Eleven things you can do on a rainy day in San Sebastian

As everybody knows, in the north of Spain it usually rains quite often, and especially in the areas near the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes, together with the rain, there is a lot of wind and cold, but this is normal for the atlantic or oceanic climate, which is characterized by mild temperatures in summer and abundant rainfall.

San Sebastian is one of the cities where it rains the most in all of Spain, so if you are going to visit the capital city of Gipuzkoa, we recommend taking an umbrella with you and also a raincoat, just in case. According to the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) it rains at around 141 days per year on average over the last decade.

The time of year when it typically rains the most is during the winter as well as spring, hence the old saying "en abril, aguas mil", which would translate into something along the lines of “in April, thousands of waters”, being April one of the rainiest months in Spain, and which totally applies to San Sebastián. If you are from the north of Spain, the rain is something completely normal in your daily life, so it will not take you by surprise if you visit this wonderful city, but if you are from other parts of Spain the rain from the Atlantic can take you off guard, since in other areas of Spain It can rain from time to time, but not nearly as much as in the north.

However, the rain cannot be a factor to stop your plans, even if you are sightseeing in San Sebastian. In our opinion, the rain also has its charm, and in turn makes us wonder, what would northern Spain be without rain? Rain is a meteorological phenomenon that the inhabitants of the north cannot be without for a long time. The rain is responsible for the green fields and the lush forests found in this area. It is also the reason why many typical products of this area of Spain can be grown, such as mushrooms, cider and chestnuts, products that need a lot of rain and humidity.

San Sebastian, the capital city of Gipuzkoa, is very prone to rain due to its proximity to the ocean and the mountains that surround it. Visiting San Sebastian is a great idea any time of the year, and for this reason, in this article we are going to suggest several plans to do on rainy days in San Sebastian.

We recommend starting the day in an apartment facing the beach of San Sebastian, so that you will start your day in the heart of the city, from where you can contemplate the beach and sea as well as the views of the city, with a good breakfast made of the typical products from the Basque Country, to gather energy and be able to start your tour of the city. Of course, without forgetting the umbrellas and raincoats. San Sebastian can also be a magical city when it rains and the rain will not be able to stop your plans.

1. STROLL THROUGH THE OLD TOWN

The first thing you can do to start off your day is go for a walk through the Old Town of San Sebastian. The Old Town is the historical city center of the city and is located next to Urgull Mountain. The Old Town of San Sebastian is pedestrianized, and therefore you can go everywhere on foot. San Sebastian is an ideal city for walking and you can explore the whole of it on foot through its promenades and streets.

In this area, you can walk through the “Plaza de la Constitución” or Constitution Square, one of the most emblematic of the Basque Country. We recommend starting your tour precisely in the Plaza de la Constitución and from there go to different parts of the Old Town and trace a route to see it. In the Old Town there are many things to see, such as the San Telmo Museum (former monastery) and the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Coro, a temple built in the 18th century, the temple is dedicated to the Virgen del Coro, which is next to San Sebastian, the patron saint of the city. This is a baroque-style church.

You can also see the Church of San Vicente, which is the oldest temple in San Sebastian since it was built in the 15th century. If you continue walking towards the Marina and the pier, you can visit the San Sebastian City Hall, built in 1887 following the French style, and the Yacht Club, which are some of the most impressive buildings in the city of San Sebastian. These two buildings are located in front of the Marina and the port of the city where you can contemplate the bay of La Concha and the sea waves.

This is the most authentic part of San Sebastian, as it is the essence of the city. San Sebastian was a seafaring city created by fishermen who lived from fishing. Here you can see the architecture of the old seafaring houses of the city. It is a quiet and very beautiful place. If you want to know more about the history of the city, we recommend visiting the Naval Museum and the Aquarium.

This area of the city is characterized by its shops, so you can take the opportunity to go shopping and buy typical Basque products and souvenirs. One of the most famous streets in the Old Town is “Calle del 31 de Agosto”, which received this name due to a fire that happened on this street in 1813.

The Old Town also borders the Urumea River. Walking along this side of the Old Town, you can see the buildings built in the Belle Époque, such as the Hotel María Cristina. Here is also one of the best-known squares in the city, the Plaza de Gipuzkoa, where there is a small pond and where you can see the swans.

