Start with the easiest, most San Sebastián thing possible: a slow walk along the La Concha Beach Promenade. If you’re arriving with luggage, drop it first and then head straight here from the Centro side of town; it’s flat, simple, and the best way to shake off travel. The promenade hugs the bay, so you get the full postcard sweep of La Concha, Santa Clara Island, and the curve of the city in one go. For a first day, this is ideal because it gives you orientation without demanding energy. Expect about an hour if you linger for photos, coffee, or just watching locals on the benches and runners going by.
From the seafront, drift into Parte Vieja (the Old Town), where the city suddenly gets narrower, noisier, and more interesting. This is the best place on day one to get your bearings: look for Plaza de la Constitución, the church towers, and the dense little network of pintxos bars that defines the neighborhood. Keep it loose and don’t try to “do” everything yet — this is more about learning the rhythm of the streets, spotting where you might want to return later, and finding your way between the main squares. Most of it is best explored on foot, and the whole area is compact enough that you’ll naturally circle back toward dinner without needing transport.
For an easy gluten-free-friendly first meal, head to La Cuchara de San Telmo in the Old Town. It’s one of the safest, most reliable choices for a traveler who wants proper pintxos-style food without spending the evening decoding every dish. The menu is more small-plate than classic bar pintxos, which makes it especially convenient for gluten-free diners, and the cooking is creative without being fussy. Expect roughly €20–35 per person, depending on how many plates you share and whether you have drinks. Go a little early if you can — around the start of dinner service — because the room fills up fast and the Old Town gets lively quickly in May.
After dinner, step into the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus while the light is still soft or just after dusk. It’s one of the most beautiful baroque landmarks in the city, and from the outside alone it gives you that classic San Sebastián feeling of old stone, narrow streets, and lived-in history. If it’s open, a quick visit takes only 30–45 minutes, but even a brief stop is enough to add some atmosphere before you finish the night with a focused pintxos crawl around Plaza de la Constitución. Keep this one tight and intentional: choose a few places that understand gluten-free requests, ask directly about gluten handling, and favor items that are naturally GF or prepared separately. Budget around €15–25 per person for a short tasting circuit. It’s the kind of first night that leaves room for wandering, rather than overplanning — which is exactly how San Sebastián is best enjoyed.
Start at Mercado de San Martín in the Centro area, which is the most useful kind of first stop in San Sebastián: easy, practical, and very local. Go in the morning if you can, when the stalls are freshest and the pace is calm. Pick up fruit, nuts, yogurt, and any gluten-free basics for later in the day, and if you’re sensitive, this is a good place to stock up on packaged snacks for the trip. If you’re self-catering, expect small-market pricing rather than bargain prices; most things are reasonable, and you can be in and out in about 45 minutes. From there, it’s a simple walk toward the river mouth and the waterfront, where Centro Cultural Kursaal gives the day a complete change of mood with its glass-and-concrete cubes facing the sea. You don’t need to go inside unless there’s an exhibition on; the exterior is the point here, and it’s especially nice around mid-morning when the light hits the façades. Continue on foot toward Zurriola Beach, which is the city’s surfier, younger beach and feels totally different from La Concha—more motion, more salt air, more boards under arms. Stroll the promenade, watch the waves, and give yourself time to just stand there for a bit; this is one of those places where “doing nothing” is the whole activity.
For lunch, head back into the Old Town for A Fuego Negro, a smart stop if you want inventive tapas-style plates without the usual gluten-free stress. It’s one of the better options in the center for a traveler who wants to eat well without overthinking every bite, but as always in San Sebastián, mention your gluten needs clearly when ordering and don’t be shy about double-checking sauces or cross-contamination. Plan on about €20–35 per person depending on how much you order, and allow around an hour so you’re not rushing. After lunch, take an easy taxi, a bus, or a longer walk west to Miramar Palace Gardens in Antiguo, where the tempo slows right down. The gardens are free to enter and best when you’re not trying to “see” too much—just wander the paths, sit with the sea views, and enjoy the sweep back over the bay. It’s one of the calmest places in the city for an afternoon break, especially if you want a pause from the denser streets and pintxo crowds.
Wrap up with something simple and comfortable at Kafe Botanika back near the Old Town backstreets, where the mood is softer and more relaxed than the busier pintxo bars nearby. It’s a good place for coffee, a light dessert, or a gentle late-afternoon reset before dinner, and it works nicely for gluten-free travelers who want to finish the day without another full meal. Budget roughly €8–15 per person, and if the weather is good, it’s worth lingering rather than treating it like a quick caffeine stop. From here, you’re already in a great position to wander the surrounding streets afterward—no need to overplan the rest of the evening. If you still have energy, just drift through the nearby lanes and let the city do its thing.
