San Sebastian Boat Trip
About this activity
Smartphone tickets accepted
Experience Highlights
This boat trip lasts about 30 minutes and its destination is the island of Santa Clara, in the middle of the bay of San Sebastian. Before arriving, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Basque city and the surrounding nature. The boats are equipped with a transparent bottom and leave every half hour.
- Enjoy the best view of San Sebastian
- Explore the island of Santa Clara at your own pace.
- Admire the seabed of the bay
What’s included
- Boat trip (round trip)
- Walk around the island at your own pace
Step by Step
This boat trip crosses San Sebastian's Concha Bay and arrives at the island of Santa Clara. At this point there are two options: go down to explore the cliff or stay on board and return to the city. The trip takes place aboard a boat with a transparent bottom that allows you to admire the marine fauna. As for frequency, trips depart every half hour.
Once on board, you'll have a full view of the San Sebastian skyline. The following monuments and buildings are perfectly visible from the boat:
- Playa de la Concha - The most typical postcard of the city. It is considered one of the best urban beaches in the world.
- City Hall - An elegant building inspired by the casino in Monte Carlo.
- Urgull - A mountain on the eastern flank of the bay. In the past it was a military post protecting the city.
- Thalassotherapy La Perla - A splendid Belle Époque spa.
- Wind Comb - Three sculptures clinging to the rocks. Here, the waves crashing against the rocks create an impressive spectacle of water and foam. It was designed by Eduardo Chillida from San Sebastian.
- Igueldo - Another mountain overlooking San Sebastian. Here you will find an amusement park and a restaurant with breathtaking views.
- Miramar Palace - The former summer residence of Queen Maria Christina of Austria.
The island of Santa Clara overlooks the bay of San Sebastian. At the top is the lighthouse built in 1864, which is easily reached by a short walk. From here you can enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the coast. Here you will find the Hondalea art installation, which in Basque means "abyss in the sea". It bears the signature of the local artist Cristina Iglesias and vindicates the importance of the environment. In fact, it is designed to blend in with nature, becoming the habitat of the marine species that thrive on the island. To visit it, you need to book in advance on the official website.
The lighthouse is not the only attraction on the island. There is also a natural swimming pool, a bar/restaurant, picnic tables and a tiny beach that only appears at low tide. For the return trip, just wait for the next boat back to San Sebastian.