 3: Sunday: brunch, pintxos walk, late dinner

    Morning
    Brunch at La Madame at 12:00 for eggs benedict or the gilda burger, the city's pioneer brunch room since 2011.
    Afternoon
    Coffee at Koh Tao Cafe at 16:00 and a walk along Zurriola beach. Stop at La Vina once it reopens at 19:00 for a wedge of tarta de queso with Pedro Ximenez.
    Evening
    Dinner at Topa Sukalderia at 21:00 in Gros, the Basque-Latin American Aduriz room. Late-night drinks at Mala Gissona Beer House two blocks east on Calle Zabaleta.

Itineraries in San Sebastián, FAQ

When is the best time to eat in San Sebastián?

Peak food season in San Sebastián is year-round.

What time do people eat in San Sebastián?

Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.

How does tipping work in San Sebastián?

service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.

What is the one dish to try in San Sebastián?

Ask the next local you meet what they would order. San Sebastián rewards trust.

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