Pilgrims on the road and friends along the way send me changes every day, and they go out the same day. The Camino del Norte app carries all of it offline, and it's still being built — new features arrive routinely.
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The ground behind you: what the walk into San Sebastián crosses, and where it could have been broken.
Tomorrow from San Sebastián
Nothing says you have to stop here, or there. These are simply the towns within a comfortable day's walk, so you can decide tonight.
| Town | km from here | Shared | Private | The walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Igueldo | 6.8 | — No | ✓ Yes | |
| Orio | 16.9 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from San Sebastián to Orio |
| Zarautz | 22.4 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from San Sebastián to Zarautz |
| Getaria | 27.6 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from San Sebastián to Getaria |
| Askizu | 29.4 | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | The walk from San Sebastián to Askizu |
| Zumaia | 32.3 | — No | ✓ Yes | The walk from San Sebastián to Zumaia |
San Sebastián (Donostia in Basque) is the first major city on the Norte and one you could happily lose a day in. The setting alone justifies the stop — a perfect crescent bay flanked by Monte Urgull to the east and Monte Igueldo to the west, with the Isla de Santa Clara anchored in between. La Concha beach fills the curve, and the city arranges itself around it like an amphitheater.
The Parte Vieja (old town) is where you eat. The narrow streets below Monte Urgull contain one of the densest concentrations of pintxo bars in the world, and the quality is staggering. This isn't bar food — this is a city with more Michelin stars per capita than almost anywhere on earth, and that ambition filters down to every counter. Order txakoli (poured from height to aerate it), point at what looks good, and repeat. The Plaza de la Constitución, with its numbered balconies from its days as a bullring, is the center of it all.
The Catedral del Buen Pastor is a neo-Gothic church whose spire dominates the newer part of the city south of the Río Urumea. Monte Urgull is worth the climb — the Castillo de la Mota at the summit houses a small museum and provides the defining views of the bay. On the western end, the funicular up Monte Igueldo has been running since 1912 and offers the rival panorama.
The city hosts the San Sebastián International Film Festival in September, one of Europe's oldest. In January, the Tamborrada sees the entire city drumming through the streets for 24 hours — spectacular but unlikely to coincide with your walk.
All services. RENFE trains connect to Madrid and the French border. EuskoTren serves the Basque coast.
Although a bit too early in the year for the majority of passing pilgrims, the Tamborrada is held on the day of San Sebastián, January 20th.August makes up for the rest of the year with the Assumption of Mary on the 15th followed by the Basque Fiestas at the end of the month through the start of September.
San Sebastián was founded in the late 12th century by Sancho the Wise of Navarra as a maritime port. Within decades, Castile wrested control — the larger kingdom's naval ambitions suited the city's potential better. The port thrived, and burned. The city was rebuilt from ashes at least half a dozen times, the last after a catastrophic fire in 1489 that finally prompted a shift from wood to stone construction.
Commerce gave way to military purpose. Fortresses were built, a navy was stationed, and for four centuries San Sebastián was besieged, bombarded, and periodically occupied. British and Portuguese forces burned most of the city during the Peninsular War in 1813 — supposedly by accident.
The reinvention as a resort began when Queen Isabel II chose San Sebastián for her summer holidays in the 1840s. Queen María Cristina later built the Miramar Palace on the headland between the two beaches. The Belle Époque left the elegant Ensanche (new town) that now frames the bay. The city's last occupation was during the Civil War, when Franco's forces took it in 1936.
Turn right on the Avenida de Navarra towards the sea, the road follows it and you follow the road. You can walk in the sand of the Playa Zurriola if it suits you, the way ahead is evident as it crosses the bridge over the Río Uramea.Once over the bridge continue straight ahead, past the municipal gardens and towards the Playa de la Concha which you will follow all the way to its end. At the end of the beach cut across the park separating it from the road (Satrustegi) and turn right on the road towards the tree covered hillside ahead, and then left where it ends to follow the road signs to Igueldo.The Ondarreta Albergue is along this road, straight ahead and on your left-hand side. The camino, however, turns right off of the road before it arrives at the albergue. The way is uphill along a paved road which turns into a trail, twisting and turning all the way to the top. Before long you will be on a small paved road which connects with a larger one, and in front of you will be the gravel parking lot for the hotel Leku Eder, cut across it and walk past the hotel along the main road.NOTE: If you were to turn right at the parking lot, you could go uphill to visit Monte Igueldo. Follow the road as far as the next hotel, turning right at the sign for the Buenavista Hotel at the start of Igueldo.
5. June 2026 - 19:02
The Tourist Information office in the town hall sells pilgrim credentials, €2 each.
19. May 2026 - 16:36
Koba hostel was fully booked so they recommended Surfing Hestea, a small lovely place with private lockers, breakfast on request and lovely people welcoming you. Highly recommended!
22. October 2025 - 6:34
… is nice and clean with a rooftop to stay :) nice
29. August 2025 - 5:53
Take Bus 33 from the city with 5 stops and you’ll be surprised a hostel cheaper than anywhere with all the amenities a peregrino needs. I paid 23 euros compared to expensive high priced hotels in San Sebastian
16. June 2025 - 20:22
Stayed at Pensión La Perla. Clean and comfortable although could not figure out the air conditioning and was too noisy outside to leave windows open. Great windows though did not hear a thing when they were closed. Very quiet and comfortable.
If you need to do laundry there is a lavenderia across from lobby of Catalonia Donosti hotel. They were so kind at the hotel bar as they made me an ice pack for my ankle which was sore and swollen. So grateful.
31. August 2024 - 21:02
Just a few km's before aan Sebastian lays las doce Tribus. Such kind and welcoming people. Seperate bedrooms for men and women. Includes a family home diner and breakfast. Beautiful garden. Highly recommend
3. June 2024 - 23:04
Stayed in Koisi hostel and it was arguably the best night sleep I've had out of 30 nights so far! No proper kitchen or even any plates or cutlery, but they do have a fridge and a microwave. The walk up those stairs is brutal after a long day, so definitely do your shopping at the BM before making your way up.
5. May 2024 - 16:14
I booked and got a bed in the Colo Colo Hostel the same day. It’s on the more expansive side with 24€ (Booking) but definitely worth it. Close to the old town, super modern, private bunk beds with curtain, personal socket, own tablet (!) and wifi ear phones if you must watch Netflix (included), great kitchen, free coffee (very good), and lockers for the backpack. If I had one free wish, it would be to have the locker right next to the bed, but then again the opening mechanism would be noisy. So all is well.
21. April 2024 - 18:25
I tried to book a room in both Albergue around noon but all full. But lots of other options. I ended up at Downtown River Hostel, close to shops, beach and markets
1. August 2023 - 17:12
I would really recommend the Donativo based albergue ”12 tribes” or ”Doce Tribus”, just a few km before San Sebastian. So welcoming people, nice pilgrim dinner and perfect location in the peaceful forest.
20. February 2023 - 23:26
I would suggest Koba hostel! Very simple, easy, and clean!
Esta entidad ha sido beneficiaria de una ayuda del Programa de incentivos a la movilidad eficiente y sostenible (MOVES III), gestionado por la Xunta de Galicia a través del Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (INEGA) en el marco del Real Decreto 266/2021, y cofinanciada por la Unión Europea — NextGenerationEU, dentro del Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.
