[2024 San Sebastian Stay] Travel Guide for Mercure San Sebastián Monte Igueldo (Updated Dec)

Go to the San Sebastian Film Festival to see the stars.

San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque) is a city in northern Spain, located in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, on the Bay of Biscay, about 20 kilometers from the French border. The city is known for its beautiful beaches, rich food culture, and international film festival. San Sebastián has several famous beaches, including two in the city center, which are known as "the most beautiful beaches in Europe". In addition, the city has natural beauty such as Isla de Santa Clara and historical buildings such as Iglesia del Buen Pastor. San Sebastián is not only a tourist destination, but also a paradise for food lovers. It is considered one of the best places to taste Basque cuisine, has many Michelin-starred restaurants, and is the place with the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world. The Basque brewing industry is also very developed, especially cider. Culturally, San Sebastián hosts the San Sebastián International Film Festival every year. This is an international A-class film festival established by the International Federation of Film Producers in 1953 and is one of the top ten film festivals in the world. In addition, San Sebastián has a wealth of festivals, such as the "Tamborrada" festival on January 20th every year, and the Semana Grande or Aste Nagusia festival in August, when there will be fireworks competitions and various cultural activities. For solo travelers, San Sebastián offers a wealth of exploration opportunities, whether it is walking along the coastline, enjoying the sea view, or tasting Pintxos in a small bar in the old city, you can experience the charm of the city.