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San Sebastián Museums & exhibitions

Our most recommended San Sebastián Museums & exhibitions

From San Sebastian: Gaztelugatxe and Guggenheim Museum Tour

1. From San Sebastian: Gaztelugatxe and Guggenheim Museum Tour

Discover Biscay, the Basque region that surrounds Bilbao, on a full-day trip from San Sebastian. Fall in love with the charming 10th-century fortress of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and climb its 241 stairs to get to the top. Explore the world-famous Guggenheim Museum with included tickets. Depart from San Sebastian after being picked up from your hotel. Arrive at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and find yourself at Dragonstone, as the seventh season of Game of Thrones was shot here. Embark on a steep climb and be rewarded with fascinating views of nature. After recovering from the steep path, head to Bilbao, the financial capital of the Basque Country. Get a glimpse of the architectural and traditional beauties of this wonderful city, including the Guggenheim Museum. Step into the iconic museum and discover its exhibit before returning to San Sebastian.

From San Sebastian: Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Tour

2. From San Sebastian: Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Tour

Discover the highlights of Bilbao on a private tour of major attractions such as the Guggenheim Museum and Ribera Market. Explore the Old Town quarter to see beautiful architecture and charming streets, and get a sense of how the locals live. Admire monuments such as City Hall and Santiago Cathedral, consecrated in honor of the apostle Saint James the Great. Look at the Gothic façade of the Church of San Antón, and discover off-the-beaten-path locations known only to the locals. Stroll through an old train station and window shop the fancy stores of the Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro avenue. Reach the magnificent Guggenheim Museum on the banks of the Nervion River, and take a fully guided tour outside to see the permanent collections of contemporary art. Take your time inside to enjoy the temporary exhibits.

From Bilbao: Day Trip to San Sebastián with Guided Tour

3. From Bilbao: Day Trip to San Sebastián with Guided Tour

Discover the town of San Sebastián on this full-day trip from Bilbao. Ride in a comfortable car, van, or bus that suits the size of your private group. Uncover why this area attracted the European high-class tourism during the Belle Epoque period on a guided tour. Enjoy being picked up from the comfort of your accommodation in the city of Bilbao. Kick back and relax on the scenic drive through the countryside on the way to San Sebastian in Basque Country. Meet your guide and begin your tour of the town. Capture pictures of the smooth curve of the bay of La Concha and of the island of Santa Clara. See Ondarreta beach which is located next to the Peine del Viento sculptural ensemble. View the modernist architectural development. Make your way to the city center to see the Gothic Revival architecture of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and appreciate the Eclecticism of City Hall. Travel through the Old Town to see the  baroque Roman Catholic parish of Santa Maria and the San Telmo Museum. Have the chance to savor local flavors with access to the bars in the Old Town where you can purchase some pintxos (small dishes) before heading back to your accommodation in Bilbao.

From San Sebastian: Guggenheim and Basque Coast Day Trip

4. From San Sebastian: Guggenheim and Basque Coast Day Trip

A day trip in a van through back roads of the Basque coast, visiting historic town and unique natural landscapes, ending up in the most cosmopolitan city in the Basque Country. The road has curves (a few) but there will be plenty of stops to breathe the sea air and contemplate the horizon. The French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote: “Gernika is the happiest town in the world. Their affairs are governed by a board of peasants that meets under an oak tree and always makes the fairest decisions ”. And here we go, to the city bombed by Nazi planes in 1937 that inspired one of the most well-known paintings in the world, Picasso’s mural-sized “Guernica”. We will visit the city and, of course, the tree under which the (we hope) “fairer decisions” are made. Memorize this name: ‘Urdaibai’ and try to pronounce it well (it’s not easy, we know) because you won’t forget it. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco, Urdaibai is a large estuary at which mountains, rivers, the sea and large stretches of sand come together. Depending on the tide and time of day, the landscape (and the dozens of birds that inhabit it) may be radically different. We’ll also stop at Mundaka, a hot spot on the world's ‘surfaris’ routes: its beach has one of the most (possibly the most) perfect waves on the planet, with a left-hand break. Some call it “Dragonstone,” but its name is San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, an islet connected to the ground by a line of 241 stairs and crowned by a hermitage. Gaztelugatxe became ultra-famous after appearing in the Games Of Thrones series disguised as Dragonstone: Though the 'castle' is a cgi effect, everything else (dizzying cliffs, sharp rocks, flocks of birds, the noise of the sea ...) is rabidly real . The people of Bilbao have always claimed that their city was the capital of the world. When the Guggenheim museum opened in 1997, that prophecy came true and the building became an architectural phenomenon whose influence has spilled over into the rest of the city. The people of Bilbao say that the museum is actually the “doghouse” of Puppy, the iconic statue that welcomes you at the entrance (Basque ironic mode on). We’ll get to know the building and its main works of contemporary art.

Frequently asked questions about San Sebastián

What top attractions are a must-see in San Sebastián?

What are the best day trips and excursions from San Sebastián?

The best day trips and excursions from San Sebastián are:

Bilbao

Other Sightseeing Options in San Sebastián

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What people are saying about San Sebastián

Daniel was a great guide - friendly, knowledgeable and informative. He was very flexible in terms of what we did tailoring it to what we wanted. We had a good walk around the old town in Bilbao and the market and then the Guggenheim which was the highlight. I would allow a minimum of a couple hours at the Guggenheim

Iker is a superb guide and an excellent driver. He has great knowledge of both the history of the region, the architecture and contents of the Guggenheim museum and the nooks and crannies of Bilbao. I would heartily recommend him and hope to travel back to San Sebastián and use his services again!

This was a highlight of my trip to Basque Country! Our guide was super knowledgeable and told us all the quirky history about the sights we walked to in Bilbao. Visiting the hermitage is a must do! It's so picturesque and the walk is very panoramic. Highly recommend!

We had a fantastic time. Juan Lou was an outstanding guide. He was personable and fun to be with. He was also thoughtful of the various needs of some group members. Our group hopes to come back to experience other tours with him.

Matteo was very chill and flexible. He adjusted to our needs and preferences. We had a great time! Thanks!