The 8 Best Boat Tours in San Sebastian

San Sebastián, or Donostia in Basque, is a city in the Basque Country known worldwide for its film festival held every September. However, it is ideal to visit all year round for its beautiful coastal walks, gastronomy, otherworldly cliffs and unforgettable beaches.

One of the best things to see and do in San Sebastián is to take a boat trip to discover wonderful places, many of which cannot be easily seen from the coast. Here are the boat trips that have interested me the most, which will give you the opportunity to see the city's main attractions from a unique perspective.

A great option in San Sebastián is to take a boat trip to Santa Clara Island, located opposite La Concha Bay, which was declared a Historic Site of National Interest in 1968. Visiting it is one of the best day trips you can take in San Sebastián.

These trips usually include a stop at the island so you can relax or take a dip in the water. What's more, when the tide is high, a natural pool forms where you can take a dip. The boat trip takes around 40 minutes there and back, but you can stay on the island for as long as you like, as boats leave every 30 minutes.

The excursion is available from June to September and usually includes a guide on the boat who will tell you about the history of the island and other interesting facts. If you wish, you can explore the entire island on foot, as it has paths and steps suitable for all ages.

Santa Clara Island has many amenities, such as showers, lifeguards, bars, tables, and there is also a lighthouse with a spectacular view of the city. In addition, it has balconies and viewpoints with enchanting views of La Concha Bay, Mount Urgull, Mount Igueldo and the beautiful cliffs.

Details of interest

• Price: from £7 per person.
• Duration: 40 minutes round trip, but you can stay on the island as long as you like.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages: you can explore Santa Clara Island and enjoy an excellent view of the coast of San Sebastián.
• Disadvantages: Meals and drinks are not included.
• Recommendations: bring a swimsuit and comfortable footwear.

This type of excursion is ideal for discovering Pasaia Bay and other attractions such as Mount Igueldo, one of the most important landmarks in San Sebastián. You will also get to see the towns of Hondarribia and Getaria, the coast of Gipuzkoa and the flysch of Zumaia, a wonderful rock formation, making this one of the best tours you can do in San Sebastián.

These full-day tours usually include return pick-up from your hotel and are done by car and boat with small groups of up to 6 people. During the excursion, a specialist guide will tell you all about the attractions you visit. They are suitable for children and can be done at any time of year.

As for the attractions you will see, in Hondarribia you can discover the marina and the old town, and you can also have lunch in one of the best pintxo restaurants in the city. You can also have lunch in Getaria, another destination that these tours usually include, if you prefer.

The tours include a tour of the coastal town of Getaria where you can discover the Txakoli vineyards overlooking the sea, its port and the fishing traditions of the Basque villages. You can also visit the Flysch of Zumaia, rock and sediment formations that are around 60 million years old. It is one of the sites where the famous series Game of Thrones was filmed.

Details of interest

• Price: from £340.
• Duration: around 8 hours.
• Transport: minibus and boat.
• Advantages: you will discover the Basque coast, Mount Igueldo, the villages of Pasaia, beaches, vineyards and Flynch de Zumaia, where Game of Thrones was filmed.
• Disadvantages: food and drinks are not usually included.
• Recommendations: bring comfortable clothing, footwear and water.

These are boat trips around the most beautiful bays of San Sebastián: Pasaia, Hondarribia and Hendaye. They are ideal for taking in the best panoramic views and enjoying a unique sunset.

These trips usually last around 4 hours and start in the morning. They also usually include a professional guide who will tell you about the history of the Basque coast and many other interesting facts.

These tours are available all year round and are open to small groups (up to 12 people). They are usually suitable for children and even babies, and many companies will give you a souvenir photo.

These are the most common sites usually seen on a boat trip around the bays of Pasaia, Hondarribia and Hendaye in San Sebastián:

• Mount Urgull, with La Mota Castle, one of San Sebastián's most important natural heritage sites.
• The Urumea River, which runs through the entire city.
• Espigón and Zurriola beach, an ideal place for surfing and water sports enthusiasts.
• Pasaia Bay, where you can visit Cala Murgita, the La Plata lighthouse and small fishing villages.
• The slopes of Jaizkibel, a place of cliffs, coves and lush vegetation.
• The Labetxu Valley, or "Valley of the Gods", where you will see beautiful coloured stones.
• Txingudi Bay, where you can see the marina of Hondarribia and the castle in the old town.
• Hendaia Bay, on the border with France.
• Mount Igueldo, with its amusement park, and Peine del Viento, a series of sculptures by Eduardo Chillida by the sea.
• Santa Clara Island, located in the centre of La Concha Bay, is the perfect place to get the best views of the entire city.

Details of interest

• Price: around £130, including food and drink.
• Duration: approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transport: motorboat.
• Advantages: you will discover the most important bays of San Sebastián and the city's main attractions.
• Disadvantages: in winter, excursions only take place on certain days of the week.

If you want to discover the coast of San Sebastián in a different way, I recommend signing up for a luxurious evening on a private sailboat. In addition to the incredible experience of sailing, these types of excursions usually include a trip around La Concha Bay with a stop at Pasai Donibane, a charming fishing village.

These are exclusive tours for families or groups of friends that can be taken at different times of the day and are available on certain days of the week, so it is always best to book in advance. They are ideal for those who prefer privacy over crowds.

These excursions usually offer pick-up in certain areas, which you should check in advance. In addition, you will usually have a specialised guide who will tell you interesting stories about all the places you will see along the way.

