San Sebastián Hotels

Insights from kimkim local specialists for our hand-selected hotels in San Sebastián, Spain
San Sebastián, with its culinary reputation and picturesque beaches, is an enticing destination for many travelers, and kimkim's recommended hotels reflect that. For a historic property, try something like Catalonia Donosti, where you can enjoy the grandeur of a refurbished old convent, take in views from the rooftop pool, and relax in your velvet and marble room. Abba San Sebastián Hotel is another popular choice, positioned in a Baroque palace on the scenic Paseo de Francia and just a leisurely walk from the Old Town and the riverfront. If you're after something more whimsical, you have options like Zinema7, nestled in the Amara neighborhood and immerses you in the city's film legacy through movie-themed rooms and a cocktail bar.
Catalonia Donosti
5.0
(5)
· Comfort
Catalonia Donosti is a boutique hotel in an old convent from the 17th and 18th centuries. Completely refurbished, the hotel offers 128 spacious rooms with an elegant and stately atmosphere. Guests can enjoy an on-site bar, restaurant, wellness area and spa, parking, and meeting rooms. The...
Photo courtesy of Abba San Sebastián Hotel
Abba San Sebastián Hotel
5.0
(3)
· Comfort
Abba San Sebastián Hotel channels the Belle Époque history of Donostia-San Sebastian. It's in a Baroque Palace on the Paseo de Francia, a favorite local promenade, and just a five-minute walk from the Old Town and major sites. Guests can choose from five types of rooms, all decorated in the...
Zinema7
5.0
(2)
· Comfort
Zinema7 Hotel pays homage to the city's cinematic history as a unique movie-themed lodging built on the foundation of San Sebastián's largest former cinema. Each room pays highlights a famous visitor of the city's renowned International Film Festival. And located in the Amara neighborhood, a more...
Lasala Plaza Hotel
5.0
(1)
· Comfort
Lasala Plaza Hotel sits next to San Sebastián's port, so it strives to pay tribute to the city's culture, gastronomy, and seafaring nature. The hotel offers several room types, including options for suites and units with sea views. A rooftop terrace provides a pool, restaurant, sun deck, and...
Villa Soro
5.0
(1)
· Comfort
Villa Soro is a historical property outside San Sebastián's city center, offering a balance between the welcoming atmosphere of a century-old villa and the services and comfort of a 4-star hotel. The villa was built as a private residence for the Londaiz family in 1898. The 25-room hotel...
Photo courtesy of Hotel Villa Victoria by Intur
Intelier Victoria
5.0
(1)
· Mid-range
Hotel Villa Victoria by Intur is a modern boutique property in a relatively quiet area of the city and just a short walk from La Concha Beach and the Old Town. The hotel is one of the few in San Sebastiàn with a rooftop terrace, which features a sun deck and loungers. Guests can also enjoy a...
Hotel Villa Favorita
5.0
(1)
· Luxury
Villa Favorita is the last surviving villa on La Concha Bay in San Sebastián, set in an original 19th-century estate in the heart of La Concha promenade. This boutique hotel features spacious and smart rooms with centralized iPad control—many units with picturesque bay views. Guests can choose...
Saiaz Getaria Hotela
5.0
(1)
· Comfort
Saiaz Getaria Hotela is a historic property housed in a 15th-century Gothic tower between Gaztetape Beach and the Old Town of Getaria on the Basque Coast. It's about a 30-minute drive from San Sebastián and one hour from Bilbao. Turned into a hotel in 2006, it offers 17 quaint guest rooms, some...
Hotel Arrizul Catedral
5.0
(1)
· Mid-range
Arrizul Catedral Hotel is a boutique hotel located in the center of San Sebastián, a five-minute walk from La Concha Beach. Guests can enjoy exclusive and free services, such as Basque products tasting, a coffee corner, and a breakfast buffet. Other amenities include free high-speed Wifi,...
Hotel de Londres & de Inglaterra
4.3
(4)
· Comfort
The historic Hotel de Londres & de Inglaterra provides direct views of La Concha Bay and is just a short walk from the Town Hall and Old Town. With 166 elegant rooms, the hotel combines Belle Époque architecture with modern refinement. The hotel's Mari Galant Brasserie offers exquisite Basque...
Photo courtesy of One Shot Tabakalera House
One Shot Tabakalera House
4.2
(5)
· Comfort
One Shot Tabakalera House is a boutique hotel housed inside the Tabakalera International Centre for Contemporary Culture, once the old tobacco factory in San Sebastián. Guests can enjoy the hotel's fitness room, sauna, and breakfast buffet concept, "buffet in jars," at El Eskondite Tabakalera....
Hotel Arrizul Congress
4.0
(1)
· Comfort
Arrizul Congress Hotel is centrally located in San Sebastián, just minutes from Concha and Zurriola beaches, renowned restaurants, and the Kursaal Congress Center. Bright, modern rooms are spacious with contemporary furnishings, and some feature private balconies. Upon arrival, guests can enjoy a...
Intelier Villa Katalina
4.0
(1)
· Mid-range
Hotel Villa Katalina by Intur is a boutique hotel in San Sebastián's historic center, next to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. This hotel offers guests rooms with natural light and city views. The rooms range from standard twin rooms with exterior balconies to cozy attic rooms with wooden beam...
NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu
Comfort
NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu is an elegant yet relaxed hotel located in one of the city's most upscale neighborhoods. Its 180 spacious rooms feature contemporary furniture by iconic designers such as Isamu Noguchi and specially integrated canopy lighting. Enjoy gourmet cuisine at the...
