The best time to visit San Sebastián

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From March to May, San Sebastián enjoys a significantly quieter period, with fewer people choosing to visit during this period than in summer. With milder temperatures, a calmer atmosphere and smaller crowds than the peak season, you’ll be able to explore the city without breaking a sweat in spring.

The Way of Saint James

Inhabitants of Basque Country have historically loved mountaineering and trekking. Despite its sea level location, San Sebastián is a beautiful and extremely popular part of the Way of Saint James – a collection of different routes through Spain, France and Portugal, which culminates in Northern Spain.

Whether you’re planning to partake in the pilgrimage or not, San Sebastián is ideally placed for those who enjoy trekking – and visiting in spring ensures you’ll be able to walk without worrying about overheating.

Holidays to San Sebastián

Discover San Sebastián, a beautiful coastal gem in Spain's Basque Country.

If good weather’s a make or break for you, you’re going to want to visit San Sebastián between June and September. June and July are great months to visit, especially for those who like to stay active on holiday in comfort.

Whilst San Sebastián is a cooler destination than other Spanish holiday hotspots, August there boasts hot weather and very little rainfall - making it the most suitable time to visit for sun-seekers.

Do bear in mind though, that from August to September, the city gets markedly busier. Thanks to the sweltering heat of Southern Spain, plenty of Spanish people come to visit the cooler coastal stretch alongside non-Spaniards, choosing to spend high summer in the rather more temperate Basque Country.

Jazzaldia

In July the city hosts the San Sebastián Jazz Festival (or Jazzaldia). Inaugurated in 1966, it’s officially Spain's longest-running jazz festival and one of the oldest in Europe. Many of the world’s greatest jazz musicians have played the festival, which takes place at various venues across the city in July, every year.

Many of the festival’s concerts are held at the Kursaal - a stunning feat of architecture well worth a visit in its own right - and the Victoria Eugenia Theatre. Should you fancy an evening of acid jazz, bebop or swing, Jazzaldia has it all - be sure to book your tickets well in advance.

Semana Grande

San Sebastian’s ‘Semana Grande’, or ‘Big Week’, takes place throughout the last nine days of August. A celebration of historical Basque culture, you’ll be treated to myriad cultural and sporting events, traditional rural games like wood chopping and stone carrying competitions, regattas, and nightly fireworks.

A fiesta of epic proportions, you’ll quickly realise that San Sebastián’s street parties are unlike any you’ve experienced before.

San Sebastián Music Fortnight

August is the month to visit San Sebastián for lovers of classical music, thanks to the San Sebastián Music Fortnight, which has been held in the city since 1939. Taking place on various stages across the city, there’s a vast range of styles and composers to choose from, affording you the opportunity to discover new sounds in beautiful settings.

The Kursaal acts as the event’s main venue, but others - including the Principal Theatre, various churches and Miramar Palace - make gorgeous spaces in which to sample San Sebastián’s auditory offerings.

Many of the concerts are free to attend, with a generous 36 of the 82 events held in 2023 open to all. With opera, classical ballet, symphony concerts and even medieval music to choose from, there’s a style for everyone summering there.

Unsurprisingly, San Sebastián quietens down significantly once the weather cools and autumn arrives. This fact alone is often enough to sell visitors on an off-peak trip to the city, instead of battling the busy beaches of summer.

At the risk of stating the obvious, there’ll be more rain - October and November tend to see the heaviest rainfall of the year - and the Basque Country becomes positively chilly in December. But once the hordes of tourists have departed, most hotel rates drop – and you can make the most of your savings elsewhere. (Pintxos, anyone?)

San Sebastián International Film Festival

In September, the city holds the San Sebastián International Film Festival - commonly shortened to the San Sebastián Festival – and beloved by film buffs from all over the world. Accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers' Association, it’s a premier international film competition attracting talent from across the world every year.

You’ll find the festival in cinemas and theatres around the city, most notably in the Kursaal and Victoria Eugenia Theatre.

There are usually a handful of screenings that offer audio descriptions for those who require them, including sign language and subtitle options. Do note that accessible screenings typically sell out first, so book your tickets as soon as you know when exactly you’ll be visiting San Sebastián.

Surf Season

Should you be planning to visit Basque Country to surf, you’ll find the best conditions for the sport occur between November and February, when swells reach as high as six feet. Do bring a decent wet suit though, as the water will be chilly.

We’d recommend Zurriola Beach, a spot beloved by surfers year-round, where you’ll be sure to meet like-minded people. An added bonus to visiting the city during the colder months is that you’ll be able to bring a four-legged friend along to the beach with you.

From late December to March, the temperature in San Sebastián is pleasant – there's very rarely any snow to contend with – and you’ll be quite comfortable strolling through the streets of Parte Vieja, San Sebastián's Old Town, or walking along any of its local beaches.

El Peine del Viento

As the waves are at their highest in January, it’s worth a visit to see the Peine del Viento, designed by sculptor Eduardo Chillida to create a conversation between the sea and the city.

The dramatic nature of January’s waves only emphasises the dichotomy of earth and water, which is never starker than during the winter months. Located at La Concha Bay, you’ll be sure to enjoy this stunning example of abstract sculpture, whatever the weather.

San Sebastián Day

January might be San Sebastián’s coldest month, but that doesn’t stop the city from celebrating its most important festival of the year then. Every 20th January, San Sebastián commemorates its patron saint’s day with the Tamborrada drum parade.

The event, which began in 1836, begins at midnight on the 19th in the Plaza de la Constitución, when the city flag is raised. The Sociedad Gaztelubide and representatives from other drum outfits play to melodies by Sarriegui, with the music continuing for the next 24 hours.

At midnight on the 20th, the Unión Artesana lowers the flag, signalling the end of the festivities until next year. Whilst you could be forgiven for not participating in the entire event, it’s definitely worth joining the crowd to take in the (noisy) spectacle.

Cider and Txakoli Wine Season

If you’re visiting San Sebastián to immerse yourself in the world-famous gastronomic culture, you’ll likely have checked out its 16 Michelin star restaurants already. What you might not be aware of is that come February, local wineries and cider houses host special events to showcase the season’s offerings.

Txakoli wine has been produced in the region for centuries, and the wineries of Aia, Zarautz, Hondarribia, and Getaria are highly recommended for anyone with an interest in viticulture. The cider season also kicks off at the end of January, running until the end of April.

Should you be planning a visit to San Sebastián through the winter, book in a trip to one of the region’s traditional cider houses, where you’ll be able to dine at long communal tables with the locals as you sample the cider - just make sure you wrap up warm!

The best time to visit San Sebastián is entirely dependent on your own personal preferences. If you love to spend days sunbathing on beautiful beaches, choose the summer months.

Should you prefer a quiet break and care less about hot weather, choose winter. The city’s extensive timetable of festivals, host of gorgeous natural spots, and world-famous culinary culture mean that whenever you do visit, you’ll have a wonderful time.

Plan your trip further via our things to do in San Sebastián guide. Book your journey with Brittany Ferries 澳洲幸运10十168体彩开奖网 to explore one of Spain’s most beautiful coastal cities, today.