San Sebastián Cruises and Boat Rides

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

One of the best things to see and do in San Sebastian is to take a boat trip, to see wonderful places, many of which you could not easily see from the coast. Here I tell you about the boat trips that have interested me the most, and that will give you the opportunity to see the main attractions of the city from a unique point of view.

This type of excursion is ideal for you to get to know the bay of Pasaia and other attractions such as Mount Igueldo, one of the most important in San Sebastian. They also allow you to visit the towns of Hondarribia and Getaria, the coast of Gipuzkoa and the flysch of Zumaia, a wonderful rock formation, making it one of the best tours you can do in San Sebastian.

These full day tours usually include pick up and drop off at the hotel and are done by car and boat with small groups of up to 6 people. During the tour a specialized guide will tell you all about the attractions you visit. They can be done with children and at any time of the year.

As for the attractions you will see, in Hondarribia you can discover La Marina and the old town, you can also have lunch in one of the best Pintxo restaurants in town. You can also have lunch in Getaria, another of the destinations usually included in these tours, if you prefer.

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

Details of interest

• Price: from 340€.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: van and boat.
• Advantages: you will see 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 clothes, shoes and water.

These are boat excursions in the most beautiful bays of San Sebastian: Pasaia, Hondarribia and Hendaye. They are ideal for you to appreciate the best panoramic views and enjoy a unique sunset

These excursions usually last around 4 hours and start in the morning hours. In addition, they usually have 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 small groups of people (up to 12) can participate. They can usually be done with children and even babies and many companies will give you a souvenir photo as a gift.

These are the most common sites to see on a boat tour of the bays of Pasaia, Hondarribia and Hendaye in San Sebastian:

• Mount Urgull, with the castle of La Mota and representing one of the most important natural heritages of San Sesbatian.
• Urumea River, which runs through the city.
• The breakwater and beach of Zurriola, an ideal place for surfing and water sports enthusiasts.
• Pasaia Bay, where you can visit Murgita Cove, 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 colored stones.
• Txingudi Bay, where you will see the marina of Hondarribia and the castle of the old town.
• The Bay of Hendaye, which is on the border with France.
• Mount Igueldo, with its amusement park, and Peine del viento, a series of sculptures made by Eduardo Chillida by the sea.
• Santa Clara Island, located in the center of the Concha Bay, is the perfect place to get the best views of the whole city.

Details of interest

• Price: about 130€, with food and drinks included.
• Duration: 4 hours approximately.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages: you will be able to visit the most important bays of San Sebastian and the main attractions of the city.
• Disadvantages: in winter the excursions only take place some days of the week.

If you want to get to know the coast of San Sebastian in a different way, I recommend that you sign up for a luxury evening on a private sailboat. In addition to the incredible experience of sailing on a sailboat, this type of excursion usually includes a trip around the Bay of La Concha with disembarkation in Pasai Donibane, a charming fishing village.

These are exclusive tours for groups of family or friends that can be done at different times during the day and are available some days of the week, so it is always best to book in advance. It is ideal for those who prefer privacy rather than crowds.

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

These boat trips can be done with children and are available at any time of the year. In addition, 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: about 2 hours.
• Means of transportation: sailboat.
• Advantages: you will get to know the coast of Donostia and the Concha Bay in an exclusive way.
• Disadvantages: food and drinks are not usually included.

This type of excursion is ideal for a first look at the coast of San Sebastian and La Concha Bay, especially if you are short on time. They take place on the San Sebastian Catamaran, which has a capacity for 120 people, and lasts only 40 minutes.

This type of tour allows you to see the most important attractions of the city such as the sculptures of Oteiza and the Wind Comb, the Ulia and Igueldo mountains, the mouth of the Urumea river, the Paseo Nuevo, the Kursaal cultural center and auditorium, Ondarreta beach, the Miramar Palace, the City Hall, and the overhanging Pico del Loro, which separates the beaches of La Concha and Ondarreta.

During the navigation, a guide will tell you interesting facts about each of the attractions you visit. The tour is available all year round, with a shorter schedule in winter, and can be done with children. The best time to embark is from June to September.