Photo courtesy of Room Mate Gorka
Room Mate Gorka Hotel
Comfort
Room Mate Gorka Hotel is a contemporary boutique hotel housed in a 19th-century Belle Époque building on Gipuzkoa Plaza in San Sebastián. The hotel opened in 2018 and has 33 large, bright, modern guest rooms with Art-Deco touches. Guests can enjoy the hotel's gym, terrace bar, and delicious...
Apartamentos San Marcial 28
Mid-range
Apartamentos San Marcial 28 offers simple, fully furnished apartments in the center of San Sebastián, ideal for families, small groups, and those looking for self-catering options. There are seven apartments in a historic building, all decorated in bright colors and with balconies overlooking the...
Photo courtesy of Hotel SANSEbay
Hotel SANSEbay
Mid-range
SANSEbay Hotel offers a modern approach to traditional San Sebastián on the edge of the Old Town, and overlooking the port and La Concha Bay. A great standard option, the hotel offers rooms and apartments equipped with Smart TVs, high-speed WiFi, and comfortable beds. Amenities include a coffee...
Hotel Arbaso
Comfort
Arbaso Hotel is in the very center of San Sebastián, just across the street from the Good Shepherd of San Sebastián Cathedral. The 19th-century building offers 50 rooms, all fitted with high-quality materials and amenities like air conditioning and minibars. The hotel also features a gym, saunas,...
Photo courtesy of Akelarre
Hotel Akelarre—Relais & Châteaux
Luxury
Akelarre Hotel is a luxury property about a 10-minute drive from San Sebastián and along the Basque coastline. The hotel offers 22 spacious rooms with natural materials and sea views. Guests can enjoy the two on-site eateries, including its Michelin-starred restaurant and incredible terraced...
Arima Hotel & Spa
Luxury
Arima Hotel & Spa is a luxury boutique property 15 minutes from San Sebastián. The hotel faces the serene Miramón Forest and offers carefully designed rooms with amenities like sound insulation and temperature control. As a Passivhaus-certified hotel, Arima keeps sustainability at its core...
Zenit Convento San Martin
Comfort
Located in the heart of San Sebastián, Hotel Zenit Convento San Martín is just two blocks from the city's famed La Concha Beach and promenade. The hotel features a rooftop terrace, a swimming pool, a sun deck, and an eatery, Sukaldean Restaurant, which offers Basque and international cuisine. The...
Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Luxury
Hotel Maria Cristina is an official Luxury Collection Hotel in San Sebastián. The 139-room property offers spacious and elegant rooms and suites, including the Royal Suite, with its oval-shaped living room and sea views. Guests can enjoy top-tier dining at the hotel's restaurants serving a...
Parador de Hondarribia
Comfort
Located on the border with France, the Parador de Hondarribia is housed in a 10th-century castle that was once a military defense on the Bidasoa River. The interior holds treasures such as tapestries designed by Rubens with the theme of the Story of Achilles. The Parador offers modern rooms and a...
Cristina Enea Rooms
Mid-range
Cristina Enea Rooms is in the city's Egia district, just behind the main train station, Donostia-San Sebastián, and walkable to sites like the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Zurriola Beach, La Concha Beach, and the Old Town. The hotel offers rooms with double and single beds, including bunk beds...
Hotel Bidaïa
Comfort
Hotel Bidaïa is outside the main historic center in San Sebastián but still just a 12-minute walk from La Concha Beach. It's in a villa designed in 1912 by architect Lucas Alday and features 17 spacious and bright rooms, each uniquely decorated with original materials like wood and stone. Guests...
Photo courtesy of Axel Hotel San Sebastián
Axel Hotel San Sebastián—Adults Only
Comfort
Axel Hotel San Sebastián is a modern, stylish, adults-only hotel close to La Concha Beach and the Old Town. With a design dominated by blue and copper tones, the hotel offers 100 comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with natural light, some with balconies or terraces. There's also a rooftop pool,...
The hotel's seasonal outdoor pool (photo courtesy of Barceló Costa Vasca)
Barceló Costa Vasca
Mid-range
Barceló Costa Vasca, a modern hotel in San Sebastián's quiet Antiguo area, is ideal for travelers seeking comfort and convenience. Situated on a steep hill, the hotel is a 15-minute walk from Ondaretta Beach and offers easy bus access to the city center. Rooms are modern and bright, featuring...
Hotel Atari
Mid-range
Nestled in the heart of San Sebastián's Old Town, Hotel Atari offers a perfect blend of rich history and modern sophistication. The hotel features elegantly designed rooms with stunning city views just steps away from the Baroque-style Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro. Indulge your taste buds at...
Photo courtesy of Martiamuno Landetxea
Martiamuno Landetxea
Comfort
Martiamuno Landetxea offers a stylish but relaxed hotel in a 17th-century farmhouse with rustic charm. The two-story property is small, with four guest rooms, but it has a large garden furnished with tables, chairs, and a barbecue area. There is also a communal kitchen, but some options include a...
Atotxa Rooms
Mid-range
Atotxa Rooms offers simple yet comfortable and spacious units with modern amenities, some featuring private balconies. Family options have bunk beds for the kids. The hotel is just behind the city's main train station, so it's a good option for those coming in late or leaving early by train. On...

