Best time to visit · San Sebastián · Spain
The best time to visit San Sebastián
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gonzalomauleon, CC BY-SA 3.0 es
Quick answer
The best time to visit San Sebastián is June or September, when the sea is warm enough to swim, days are long and the crowds and prices are below their July–August peak. May and October suit food and walking trips with fewer visitors, while winter is quiet and wet but is cider-house season.
Key facts
- Best months
- June and September
- Shoulder season
- May, July–August and October
- Warmest month
- August (avg high 25°C (77°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 12°C (54°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~14 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
San Sebastián has a mild, wet oceanic climate: green all year, with rain possible in any month, cool winters rarely below freezing and warm rather than hot summers. Sea fog and Atlantic storms bring dramatic waves in autumn and winter.
March–May
Spring
Green hills, cider-house season and comfortable walking weather, with frequent showers and a sea still too cold for most swimmers.
June–August
Summer
Beach season, Jazzaldia and Semana Grande; July and August are crowded and expensive, and rooms sell out early.
September–November
Autumn
September is warm with regattas and the film festival; October is quieter with good surf, and November turns wet and windy.
December–February
Winter
Mild but rainy, with storm waves, the Tamborrada and cider houses; the lowest prices and the most local atmosphere in the bars.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C | 5°C | 14 | 13°C | 9.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 12°C | 5°C | 12 | 12°C | 10.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 15°C | 6°C | 12 | 12°C | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 16°C | 8°C | 14 | 13°C | 13.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C | 11°C | 13 | 15°C | 14.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 22°C | 14°C | 10 | 18°C | 15.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 24°C | 16°C | 8 | 21°C | 15.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 25°C | 17°C | 9 | 22°C | 13.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 23°C | 15°C | 10 | 21°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| October | 20°C | 12°C | 12 | 18°C | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 15°C | 8°C | 14 | 16°C | 9.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 13°C | 6°C | 14 | 14°C | 9 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Tamborrada — 24 hours of drumming parades for the city's saint's day (20 January); Cider season opening in the cider houses (usually mid-January) |
| February | Caldereros — costumed parades with pans and kettles (usually early February); Carnival (February or early March) |
| March | Cider-house season continues (until about April) |
| April | Holy Week (March or April) |
| June | San Juan bonfires on the eve of 24 June |
| July | Jazzaldia — international jazz festival with free open-air concerts (usually late July) |
| August | Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia) — city festival with an international fireworks contest (usually mid-August); Quincena Musical — classical music festival (August) |
| September | La Concha regattas — traditional trainera rowing races in the bay (usually the first two Sundays of September); San Sebastián International Film Festival (usually late September) |
| December | Santo Tomás fair — farmers' market with txistorra sausage stalls (21 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in November–March.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit San Sebastián?
The best time to visit San Sebastián is June or September, when the sea is warm enough to swim, days are long and the crowds and prices are below their July–August peak. May and October suit food and walking trips with fewer visitors, while winter is quiet and wet but is cider-house season.
+When are hotel prices lowest in San Sebastián?
Usually in January–February and November. Cool and damp, with storms bringing big waves to the Paseo Nuevo; cider houses open their season and the Tamborrada fills the streets.
+What is the rainiest month in San Sebastián?
January, with about 14 days of rain on average.
+How hot does San Sebastián get?
The warmest month, August, averages highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows of 17°C (63°F).