These boat trips are suitable for children and are available all year round. What's more, most of them allow you to jump off the boat to cool off or swim while enjoying the best panoramic views of the bay.

Details of interest

• Price: around £350.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: sailing boat.
• Advantages: you will discover the coast of Donostia and La Concha Bay in an exclusive way.
• Disadvantages: food and drink are not usually included.

These types of excursions are ideal for getting a first glimpse of the coast of San Sebastián and La Concha Bay, especially if you are short on time. They take place on the Catamarán San Sebastián, which has a capacity for 120 people, and last only 40 minutes.

This type of trip allows you to see the city's most important attractions, such as the sculptures by Oteiza and the Peine del Viento, the Ulia and Igueldo mountains, the mouth of the Urumea River, the Paseo Nuevo, the Kursaal cultural centre and auditorium, Ondarreta Beach, the Miramar Palace, the Town Hall, and the Pico del Loro headland, which separates La Concha and Ondarreta beaches.

During the trip, a guide will tell you interesting facts about each of the attractions you see. The tour is available all year round, with a reduced schedule in winter, and is suitable for children. The best time to embark is from June to September.

Useful information

• Price: around £13 per person.
• Duration: 40 minutes.
• Means of transport: catamaran.
• Advantages: you will get a panoramic view of La Concha Bay and the coast of San Sebastián, as well as some of the main attractions from the ocean.
• Disadvantages: the boat does not make any stops, it only slows down at each attraction for a few minutes.

This type of excursion allows you to discover the Basque coast and the most famous coastal villages. The municipality of Pasaia or Pasajes is home to four villages connected by passages: San Pedro and San Juan, which are usually visited on these tours, and Trintxerpe and Antxo. They also usually include a visit to the historic centre of Hondarribia.

These are excursions for small groups of people and offer pick-up from hotels in certain areas. They are also suitable for children. The best time to do this is during the high season, from June to September, when the weather is most pleasant.

Part of these tours is done by van, including the tour of Pasaia Donibane and the village of San Juan, a fishing village where you can see the old town and much more. The boat trip is to cross over to the village of San Pedro, where the old Apostoluaren Eliza church is located.

Throughout these tours, a professional guide will accompany you and tell you about the history of the city of San Sebastián and many interesting facts about the places you visit.

Details of interest

• Price: around £80 per person.
• Duration: between 4 and 5 hours.
• Means of transport: boat and van.
• Advantages: you will discover the most popular villages on the Basque coast.
• Disadvantages: you must be prepared to walk, with comfortable footwear and clothing.

This type of excursion allows you to discover the most hidden cliffs of Donostia, sailing on a yacht in small groups. Some of the attractions usually seen on these tours are the Kursaal cultural centre and auditorium and Zurriola beach. The boat leaves from the port of San Sebastián.

These activities include a professional guide who will show you the most secret cliffs of San Sebastián. They are also ideal for learning about the history of the old village of Pasajes, made up of small fishermen's houses.

During these excursions, you are usually given time to cool off in the water and sunbathe in one of the best areas in the west. This is an ideal activity for the whole family and the best time to do it is during the high season, from 15 June to 15 September.

These tours allow you to see the best panoramic views of the Peine del Viento, La Concha Bay, Santa Clara Island and Donostia Bay.

Details of interest

• Price: around £50 per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Means of transport: yacht.
• Advantages: you will discover the most secret cliffs of Donostia.
• Disadvantages: not usually available every day.

If you are travelling with your partner, you will love sharing a special tour for two on a private boat, enjoying activities such as swimming, lunch at a restaurant in Guetaria and exploring the town.

These tours take place in the morning, accompanied by an expert captain who will tell you about the history and other details of the places you will see from the boat. Without a doubt, the sound of the sea, the wind and the singing of the seagulls will make the trip very romantic.

In Guetaria, you can take a dip in the sea before setting off on a tour of the town, where you can choose a restaurant to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Guetaria is one of the prettiest villages in the Basque Country, known for being the birthplace of the sailor Juan Sebastián Elcano and the fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga. It is a fishing village with stone houses and narrow, steep streets, ideal for eating fresh fish and trying txakoli, a white wine from the region.

Details of interest

• Price: around £30, including lunch in Getaria.
• Duration: approximately 7 hours.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages: you can enjoy a romantic evening on a special route along the Basque coast. Lunch and a glass of cava can be included.
• Disadvantages: many companies do not offer refunds for cancellations or date changes.

On this type of excursion, you will be able to discover the most popular sites in San Sebastián from the sea and the attractions most chosen by visitors. Please note that the boats do not usually disembark at all sites, but only at those specified in the tour description.

Among the most important points of interest that you can see from the boats are Zurriola Beach, the Oteiza sculpture, the Rompeolas Paseo Nuevo, the mouth of the Urumea River, the Kursaal cultural centre and auditorium, the Ulía and Igeldo mountains, the Peine del Viento sculpture group and Santa Clara Island.

Within the Bay of La Concha, you will be able to glimpse Ondarreta Beach, Miramar Palace, the Pico del Loro promontory, La Concha Beach and the Town Hall. You will also be able to discover the most famous villages of Pasaia, such as San Juan and San Pedro.

Please note that you should always wear comfortable clothing and footwear, and bring a swimsuit, sunglasses and sunscreen, as many of the excursions include stops at beaches or areas of the sea where you can take a dip or sunbathe for a while in the beautiful natural surroundings, especially in the hottest weather.