If you plan to visit San Sebastian then it is ideal that you know where each of the main sub districts ( Barrios ) of the City are located. Each of these areas have their own distinct personalities and each will offer something unique for the tourist planning to discover the beautiful city that is Donostia.
The main districts are
City Centre and Romantic Zone
Old Quarter
Gros District
The city centre of Donostia ( San Sebastian) is situated in the middle of the Playa La Concha, the Old Quarter and the start of the Amara district. At the heart is the Plaza del Buen Pastor and as is most city centres ithe area is a hive of activity and commerce. There are more than enough shops, Restaurants, hotels and Pintxo bars to satisfy the urban lover. Donostia was once a walled city and parts of the Murral can still be seen dotted around in various places. The streets where designed in a grid like fashion and this area is not only regarded as the best shopping are , specially the Loyola street, but also due to its architecture and street lamps reminds many a visitor of Paris and is known as the Area Romantica ( The Romantic Area ).
Staring from the north end of the City at the Alameda del Boulevard head south the Calle Legazpi to the Plaza de Guipuzcoa just of the Calle Camino, along the route you can observe the fascinating architecture and the Council building, with busts of famous people included. Heading south again and enjoy the buzz of the city as you walk down to the Avenida de la Libertad . This is the financial district of the city where you will find most of the major Spanish banks along with the top named stores. Crossing over down the Bergara and Prim streets, this will then lead you to the Plaza Bilbao, home of some of the most striking buildings such as the Cathedral del Buen Pastor, the Mitxelena art centre and the home of the Post office ( Edifico de Correos ).
If you go east of the Plaza Bilbao you can also reach the Estacion del Norte ( the North Railway Station ) which was designed by a rather well known architect, Monsieur Eiffel, famous for another wel known landmark in Paris.
Just off the Plaza Bilbao heading east I would recommend a visit to the Marie Cristina bridge ( Puente de Marie Cristina ). This unique ornate bridge was built at the turn of the 20th Century out of iron and concrete and has some very interesting features such as sculptured dragons, navel scenes and coats of arms.
ZONA ROMANTICA - The Romantic Area
If you thinking of having a Romantic night out in San Sebastian then head for this lovely part of the city. It is
Based around the Calle Reyes Catolicos which leads up to the Cathedral of the Buen Pastor in the southern area of the
city centre. Not only is it romantic with its fine Parisian style architecture and ornate street lamps it is where some of the finest
food in the city is served. After fulfilling your gastronomic dreams a stroll around the area absorbing this distinctive atmosphere of the
Zona Romantica is a must. There is also a good smattering of lively local bars to end the night in.
The Old Quarter
As the name suggests this is the old part of San Sebastian. It stands sandwiched between the foot of Mount Urgull and the city centre and opens out to the sea on both sides from the Plaza de Salamanca to the old Harbour area . The area was completely rebuilt after a devastating fire therefore you only a very few building s will predate 1813. This is not to say that the old Part lakes any of the charms you would expect from an old fishing village. Soak up the atmosphere whilst walking around the cobbled streets and narrow alleys discovering some of the best Pintxo ( tapas ) bars , Restaurants and speciality shops that San Sebastian has to offer.
To the north of the old part is Mount Urgull, a demanding climb to the top is well worth the effort as you will be treated to an exhilarating view over the city and the Castillo de la Mota ( The Mota Castle ). On the west side of the mount are located the Cementario de los Ingleses ( The English Cemetery ) the Museo Militar ( Military Museum the Aquarium which has a glass tunnel walkway where you enjoy a 360 degree view of the marine life, and the Navel Museum which is located slightly north of the Royal Nautical Club.
If you enjoy walking around local indoor food markets as I do then I would recommend a visit to the Mercado de la Bretxa situated just off the Avenida del Boulevard there you will find many colourful stalls full of all the fine produce the area has to offer.
Two of the cities oldest churches can be found in the old quarter, the Basilica de Santa Maria del Coro and the Convent of San Telmo which now acts as a Museum.
At the centre of the Parte Vieja is the beautiful Plaza de la Constitucion where the main cities festivities take place and is fondly known as " La Consti " by the locals. The plaza used to be the bull ring in the middle ages and is surrounded by buildings with large white painted balconies , which are numbered and where the spectators could easily view the fight.
Roaming around the Old Part you will undoubtedly soak up the oldy worldly charm and enjoy the unmistakable atmosphere of an area that is invariable steeped in history and has seen so much activity and festivities yet still manages to continue with its traditional local life.
GROS DISTRICT
The Barrio Gros ( Gros District is located to the east of the city and the river Urumea, it provides a picturesque view of San Sebastian and has the lovely beach of La Zurriola, a large beach of fine golden sand.
The Gros district can be both laid back and tranquil and then again bustling with commerce, depending on the time of day and week you spend visiting the area. The Kursall convention hall is situated in this district and attracts swarms of conventioneers, it also houses exhibitions and cultural events.
There are also a good number of tapas bars and Restaurants to cater for the large numbers of tourists, locals and conventioneer along with a good selection of Hotels and Hostels. Eating out in the Gros District is as good a place as any in San Sebastiabn with some of the finest restaurants being locvated here along with a good selection of Tapa ( Pintxo ) bars where you can arguably find the best hot
tapas in Dostia.
At the Western end of the beach and Gros District you will find the Puente de Zurriola ( The Zurriola bridge ) which is also known as the Kursaal bridge, it majestically straddles the River Urumea and was designed by Arana having some quite spectacular fixtures and lit up half a dozen light-house shaped towers.
When planning your trip to Donostia I would highly recommend the following places of interest to include in your itinerary.
The little Santa Clara Island is situated just offshore in the beautiful bay of La Concha, and although it is quite small in dimensions, it does in fact have a clean sandy beach. It can be reached by boat, however the beach area gets completely covered during the day due to the high tides , so best to make sure you know the tide times before planning your trip to the island.
