15 San Sebastian Tours That Hold Up in Person

1.San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,102 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $156Our pick

Walk San Sebastián’s Parte Vieja with a local guide such as Hector, Lily, Gorka, or Amaia, stopping at eight food venues for pintxos, Iberian ham, mussels, anchovies, steak, cider, wine, and Basque cheesecake. Groups cap at nine, and the generous tastings add up to a full dinner.

“Mattin is an outstanding tour guide! As a chef who originates from San Sebastián, he knew the pinchos to try which were delicious and diverse. He also was able to get us into locations quickly and easily even if lines. His knowledge of Basque and Spanish history was an added bonus. I would strongly recommend this tour. We had a group of 8 folks and it was a good size.”

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2.Boat Tour with Stop at Santa Clara

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 733 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

Cruise around San Sebastian’s La Concha Bay and continue to Santa Clara Island. You’ll see the Town Hall, La Perla Spa, Mount Urgull, Miramar Palace, and Peine del Viento. Use the free audio guide in English, Spanish, Basque, or French, then swim, walk to the lighthouse, visit Hondalea, or return on a later boat.

“A very enjoyable trip around the bay which pulled in at Santa Clara. We got off and walked up to the lighthouse passing many picnic tables on the way up all under a canopy of trees. The bar/restaurant near the harbour served very enjoyable local fare which we really enjoyed. Took the next boat back, all in all a great few hours spent without going very far…”

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3.Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz, San Sebastian Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 662 reviews · 10 hours · from $82

Travel from Bilbao to three coastal Basque towns in France and Spain with a bilingual guide such as Borja, Paula, Maider, or Onintza. You’ll get a guided introduction, free time for food and shopping, a traditional sweet tasting, and panoramic views from Mount Igueldo. It is a full 10-hour day with several hours on the road.

“Everything—from the pick-up spot (two options were available, which was great) to the drop-off—was excellent. In between, our guide, Onintza, did everything possible to make our experience unforgettable. She provided comprehensive yet engaging information about the historical and cultural background of the Basque Country, shared insights on each city we visited, and was an overall wonderful companion throughout the tour.”

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4.San Sebastian Pintxo Food, Wine & Market Foodie Tour(Small Group)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 621 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $169

Spend three hours with a local food guide such as Jon, Gabby, Gorka, Martin, or Daria, tasting Iberian ham, cheese, olives, pintxos, Txakoli, Rioja, cider, dessert, and Basque liqueur. The small group visits Bretxa Market, a private gastronomic society, and several Old Town bars, with reserved seating and restaurant tips for later.

“Everything was amazing. The food,friends, and atmosphere was top notch. Our guide was very friendly and was on top on getting us from place to place.”

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5.Small-Group Electric Bike Tour in San Sebastián

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 603 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $67

Ride an Orbea electric bike through San Sebastián with a local English-speaking guide such as Colten, Nerea, Alain, or Pelayo. In three hours, you’ll reach La Concha, Miramar Palace, Monte Igueldo, Anoeta, the university district, a long city tunnel, and Zurriola Beach. Bikes, helmets, water, and morning or afternoon departures are included.

“Excellent way to be introduced to San Sebastián. In 3 hours we stopped at most of the high points. Cycling on the e-bikes was very easy. Our guide Colton was very knowledgeable and willingly shared his tips for places to eat and to explore further.”

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6.Discover San Sebastián’s Best Pintxos on a Unique Culinary Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 602 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $211

Join Eskerne, also called Eske or Esky, at 7 pm for a three-hour walk through San Sebastián’s Parte Vieja. Visit local bars, taste five selected pintxos with cider, txakoli, or wine, and learn how to order with confidence. The group is limited to 10 people and returns to the meeting point.

“My friend and I had a wonderful time on the Evening Pintxo Tour with Eski. She was personable, knowledgeable and fun in spite of the pouring rain we encountered during most of our tour. She introduced to different types of pintxo bars and encouraged us to try a variety of different pintxos, as well as cider and txcholi. It was nice to be able to bypass the long lines at many of the places we visited in addition to getting to try Basque Cheesecake at La Vina, the night before they went on holiday. I think this was one of our most memorable experiences in San Sebastian. I have recommended…”

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7.Sustainable Catamaran Cruise with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 527 reviews · 40 min · from $16

Cruise San Sebastian’s La Concha Bay for 40 minutes aboard the hybrid Ciudad San Sebastián. You’ll see Santa Clara Island, Mount Ulia, Mount Igeldo, Miramar Palace, the Kursaal, and Chillida’s Peine del Viento. Bring your phone and headphones for the free audio guide. Drinks cost extra.

