What is the Romantic Area of San Sebastián?
It's the 19th-century expansion between the Old Town and the Urumea river, with elegant Belle Époque architecture. Today it's the centre's shopping and administrative zone.
City Centre
The Romantic Area: 19th-century elegance by the bay.
The Centre or Romantic Area is stately Donostia: wide avenues, Belle Époque buildings, shopping and the Buen Pastor Cathedral. It links the Old Town with the river and is the functional heart of the city.
Don't miss
- Buen Pastor Cathedral, the tallest building in the city.
- San Martín Market, to see and eat local produce.
- The shopping streets between the bay and the Boulevard.
Where to eat
A mix of classic bars and shops. San Martín Market has stalls serving top produce with no fuss.
The mistake to avoid
It's not the most charming area for evening pintxos: for that, cross the Boulevard into the Old Town or Gros.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Buen Pastor Cathedral?
Right in the centre, a few minutes' walk from La Concha beach and the Old Town. Its spire is the tallest point in Donostia, so it's easy to spot.