Outdoor activities in San Sebastián

Start planning your Spain holiday

Experience the beauty of Spain. Find the best ferry fares and accommodation to suit your style and budget. Your perfect getaway is just a few clicks away.

Book a ferry

Holidays in Spain

Find our lowest fares

Book a ferry

Starting off slow, San Sebastián is a great destination for walking. Exploring the city on foot is easy, with walking distances between major attractions only taking around 15-20 minutes on mostly flat terrain. Ample opportunity to tick off some of the places in our Top Things to Do in San Sebastián guide.

For a great route, the Urumea River lets you walk along the banks, a popular walk that’ll take you around 45 minutes. On the way, you’ll pass plenty of sights, such as the Urumea estuary, the Maria Cristina Bridge and the Cristina Enea river meander amongst others.

Holidays to San Sebastián

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

San Sebastián is a great city to explore by bicycle, the city has a network of bicycle lanes that allow you to enjoy the many neighbourhoods and scenes it has to offer. As well as this, there are more adventurous routes available for cyclists who want to experience the views and nature that are present in and beyond this wonderful city.

San Sebastián’s Bidegorris Network

The network of bidegorris (bicycle lanes) extends across 80km on mostly level terrain, allowing you to comfortably get around the area, taking in the scenes along the way.

Cycling around the city has grown in popularity for tourists recently, making it easy to rent bikes or to go on bike tours. The tour mentioned is a three-hour experience, taking you through San Sebastián’s best neighbourhoods and through some off-the-beaten track areas in the city, letting you experience everything it has to offer!

Scenic Bike Routes in San Sebastián

If you’re looking for something a bit more rural for your bike route, then you’re in luck.

The Gipuzkoa network has multiple scenic routes of varying lengths for you to enjoy, allowing you to cycle by old railways, rivers, bridges and more outside of the city’s bustling streets. The routes on offer provide a greener option and allow you to learn more about the connecting towns and neighbourhoods near San Sebastián.

For something even more rural, Basque Country Cycling Kili offers routes across the coast and mountains, with guides available too. Here, you can get away from it all and enjoy the breathtaking landscapes this unique region has to offer.

Cycling Rules to Know in San Sebastián

Like the UK, there are some rules to be aware of before you go cycling around San Sebastián.

Some things to know are:

• Pedestrians are not allowed on bike paths

• If on a road, cycle on the right-hand side

• Wearing a helmet outside of populated areas is compulsory

• Do not surpass a speed of 15km/hr on a bike path

• Use of headphones or earpieces can result in a €200 fine

• Drunk cycling can be punished with a fine between €500-€1000

Bringing Your Bike to San Sebastián

If you’re looking to bring your own bike to San Sebastián, you can do so from the comfort of one of our ferries to Spain. Bicycles are welcome aboard, so you can enjoy the routes San Sebastián has to offer with the comfort and familiarity of your own ride.

When in Spain, you can travel around using trains, bringing your bike on board with you with no extra fees to pay.

If you’re more of a hiker than a cyclist, then San Sebastián has some beautiful walks to enjoy. Despite its sea-level location, San Sebastián is part of the St James Pilgrim’s Coastal Route, providing walkers with multiple great routes, all providing you with superb scenery.

San Sebastián to Pasajes Hike

Part of the coastal route, this 5km trek starts from the city, leading walkers to the open countryside. You will make your way along the coast, reaching Pasajes de San Pedro, a beautiful fishing port. This is a sea-level route, but has very hilly terrain along the coast, providing walkers with a bit of a challenge.

Mount Ulia Hike

Located near the city centre, Monte Ulia will transport you to a peaceful, tranquil space away from the bustle. Here, there are many trails to explore, with military remnants, whale spotting lookouts and even a restaurant, as well as the breathtaking views of course. From Monte Ulia, you can even walk to Pasajes, making it a great detour on your way there.

Mount Urgull

Also located right by the city centre is Mount Urgull, which is accessible via La Concha Bay. A great hike that has four different starting routes to choose from, providing great views along with some military history. Atop Mount Urgull is the Castillo de la Mota, a historic defensive bastion that is now a museum, where you can learn about the history of San Sebastián.

San Sebastián Marathons

If you’re looking to run in San Sebastián, the city does host a marathon each year, with a new circuit that debuted in 2022. Starting from the heart of the city, the route will take you through the main streets, along the Urumea River and through various neighbourhoods. The marathon route is a great way to tour the city yourself, whether you’re walking or running!

Surfing is a big part of San Sebastián’s culture, with many surfers heading to Zurriola Beach to catch some waves. Home to many surf competitions, this beach attracts surfers from around the globe, making it a great place to get involved in this activity if you’re experienced or want to learn!

Check out our guide to the best beaches in and around San Sebastián.

San Sebastián has all the above activities and more to enjoy, making it a fantastic spot for those who desire an active holiday. We know you’ll have a great time there, but let us make the experience even better with our ferries to Spain!

Across the Basque Country, people have played traditional rural sports for centuries. These sports make for a quintessential Basque experience – and fans of active holidays should definitely consider taking part in some of San Sebastián’s local sporting culture.

Basque pelota is particularly popular. Played with a ball hit using one’s hand, a leather glove, a bat known as pala, a soft racket or sare, or a basket – it's a unique game that now garners media coverage worldwide. You can play individually or in pairs, depending on whether any of your fellow travellers want to partake. It might take a moment to get familiar with the rules and equipment, but once you do, you’re guaranteed a fun time.

Aizkora, or wood chopping, originated in the woods (unsurprisingly) – with participants chopping a fixed number of horizontally laid trunks while standing on a plank, or chopping a single trunk with the lowest possible number of blows. Expect plenty of heckling and try to avoid splinters.

Harrijasotze, or stone lifting, is similarly self-explanatory. Participants lift stones in varying shapes, sizes and weights, off the ground and onto the shoulder. A pair of harrijasotzailes (stone lifters) take turns lifting stones opposite each other. Basque weightlifting at its finest.

There is plenty more to experience here, see more things to do with our guides to San Sebastián.