Car Hire San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a relatively small city but it enjoys excellent road connections, making it a great place to explore by hire car. It lies close to several main roads, including the Autopista 8 (AP-8), a motorway that runs from Bilbao to the town of Irun on the French border.

Pamplona in little more than an hour to the south, and if you’re arriving by air, San Sebastian Airport is around 20km and half an hour’s drive from the city via the AP-8. If you’re flying into Bilbao Airport, meanwhile, the drive to San Sebastian usually takes an hour and a half.

Driving is on the right-hand side of the road, with overtaking on the left. Maximum speed limits in Spain typically range from 50km/h in towns and cities to 120km/h on motorways, or ‘autopistas’, while many rural roads have limits of 90km/h. Always ensure you check signs for the route that you are on.

The roads around San Sebastian are generally quiet but traffic does build up during summer, particularly over festival season. One of the busiest routes in the city is the San Sebastian bypass, which encircles the city, and it is best to avoid this during peak commuter times.

The Old Town of San Sebastian is pedestrianised, so you will need to leave your hire car in one of the parking lotsavailable throughout the city. There are garages at La Concha and Kursaal, as well as on-street parking where you need to buy a ticket.

Some areas don’t charge for parking during the winter months.

San Sebastian is famous for its beautiful beaches and diverse culinary scene, but there are plenty of other attractions to explore during your stay.

And with a hire car, you’ll easily be able to get on the road and discover other nearby highlights.

Soak up the sun 

Start your visit to San Sebastian with a trip to one of its three beaches. Best-known is Playa de la Concha – the shell beach – named after the distinctive shape of its bay.

This is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, thanks to its wide stretch of sand and calm waters, perfect for swimming and paddling. The views are incredible, with mountains visible on either side of the beach.

For water sports fans, Zurriola Beach is the best spot in the city. Notable for its surfing, you’ll also see crowds of younger visitors playing football and volleyball along the sand.

Playa de Ondarreta, at the foot of Monte Igeldo, is a more family-friendly beach, thanks to its low tide and shallow waters - though you’ll still see surfers and bodyboarders here on windy days.

Scenic hikes

The mountains surrounding San Sebastian offer some great hiking opportunities. Zurriola Beach provides access to Monte Ulía, featuring a coastal route that forms part of the traditional pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James.

Enjoy incredible views and see historical sites such as the Peña del Ballenero, or Whaler’s Rock – so called because this hill used to be an important lookout point for spotting the aquatic mammals. There’s also a picnic area and restaurant to take a break along the way.

Other great hiking options in the city include Monte Urgull, home to the 12^th-century military fortress Castillo de la Mota Castle. Today it houses a museum, where you can learn all about the history of San Sebastian. If you’d prefer to rest your legs, head for Monte Igeldo – where a funicular railway will take you right to the summit.

Culinary delights and alluring destinations

No trip to San Sebastian would be complete without sampling pintxos, the tasty Basque-style mini tapas served in bars all over the city.

Head for Parte Vieja, the Old Town, where you’ll find big-name bars such as Zeruko, home to the famous ‘la hoguera’ (the bonfire) – a sliver of cod cooked over smoking coals.

Or try La Cuchara de San Telmo, not far from the museum of the same name, for everything from succulent pork to scallops. The list of options is seemingly endless, so if you’re spoilt for choice join one of the pintxos tours that regularly run throughout the city.

San Sebastian is packed with attractions but with a hire car, your experience isn’t limited to the city itself. Bilbao, the capital of the Basque region, lies just over an hour away.

Here you can experience stunning architecture and cultural gems such as the Guggenheim Museum, as well as beautiful parks including Doña Casilda de Iturrizar, on the banks of the river Nervion.

With a hire car in San Sebastian, all this and more is within your reach.