2. ENJOY THE SAN TELMO MUSEUM

The San Telmo museum is the museum of the Basque society that is located in the Old Town. It opened its doors in 1902 and it is the oldest museum in the Basque Country, a museum that has been thoroughly renovated and has new objectives. Based on its funds, almost entirely related to Basque society, San Telmo has been renovated to become a Museum of Basque Society and Citizenship, whose theme is the Basque society.

The object of reflection that San Telmo presents is the cultural and historical past as the germ of today's society, from a multidisciplinary vision and open to contemporary dialogue and debate. San Telmo is presented as a museum and, at the same time, a space for the dissemination of knowledge and for the creation of thought, and it aims to be an instrument for understanding the present and building the future based on knowledge of the past.

The museum currently has more than 35,000 inventoried pieces in various categories: Ethnography, Fine Arts, Photography, Archeology and History. It should be noted that the San Telmo Museum is the only museum in its area dedicated to the Basque society from the perspective of a society museum, and at the same time, it is the only one in the city that has a Fine Arts area.

3. VISIT THE CASTLE OF LA MOTA

La Mota castle is located at the Urgull mount. You can go up on foot, by city bus, or also by car. So it would be a good visit on a rainy day. It is located a few minutes away from the Old Town on Mount Urgull.

This is one of the most important castles in the entire Basque Country and has a very rich history. It was built on Urgull Mountain precisely because it was considered a safe place to protect the city from attacks and invasions. It is located 130 meters above sea level, and it was a perfect place for this purpose since from up there you could see the entire city. This castle was built in the 12th century, and ordered by King Sancho, who in turn also ordered the construction of a wall over the entire Old Town of the city. The castle has undergone various renovations over the centuries and it also has a chapel and a monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The visiting hours of the castle are from ten in the morning to seven in the evening.

4. PINTXO TASTING AND BAR HOPPING

A pintxo is defined as a small portion of food that has few ingredients. This is the original meaning in which it consisted of a slice of bread with another ingredient that accompanied it, although today this has changed, and pintxos are made up of small portions of food and can be any typical dish or any combination.

This is one of the most common plans that locals and tourists do when it rains. The pintxos are the typical tapas of the Basque Country. It is very common to go for pintxos with family and friends. In San Sebastian, there are many bars and restaurants and there are several areas that we recommend to go eat pintxos, such as the Old Town, the neighborhood of Gros and also the center of the city. There is also a San Sebastian pintxos route for each area where it is recommended to visit a series of bars and that can be downloaded through the mobile application with the same name “ pintxos ” and choose the places that you like the most.

San Sebastian is one of the cities with the most Michelin stars in Spain, so the pintxos will be exquisite, there are all sorts of different kinds and very varied throughout the different bars. The food in San Sebastian is delicious, it is one of the best places to eat in Spain. You can choose to go for pintxos and each bar will have a large selection of varied pintxos so that you can try several types. It is very common to find anchovy pintxos in the city as well as tortillas and other popular ingredients such as prawns or “Russian salad”. We cannot forget the potato and “patatas al ajillo” or garlic potato pintxos, it’s one of the most popular in the city. Unlike other parts of Spain, pintxos are typically eaten along with a drink all throughout the Basque Country.

5. EXPERIENCE THE SAN SEBASTIAN AQUARIUM

The San Sebastian Aquarium has a museum as well as an aquarium. Since its origins, the museum has housed an oceanographic museum with valuable heritage elements that, through the different areas of the museum, help to explain and contextualize the rich maritime and marine history of the Basque Country and San Sebastian, its fishing and privateering past, the boats used for the great deeds of its navigators, etc. 

In this space, you will find areas that deal with topics as interesting as the evolution of maritime trade, riverside shipyards, Basque whalers, privateering, fishing and more, and also an area that pays homage to the Oceanography Society of Gipuzkoa, which was one of the first entities dedicated to the study and dissemination of oceanographic content in Spain.