Hotel Advice for San Sebastián, Spain

The best boutique hotels in San Sebastián (photo courtesy of Lasala Plaza Hotel)
Map of The 13 Best Boutique Hotels in San Sebastián
The 13 Best Boutique Hotels in San Sebastián

San Sebastián's boutique hotel scene matches its foodie, with some of the best options offering hip downtown locations, delicious Michelin-starred restaurants, unique settings like restored 19th-century villas, and rooftop terraces with outdoor pools. As a bonus, as a laid-back city, some of San Sebastián's best hotels fall into the more affordable mid-range and standard categories. After visiting this Basque hub and searching for the top accommodations, kimkim staff recommends these 13 options.

Best rooftop pools in San Sebastián (photo courtesy of Lasala Plaza Hotel)
Map of The 8 Best Rooftop Hotels in San Sebastián
The 8 Best Rooftop Hotels in San Sebastián

Though most rooftop terraces in San Sebastián are only open through the summer months, some of the city's best hotels have them—which might be exactly what you need to enhance your stay. Kimkim staff checked out San Sebastián's famous rooftop hotels and listed the top options below. Many pair this perk with other amenities, like an outdoor pool, on-site restaurant, spa, and historic elements.

The best rural hotels in the Basque Country (photo courtesy of Hotel Heredad de Unanue)
Map of The 11 Best Hotels in the Basque Countryside
The 11 Best Hotels in the Basque Countryside

The Basque countryside is an exceptionally scenic stretch along northern Spain, between the Bay of Biscay and the region's inland hills. If you'd like to pair a city escape in Bilbao or San Sebastián with a rural retreat, kimkim visited and vetted several hotels in the Basque countryside, and some of the best come with incredible views, historical charm, and expansive outdoor spaces. Most of these top picks require a car or private transfer, but your reward is a relaxing stay among nature.