Details of interest

• Price: about 13€ per person.
• Duration: 40 minutes.
• Means of transport: catamaran.
• Advantages: you will have a first panoramic view of the Concha Bay and the coast of San Sebastian and some of the main attractions from the ocean.
• Disadvantages: the boat does not stop, it only stops at each attraction for a few minutes.

A good option in San Sebastian is to take a boat trip to the island of Santa Clara, which is located in front of the Bay of La Concha, and was declared a Historical Center of National Interest in 1968. Visiting it is one of the best day tours you can do in San Sebastian.

These tours usually include a stop on the island so you can relax or take a dip in its waters. Also, when the tide is high, a natural pool is formed where you can take a dip. The boat trip takes about 40 minutes round trip, but you can stay as long as you wish on the island, as the boats cross every 30 minutes.

The excursion is available from June to September and usually has a guide on the boat trip who will tell you the history of the island and other interesting facts. If you wish, you can walk around the island on foot as it has trails and stairs suitable for all ages.

Santa Clara Island has many services, such as showers, lifeguards, bars, tables, and there is also a lighthouse with a spectacular view of the city. It also has balconies and viewpoints with lovely views of the bay of La Concha, 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 wish.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages: you will be able to visit Santa Clara Island and enjoy an excellent view of the coast of San Sebastian.
• Disadvantages: Does not include food and beverages.
• Recommendations: bring a bathing suit and comfortable shoes.

This type of excursion allows you to get to know the Basque coast and the most famous coastal villages. The municipality of Pasaia or Pasajes is home to 4 villages that are connected by passages: San Pedro and San Juan, the ones usually visited on these tours, and Trintxerpe and Antxo. They also usually include a visit to the historic center of Hondarribia.

These tours are made with small groups of people and offer hotel pick-up in certain areas. It can also be done by children. The best time to do it is in high season, from June to September, when the weather is more pleasant.

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

During all these tours a professional guide will accompany you and tell you the history of the city of San Sebastian and many interesting facts about the places you visit.

Interesting details

• Price: around 100€ per person.
• Duration: between 4 and 5 hours.
• Means of transport: boat and van.
• Advantages: you will get to know the most popular villages of the Basque coast.
• Disadvantages: you must be prepared to walk, with comfortable shoes and clothes.

This type of excursion allows you to get to know the most hidden cliffs of Donostia, sailing by yacht in small groups of people. Some of the attractions usually seen on these tours are the Kursaal cultural center and auditorium and the Zurriola beach. The boat departs from the port of San Sebastian.

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

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

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

Details of interest

• Price: about 60€ per person.
• Duration: 2 hours approximately.
• Means of transport: yacht.
• Advantages: you will get to know the most secret cliffs of Donostia.
• Disadvantages: not usually available every day.

If you are traveling with your partner, you will love to share a special tour for two people on a private boat, and do activities such as swimming, lunch in a restaurant in Guetaria and tour the city.

These tours take place in the morning, accompanied by a specialized captain who will tell you the history and other details about the places you will know on board the boat. Undoubtedly, the sound of the sea, the wind and the singing of the seagulls will make the ride very romantic.

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

Guetaria is one of the most beautiful towns 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 of stone houses and steep, narrow streets, ideal for eating fresh fish and tasting txakoli, a local white wine.

Details of interest

• Price: about 350€, including lunch in Getaria.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages: you can enjoy a romantic evening on a special route of the Basque coast. Lunch and a glass of cava can be included.
• Disadvantages: many companies do not offer refunds for cancellation or change of date.

In this type of excursions you will be able to see the most popular sites of San Sebastian from the sea and the most popular attractions for visitors. Please note that the boats do not usually disembark at all sites, but only those specified in the description of the tours.

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

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

Keep in mind that you should always wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring a bathing suit, sunglasses and sunscreen because many of the excursions include stops at beaches or sea areas where you can take a dip or sunbathe for a while in the beautiful natural surroundings, especially in the warmer seasons.