On the other hand, there is the aquarium part. Undoubtedly, one of its greatest attractions lies in its more than 31 aquariums, distributed among a floor dedicated to the Cantabrian-Atlantic Sea and another tropical-themed aquarium floor. Among all of them, the large tank called the Oceanarium stands out, traversed by a 360º tunnel, where you can see a great variety of Cantabrian and Atlantic species and the two spectacular bull sharks. This tank has more than 1,500,000 liters of water and more than 40 species of fish, including 5 species of sharks. During the tour, you will be able to enjoy aquariums, and within these you will be able to contemplate not only a wide range of fish but also wonderful invertebrates and many more species that will provide you with the right measure of the rich biodiversity that the ocean houses. In all the aquariums you will find information on the degree of threat of the different species because for us it is vital to convey to the visitor the importance of each of the species for the environmental balance, but, above all, the importance of respecting and protecting the oceans.

Throughout its more than 100 years of history, it has been carrying out extensive dissemination, conservation and research work both in the historical/heritage field and in the biological field. In the informative aspect, in addition to the newsletters published from the laboratory, numerous scientific articles have been published related to the various research projects carried out by our biology team alone or in collaboration with other prestigious institutions such as Azti, the IEO, the UPV (University of the Basque Country),…  

Also in the historical/heritage area, important works have been carried out for the conservation of historical memory that have been collected in various publications.

But all this knowledge cannot remain only for the scientific circle, it must be transmitted to society with a clear language, inclusive and adapted to all ages. In this transmission, the work of the dissemination team is essential, which is in charge of developing the guided tours, the workshops and all the didactic material that is used both in the Aquarium and in external activities.

6. RELAX IN LA PERLA THALASSOTHERAPY, SAUNAS AND WELLNESS CENTER

La Perla is one of the top thalassotherapy and wellness centers in Europe with a privileged location: La Concha beach in San Sebastian. It has a 5,500m² thalassotherapy circuit overlooking the bay of La Concha beach and with direct access to the beach. At different temperatures, with various intensities, taking advantage of its vapors or its frozen fragments, at La Perla they are experts in that ancient tradition that consists of healing, toning or awakening well-being using ocean water.

The Thalassotherapy Circuit is a space for free use and circulation, where you can enjoy the facilities for a specific time depending on the type of ticket purchased, 2 or 3 hours. It consists of: Hydrotherapy Pool, Relaxation Pool, Panoramic Jacuzzi, Active Pool (aquagym classes and fitness area), Sensations Maze, Water Beds, Marine Steam Bath, Ice Fountain, Dry Sauna, Relax Room, Pool Cold Sea Water, Cold Sea Water Showers and Rest Areas. The facilities have views and direct access to the beach.

7. TABAKALERA CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL CENTER

Tabakalera is an international center for contemporary culture located in the old San Sebastian tobacco factory that, after four years of remodeling works, opened its doors in 2015. Tabakalera Cultural Center is a 5-story building that has various exhibitions and art galleries of all kinds, admission is free and it is a perfect activity for a rainy day. It is located next to the bus and train station, between the Gros and Egia neighborhoods, about a 15-20 minute walk from any of our apartments.

This international center welcomes and encourages collaboration between different projects and cultural institutions. Their shared mission is to support the cultural and creative sector, contribute to the development of the creative and critical capacity of Basque society, and promote access to and enjoyment of culture.

As a center of creation, Tabakalera's main objective is to promote talent, socialize contemporary creation and promote the contribution of the cultural and creative sector to other sectors and society.

The building is one of the largest and most emblematic plots of land in the urban area of the city which, after four years of remodeling works, opened its doors in 2015 as the International Center for Contemporary Culture.

Tabakalera promotes artistic creation and shares it with the public, carrying out a work of mediation of contemporary creation. In addition, they try to maintain a close relationship and a commitment to support the creators.

To enjoy Tabakalera in a complete and personalized way, the center has a program of free guided visits to the exhibitions and the building. These visits are directed at schools, associations and individuals, and are personalized according to the interests of the public.

8. ENJOY A PLAY AT THE VICTORIA EUGENIA THEATER

One of the best options to spend the afternoon when it rains is to go see a theater play. This theater venue is located by the Old Town and the building belongs to the Belle Epoque style. It is located right next to the Urumea River in the center of town. This theater is one of the most famous in the city and one of the most impressive buildings due to its architecture. It was built in 1912 by Francisco de Urcola and its construction began at the same time as the María Cristina Hotel, located right next to it.