“il faudrait fermer le site de réservation car nous avons payé et y a pas eu la sortie. puis je avoir un remboursement ? cordialement Véronique Rousset”

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8.San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxo Tasting Paired with Wines

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 493 reviews · 3 hours · from $117

Walk San Sebastian’s Parte Vieja with a local guide such as Jonathan, Francisco, Julen or Beatriz. Taste eight pintxos at traditional bars, paired with three Spanish wines, Basque cider and a local liqueur. Expect food, history and practical bar-hopping tips in a small group, with vegetarian and gluten-free choices available.

“We had a great time on the tour. Julen, our guide, was knowledgeable, happy to answer all of our questions and great fun. The food and wines were delicious and we loved that it was a small group. I recommend this tour.”

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9.Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour Bus

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 423 reviews · from $18

Use a one-day San Sebastián City Tour ticket on an open-top double-decker bus. Ride the full one-hour loop or hop off at 14 stops for the Parte Vieja, La Concha, Zurriola, Miramar Palace, and Monte Igueldo funicular. Audio commentary comes in eight languages, with a sliding roof for rainy weather.

“A lot of the ports weren’t working so a few of our group did not get to hear the audio 😣”

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10.Guided E-Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 419 reviews · 3 hours · from $69

Ride San Sebastian’s excellent bidegorris with a local guide such as Nerea, Colton, or Hegoi. In three hours, you’ll see La Concha Bay, Miramar Palace, Mount Igueldo, the Peine del Viento sculpture, Reale Arena, Gros, and quieter districts most visitors miss. The small-group tour uses premium e-bikes and includes a helmet, water, and rain poncho.

“a delightful means of gaining overview of the city structure along with its historical and architectural context. the electric bikes were fantastic and allowed us to reach viewpoints overlooking the Konxta beach and surroundings. our guide was local so added informed recommendations and routes.”

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11.Pintxos and Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 340 reviews · from $146

Spend three hours walking San Sebastian’s Old Town with a small group of up to eight. You’ll visit six acclaimed stops for eight pintxos and five drinks, including cider, Navarra wine, and dessert sherry. Guides such as Mila, Cristina, Sandra, and Gorka add food tips, local history, and practical advice for ordering like a local.

“Meeting new friends and sampling the fantastic food. Our guide Lily was absolutely fantastic with knowledge and insight. Great time”

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12.San Sebastian Evening Pintxo Tour with Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 321 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $188

Meet a local guide at Mimo Bite The Experience at 6:30 pm for a three-hour walk through Parte Vieja. Visit top pintxo bars, try seafood, meat, and seasonal specialties, and pair the food with wine or cider. Guides such as Kai, Sandra, Cristina, and Almudena also share Basque culture and recommendations for the rest of your stay.

“We had the most wonderful time and the most incredible guide. What is the perfect way to eat and drink in San Sebastian?”

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13.San Sebastian Pintxos Tour for Gourmets in the Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 276 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $175

Spend three evening hours in San Sebastian’s Parte Vieja with a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Clara, Esther, Sara, and Montse lead you to several pintxo bars, explain Basque food and history, and serve seven savory bites with local drinks, followed by cheesecake or French toast.

“Esther was very nice and gave us a lot of information about San Sebastián and its history. It was a small group which was good and Esther took us to some fabulous Pintxos places and selected pintxos that suited everyone. The food and drinks were very generous. This was so much better than trying to work out the custom of pintxos and what are the best things to order. Puntxos can be quite chaotic if you don’t know what the custom is.”

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14.Walking Tour with Pintxo and Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 220 reviews · 1.5 - 2 hours · from $17

Walk from San Sebastián’s tourist office through Belle Époque boulevards, historic hotels, the cathedral, and the Old Town. Guides such as Diego, Jonathan, Iker, and Beatriz explain the city’s past and Basque culture, then lead you to a pintxo and drink when the small-group option is selected.

“Jonathan was wonderful! Super informative, polite & thorough! We loved it & it was personal~answered every question & more!”

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15.2 Bays Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Cava

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 158 reviews · 2 hours · from $77

Join local hosts Ruth and Asier for a two-hour cruise from San Sebastián toward Pasaia. The small boat carries up to 12 people, passing La Concha, Zurriola, Mount Urgull, dramatic cliffs, and the Basque fjord. Sunset departures include sparkling wine, soft drinks, blankets, an audio guide, and a Polaroid photo.

“A great boat, beautiful trip, with wonderful guides and information. We had a great time.”

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