San Sebastián: Bike tour with local guide & city views

Summary

Cycle San Sebastián’s streets, beaches, and hidden corners with a local

You’ll cycle through San Sebastián with a local guide who knows every shortcut and story—past cathedrals, surf beaches, palaces, and lively neighborhoods. Feel sea breezes on your face as you ride dedicated bike paths and pause for views only locals know about. This is one of those tours where you’ll remember not just what you saw but how it felt to be part of city life for a few hours.

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what San Sebastián feels like when you’re not just passing through but actually gliding along its bike paths? I didn’t expect to feel so much wind in my face that morning on Reyes Católicos — or to laugh at myself wobbling as our guide, Ane, handed out helmets and pointed at the cathedral spires peeking over the rooftops. The city’s got this gentle salt smell everywhere, even away from the water. We started slow, weaving past locals heading to work (one guy balancing coffee on his handlebars — how?) and then stopped by Buen Pastor Cathedral. Ane told us about the stonework and how it’s sort of a meeting point for everyone here. I liked that she didn’t rush us; we could just stand there and listen to the bells echo off the old buildings.

We crossed the first bridge in town — Ane called it “the city’s handshake,” which made me smile — and suddenly we were in Gros. It’s busy but not in a touristy way; people were chatting outside bakeries, kids zipped by on scooters. She pointed out her favorite pintxo bar (I tried to remember the name but honestly forgot). At Cataluña Plaza she explained how rent keeps going up because everyone wants to live close to Zurriola beach. Speaking of which: you can hear the surf before you see it. There were surfers already out there, wetsuits shining in the early light, and I just stood for a second watching them try (and sometimes fail) to catch waves.

The bike tour kept moving but never felt rushed — we rolled past Kursaal (Ane had a story about some wild film festival parties there), then followed this boulevard that splits old from new San Sebastián. There’s this odd thing about small trees everywhere near La Concha beach; apparently there’s a legend tying them back to Japan? I probably butchered the Basque word when I tried saying it — Ane laughed and said even locals argue about pronunciations here. The view from Miramar Palace is something else; you see all these layers of city and sea stacked together, gulls wheeling overhead. I still think about that view sometimes when I hear seagulls back home.

After that we rode along quieter paths where villas peeked through hedges and old palaces looked kind of sleepy in the midday sun. There was a moment riding beside the Urumea River where everything went quiet except for our wheels on red pavement — bidegorri, Ane called it — and I realized how many sides this city has: working class neighborhoods fading into aristocratic ones, modern art popping up between old stone walls. We ended up back where we started but somehow it felt different now, like I’d seen behind the postcard version of San Sebastián.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — San Sebastián Bike Tour Highlights

• Meet guide at Reyes Católicos street
• Visit Buen Pastor Cathedral
• Stop at first city bridge
• Explore Gros neighborhood and Cataluña Plaza
• View Bay of Biscay and surfers at Zurriola beach
• Pass by Kursaal building
• Pass by emblematic city divider building
• Enjoy city and ocean views
• Stop at La Concha beach for views and legend
• Follow bike path to Miramar Palace and Ondarreta beach
• View city and contemporary art
• Discover Basque modern art and historic neighborhoods
• Return along Urumea River passing villas and palaces
• Tour ends at Reyes Católicos street

Top questions

Where does the San Sebastián bike tour start?

The tour begins on Reyes Católicos street in central San Sebastián.

Is a local guide included on this bike tour?

Yes, an expert local guide leads the entire ride.

What are some highlights visited during the tour?

You’ll see Buen Pastor Cathedral, Gros neighborhood, Zurriola beach, Kursaal building, La Concha beach, Miramar Palace, Ondarreta beach, and more.

Are bikes and helmets provided?

Yes, both bicycle and helmet are included for each participant.

How long is the route covered during the tour?

The ride covers parts of San Sebastián’s 30 kilometers of bike paths.

Is lunch included?

No lunch is included but your guide can recommend places nearby after the tour ends.

Is this suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes—it’s designed for all physical fitness levels with plenty of stops along the way.

Are infant seats available?

Specialized infant seats are available upon request.

What’s included

Your day includes use of a bicycle and helmet throughout the guided ride led by an expert local who shares stories at each stop; public transport options are nearby if needed; infant seats can be arranged if you’re traveling with little ones; after finishing back at Reyes Católicos street you’ll have tips for where to eat or explore next on your own.