These two buildings were inaugurated by Queen Victoria Eugenia, who was the consort of King Alfonso XIII, and hence their name, in honor of the Queen. This building acted as the main headquarters of the San Sebastian International Film Festival until 1999 and today it hosts different plays and dance performances.

The building has many different spaces and a capacity of 910 seats. Every week there are several shows available that you can attend, it is also the headquarters of the “dFeria de las Artes Escénicas”, which is held once a year.

9. TRY THE TRADITIONAL CHEESECAKE OF SAN SEBASTIAN

To end your rainy day, we recommend you go to any cafeteria and have some cheesecake (or even some churros with chocolate). Cheesecake is very popular in San Sebastian, you can find it in many places such as cafés, restaurants and bars.

It is said that the cheesecake in San Sebastian is one of the best in the world, and it is actually the specialty of the bar/restaurant "La Viña", located in the Old Town of the city. This cake has become one of the most famous in all of Spain. This recipe is twenty-eight years old, but it was only recently that this cake has become the queen of cheesecakes.

10. OBSERVE THE WONDERS OF THE IMPRESSIVE CATHEDRAL "BUEN PASTOR" OR GOOD SHEPHERD

The Buen Pastor Cathedral is the main cathedral of San Sebastian. Built in a neo-gothic style, it is spectacular and breathtaking in its inner part. It was renovated in 2019. It is only a 10-15 minute walk from any of our apartments.

It is in fact the most notorious religious building in the Gipuzkoan capital, endowed with a marked verticality, and the largest in the Gipuzkoa region. Its construction took place in the last years of the 19th century in a neo-gothic historicist style. Since 1953 it has held the rank of cathedral. It is located in the city center and it forms a beautiful ensemble together with the Koldo Mitxelena cultural center and the Post Office building. Its tower, located above the entrance portico, rises 75 meters high in the shape of a needle and is visible from almost all points of the capital. This neo-gothic work by the Gipuzkoan architect Manuel Echave was inaugurated in 1897. It has a rectangular and symmetrical plan, in the shape of a cross and three naves, as well as a transept and presbytery. It was built in masonry with stones from the Igeldo quarries, just like many other buildings in San Sebastian. Inside the temple, you can see numerous decorative elements, among which the stained glass windows, gargoyles and pinnacles stand out.

11. TAKE A WALK ALONG THE BEACH OF LA CONCHA

La Concha beach is one of the must-see places and it is always a delight to visit. No matter if it rains or shines. It is the emblem par excellence of San Sebastian and is located in the center of town. You can walk along La Concha promenade and from there see the entire bay as well as Santa Clara island. It is nice to visit it at sunset or at sunrise, very early in the morning.

You can start this walk in the Old Town of the city, where the “Avenida de la Libertad” avenue begins, and ends around the tunnel of the “Antiguo” neighborhood. This tunnel is 29 meters long and it is decorated with colors that evoke the sea and water. It is a pedestrian tunnel that connects the La Concha walk with Ondarreta beach and “Antiguo” neighborhood. At night, it is beautifully illuminated and it has become one of the new tourist attractions.

Right next to the tunnel, a few meters away, you will find Miramar Palace, which is an exhibition and congress palace located in front of the Miramar Gardens and next to the Bicentennial balcony of La Concha beach. The “Miramar Jauregia” Palace was the former summer residence of the Queen of Spain in 1893, and today it hosts various exhibitions and events. They also teach some college summer courses. It can be visited by the public and it is open until 9pm at night, where it can be visited with an official guide from the tourist office on specific days when there are no other events taking place. Visiting the gardens is free and they offer stunning views of the sea and La Concha beach.

As we can see, there are many things to see in San Sebastian, even on a rainy day. The city offers many possibilities and it is located in a wonderful natural environment that makes you want to return to the city again and again.

The author of this article is Esther Vallejo Castro. She studied a degree in English language with a focus on culture, language, literature and linguistics at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Esther has also completed an MBA master's degree in Tourism with the ENEB of Barcelona. Esther loves languages, volunteering and teaching.