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Legend has it that from the top of Mount Igeldo, the lighthouse of Donostia the happiness of returning home. Today, any traveller can relate to those in could be seen nine leagues out to sea. For sailors, it was the sign indicating by a city that combines natural and monumental landscapes in perfect harmony, culture especially cinema, and the pleasures of good food and drink.

Discover Local - San Sebastián- EN

You might come across globally renowned chefs who collect Michelin stars as you stroll through the Mercado de la Bretxa. Also known as the “pantry of Donostia,” this market has been the epitome of gastronomic excellence in the city for 150 years. Its emblematic 19th-century facade now houses both traditional stalls and large chains, as time has turned it into a commercial centre as well. In a morning at Bretxa, you’ll find everything you’re looking for and more. 

🗨️ The original building had a U shape and featured a central courtyard. 

💡 Don’t miss stalls like Las Caseras, where you’ll find everything delicious, delightful, and affordable. 

🕝 It’s open Monday to Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The pantry of Donostia

Basque pelota is one of the most deeply rooted sports in Euskadi. One of its most striking modalities is remonte, where the ball can reach speeds of up to 210 km/h. And at the Galarreta fronton in Hernani 54 meters long you can see it with your own eyes. The Jai-Alai visit lasts an hour and a half, and besides watching the pelotaris live and understanding their curious betting system, you may also have the chance to meet Juan Pedro, the only person on earth capable of crafting the game’s baskets by hand. 

💡After the visit, you can stay to watch the matches on the court, held every Saturday from 4 p.m. onwards but, you need to book it a couple of days in advance. 

🗨️The guide can be in Spanish, Basque, English, or French.

✉️The price depends on the number of people in the groups, so check it at info@oriamendi.eus.

The longest fronton in Gipuzkoa

Getting the chance to see up close and personal the building of wooden ships isn’t an everyday occurrence. But in Donostia, anything is possible. On the outskirts of the city, in the bay of Pasaia, lies Albaola Itsas Kultur Faktoria. This innovative workshop on Paseo de Ordantxo showcases the value of artisanal shipbuilding, with techniques that date back centuries. The revamped shipyard is the only one on the coast where you’ll have the chance to witness the construction of ancient transoceanic galleons, like the San Juan. Such a monumental work even has UNESCO sponsorship.

⭐Currently, you can contribute to the construction of the San Juan galleon by sponsoring a piece. 

🗨️General admission costs 10 euros, and guided tours are available.

🕝 You’ll need about an hour to fully enjoy the visit, so plan ahead!

Ships of a bygone era

An English manor house in Basque Country? Welcome to Miramar Palace. Commissioned by Spain's royal family in the late 1800s, the grand summer residence overlooking La Concha Bay emulates the work of English architect Selden Wornum. The atypical retreat also pays homage to Queen Maria Cristina's Austrian heritage — a search of the Tudor facade reveals the coat of arms of the Hapsburg dynasty. But the true discovery lies underneath Miramar's seaside gardens. On the beach below you'll find a tunnel connecting two shores. Enter for a surreal undersea experience as you pass beneath a maritime mural awash in brilliant blues and vivid greens.

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👷‍♂️It is the work of the architect José Goicoa and was built in 1893.

📽Its gardens are usually the favourite location for the parties of the San Sebastian Film Festival.

🎶Until 2016, it hosted the headquarters of Musikene, the Higher Music Centre of the Basque Country.

The secret tunnel under the mansion

A descent into Zubimusu Park offers serenity, art and a hidden dancer. A stroll below street level through the tree-shaded greenery introduces you to bronze statues by late Spanish sculptor Francisco Hernández López. Two cast-metal children sit forever frozen atop a concrete wall watching a stream below. If you follow the stream to the pond it feeds, keep your eyes on a pyramid sculpture that’s topped by a curious shaft. Why? Arrive at the top of the hour to see a small figure in traditional dress rise from the cylinder and perform a Basque dance before sinking back into concealment.

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🕰​ The park is open 24 hours a day and is located near Ondarreta beach. 

👷‍♂️It was built at the end of the 80s by the architect Joaquín Montero.

👶🏻It is located at a lower level than the street and is ideal for children.

The hidden dantzari

The best way to climb Donosti's Monte Igueldo is on the funicular, which has been functioning since 1912, making it the oldest in the Basque Country. The ride takes you directly to the Monte Igueldo Amusement Park, where it is impossible not to be enchanted by its traditional attractions, no matter how old you are. In the center of the park, you can also visit the five-story tower, which has been standing since the 17th century and once served as a lighthouse. It is now one of the best viewpoints in the city, with panoramic sights of La Concha Bay and the surrounding mountains.

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💶The funicular runs every fifteen minutes and costs between 3 and 4.50 euros. 

🕰The attractions are open from 11 am to 2 pm and from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

🎟Groups of 20 people or more have a free of charge entry to the enclosure and the viewpoint.

Discover Local - San Sebastián- EN

The longest fronton in Gipuzkoa

The pantry of Donostia

Ships of a bygone era

The hidden dantzari

The secret tunnel under the mansion

Funicular, Amusement Park and Viewpoint