San Sebastián day trip from Bilbao: Pintxos and coastal walk

Taste San Sebastián's Old Town without arranging the drive yourself

A private day trip from Bilbao to San Sebastián combines a guided walk along La Concha Beach, past Eduardo Chillida's Comb of the Wind sculptures, and through the historic Old Town (Parte Vieja), with your choice of either a single pintxo and drink or a four-bar lunch tour. The route includes the Buen Pastor Cathedral, the film festival venue, and a scenic coastal drive back through fishing villages, with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and all tolls included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Miramar Palace30m
2. Buen Pastor Cathedral15m
3. San Sebastian Old Town50m

Private day trip to San Sebastián

• Pick up and drive to San Sebastián
• Start tour at San Sebastián town hall
• Walk along La Concha Beach to Miramar Palace
• Visit Eduardo Chillida’s Comb of the Wind
• See Buen Pastor Cathedral
• Walk by San Sebastián film festival venue
• Explore San Sebastián Old Town
• Drive back passing Getaria fishing village
• Drive back passing Zarautz
• Drop off at Bilbao

The experience

You leave Bilbao in a private vehicle and drive to San Sebastián along the coast. The guide meets you at the town hall beside La Concha Beach, the crescent of golden sand that defines the city. From there you walk the beach itself to the Miramar Palace, then to Eduardo Chillida's Comb of the Wind: iron sculptures rising from the rocks where the Cantabrian Sea crashes against them. This is the moment most people come for: the sculptures are monumental and the setting is raw.

Next comes the Buen Pastor Cathedral in the newer part of town, then the film festival venue, and a full walk through the Old Town (Parte Vieja), the warren of narrow streets where San Sebastián's food reputation lives. Here you choose your experience: the Discovery Tour includes one selected pintxo and one drink at a bar the guide picks. The Pintxo Lunch Tour, the more popular option, takes you across four different bars for four premium pintxos and four drinks, a real immersion into how locals eat. Either way, the guide handles the stops and the ordering.

On the drive back to Bilbao, you pass through Getaria and Zarautz, two fishing villages on the Urola Coast. The whole day runs seven to nine hours. Transport is private, the vehicle is air-conditioned, WiFi is on board, and tolls and parking are already paid.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Bilbao with pickup included.
• an English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• WiFi on board.
• tolls and parking.
• one pintxo and one drink (Discovery Tour) or four pintxos and four drinks across four bars (Pintxo Lunch Tour).

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish09:00, 10:00 and 16:00

Guide in English or Spanish09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 16:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 16:00

Book up toStart time

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The good tour company

Is this one for you?Book the Discovery Tour if you want a guided introduction to the city and its food without a long food focus. Choose the Pintxo Lunch Tour if you came to San Sebastián specifically to eat and want four different bars and the guide's picks rather than choosing yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the Comb of the Wind and why is it worth seeing?

Eduardo Chillida's Comb of the Wind is a series of monumental iron sculptures installed directly into the rocks at the edge of La Concha Beach, where they meet the sea. They're one of San Sebastián's most recognizable landmarks and the setting (the sculptures against the water and the Cantabrian coast) is what makes the stop memorable.

Can I choose which pintxos I eat on the Pintxo Lunch Tour?

The Pintxo Lunch Tour takes you to four carefully chosen bars where the guide selects the pintxos and drinks. You're not ordering from a menu yourself. The guide handles the stops and what you taste at each one, so the experience is curated rather than à la carte.

How much walking is involved in this day trip?

You walk along La Concha Beach to the Miramar Palace and the Comb of the Wind sculptures, then through the Old Town (Parte Vieja), which involves navigating narrow streets. The walking is moderate and spread across the day, with breaks for pintxos or lunch depending on which option you choose.

Does the price include everything, or are there extra costs?

Private transport, the guide, tolls, parking, WiFi on board, and either one pintxo and drink (Discovery) or four pintxos and four drinks (Pintxo Lunch) are all included. You're not charged separately for the bars or the food.

What's the difference between the Discovery Tour and the Pintxo Lunch Tour?

The Discovery Tour is a guided walk through the centre and historic quarters with one pintxo and one drink included. The Pintxo Lunch Tour, the more popular choice, takes you to four bars for four premium pintxos and four drinks, giving you a deeper taste of San Sebastián's food culture.