Start with Paseo de Zurriola to Sagüés while the eastern edge of the city is still waking up. This is the San Sebastián locals use when they want sea air without the polish of La Concha: surfers in the water, runners on the promenade, and a more everyday feel as you head toward Sagüés. It’s an easy, flat walk and a good reset after breakfast and arrival logistics, so don’t rush it — just let the rhythm of Gros set the pace for the day.
From there, continue into Egia for Tabakalera, the city’s contemporary cultural center housed in the old tobacco factory. It’s a nice change of texture after the open seafront: exhibitions, film events, and a very good indoor break if the weather turns grey, which can happen anytime on the coast. Plan on about an hour, with tickets often free or low-cost depending on the exhibit, and if you want coffee or a snack afterward, the surrounding streets near Egia are easy to navigate without detouring far.
For lunch, head back toward the waterfront for Bokado Mikel Santamaría in Gros, which is one of the better bets if you’re eating gluten-free and want something more refined than a casual bite. It’s a polished seafood lunch with bay views, and the kitchen is generally careful enough that it works well for gluten-free diners — still, mention celiac needs clearly when ordering. Expect roughly €30–50 per person depending on whether you go for starters, wine, and dessert; it’s worth lingering a little because this is the meal that anchors the east-side part of the day.
After lunch, slow it down in Cristina Enea Park back in Egia. It’s one of the best green escapes in the center of the city: shaded paths, a pond, huge trees, and enough space to feel properly away from the bustle without actually leaving town. An hour or so here is ideal after a seafood lunch, especially if you want to keep the day balanced rather than overpacked. Later, keep dinner simple with La Txuletería / Iribar style pintxos stop in Gros, where the point is easy logistics and a relaxed neighborhood meal rather than a big production. For gluten-free eating in Gros, this is the kind of place where you should ask what can be prepared safely on the spot and stick to naturally gluten-free options where possible; budget around €20–35 per person.
Finish at the Zurriola sunset viewpoint at Sagüés. This is one of the nicest low-effort endings in the city: the promenade, the surfers, the sky changing over the water, and then the city lights coming on behind you. It’s usually best about 30–45 minutes before sunset so you can catch the full transition rather than just the final glow. If you still have energy afterward, the walk back through Gros is pleasant and safe, and it leaves you with that very San Sebastián feeling of having spent the whole day close to the sea.
Start early at Monte Urgull while the paths are still cool and the light is clean over the bay. It’s the best final active outing in San Sebastián: a proper uphill climb, but not a hard one, and the payoff is huge with views across La Concha, the harbor, and the rooftops of the Parte Vieja. Give yourself about 1.5 to 2 hours so you can wander at an easy pace, stop for photos, and enjoy the quiet before the city gets busy. Wear decent shoes — it’s paved in parts but still steep — and if you want the best atmosphere, aim to be on the trail by 9:00–9:30. From the Old Town edge, it’s a short, natural climb with no need for transport.
After the descent, head straight into San Telmo Museum for a calm, well-curated reset. It’s one of the best places in town to understand Basque identity without feeling academic or dry, and the building itself is worth the visit. Plan around 1.5 hours, a bit more if you like to linger in the modern sections or the cloister courtyard. Then, by midday, make your way to Heladería Oiartzun in the center for a simple break — an ice cream, coffee, or a small snack if you need it before your final meal. It’s an easy gluten-free-friendly stop and usually lands around €5–10 per person, so it works well as a palate-cleansing pause before lunch.
For your last proper sit-down meal, go to Restaurante Gandarias in the Old Town. This is classic San Sebastián: lively, efficient, and very good if you know what to order. Ask carefully about gluten-free options — grilled meats, simple fish, and select pintxos can work well, but in pintxos bars cross-contact matters, so it’s best to be direct with the staff. Lunch here is usually the sweet spot, though an early dinner also works if your day runs long; expect about 1 to 1.5 hours and roughly €25–40 per person depending on how much you order. If you arrive from Heladería Oiartzun, it’s an easy walk back toward the Parte Vieja, so there’s no need to rush.
Finish with a slow Boulevard / Alderdi Eder stroll to let the day unwind before you leave the city. This is the most natural “goodbye San Sebastián” walk: tree-lined, open, and right where the city feels elegant without trying too hard. Drift along the Boulevard, then out toward Alderdi Eder and the waterfront gardens for one last look at the bay. Give yourself about 45 minutes, more if you want to sit for a while on a bench and watch the ferris wheel, the trams, and the constant movement of people coming and going. It’s the kind of ending that makes departure feel softer — a final easy loop through the center, with just enough time to soak in the city before you head on.