Enjoy views of San Sebastián's La Concha from your hotel suite  (photo courtesy of Hotel SANSEbay)
Map of The 6 Best Hotels Near the Beach in San Sebastián
The 6 Best Hotels Near the Beach in San Sebastián

San Sebastián is famous for its long, picturesque La Concha Beach and waterfront promenade, so staying at a hotel near the sea or at least within quick walking distance is definitely a perk. Though there aren't too many options, kimkim staff visited San Sebastián and found the best hotels near the beach. And many properties provide amenities like rooftops, restaurants, spas, and suites with large windows opening up to the bay to make your stay even more memorable.

Best historic hotels in San Sebastián (photo courtesy of Hotel Maria Cristina)
Map of The 13 Best Historic Hotels in San Sebastián
The 13 Best Historic Hotels in San Sebastián

Historic hotels are aplenty in San Sebastián, and some of the best include those housed in luxurious villas, beautiful convents, and even famous city landmarks. After visiting and evaluating the hotels in San Sebastián, kimkim staff agreed that these 13 options were the best regarding historic elements, architecture, backstories, and amenities. And despite their age, these hotels still provide modern comforts like on-site restaurants, opulent lobbies, outdoor pools, stylish rooms, and more.

The best budget-friendly hotels in San Sebastián (photo courtesy of Hotel Arrizul Catedral)
Map of The 9 Best Budget-Friendly Hotels in San Sebastián
The 9 Best Budget-Friendly Hotels in San Sebastián

As a relaxed city that focuses on its authenticity, you'll find that some of San Sebastián's best hotels actually fall into the standard category, meaning they're a bit friendlier on the budget. After visiting the city and checking out numerous hotels, the kimkim staff was impressed by the quality of this selection, ranging from modern urban properties with fresh aesthetics to charming yet rustic countryside retreats. You'll even find excellent amenities at some choices, including on-site restaurants, wellness facilities, bike rentals, and outdoor terraces.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Map of The 4 Best Luxury Hotels in San Sebastián
The 4 Best Luxury Hotels in San Sebastián

Though San Sebastián is known for its authentic, laid-back charm, the city does have three luxury hotels for those seeking an upscale stay. Kimkim visited the top hotels in the city and recommends the following 5-star options, all offering exclusive amenities like incredible city or sea views, high-end dining options, relaxing spa treatments, and/or elegant decor.

Best hotels in San Sebastián's Old Town (photo courtesy of Lasala Plaza Hotel)
Map of The 4 Best Hotels in San Sebastian's Old Town
The 4 Best Hotels in San Sebastian's Old Town

Spanish Old Towns are a perfect place to stay, and the best hotels of this category in San Sebastián are some of the city favorites. When kimkim staff visited and vetted the city's hotels, the following properties made the cut for San Sebastián's small yet charming historic center. Most are budget-friendly properties with prime locations and perks like trendy, modern rooms, a delicious breakfast, and terrace views.

Photo courtesy of Lasala Plaza Hotel
Map of The 13 Best Mid-Range Hotels in San Sebastián
The 13 Best Mid-Range Hotels in San Sebastián

Known for its down-to-earth, authentic character, there aren't many luxury properties in San Sebastián, meaning its mid-range selection is where you'll find the city's best hotels. Kimkim staff traveled to the Basque gem and visited over 30 of its accommodations, and by far, the mid-range hotels were the most impressive. Save a little money while enjoying perks like historical buildings, sea views, outdoor pools, on-site dining, and more.

Learn more about San Sebastián : Best of San Sebastián · Top Experiences in San Sebastián
Hotels in popular travel destinations in Spain: Ronda · La Rioja · Menorca · Costa Brava · Mallorca · Barcelona · Bilbao · Seville · Granada · Málaga · Girona · Valencia · Córdoba · Ibiza · Madrid
All top hotels in Spain