Where to Stay in San Sebastian With Kids: Best Areas & Family Hotels
Choosing where to stay in San Sebastian with kids can make a huge difference to your trip, particularly if you’re travelling with babies or young children.
We visited San Sebastian with our one-year-old and four-year-old and stayed in a two-bedroom apartment in Centro. For us, the location was almost perfect. We could walk to La Concha Beach in around 10 minutes, reach the Old Town easily and pop across the road to a supermarket whenever we needed nappies, snacks or water.
After spending four days exploring the city, Centro would still be my first choice if we went back with the children.
That doesn’t mean it’s the right area for every family, though. If you want to wake up overlooking La Concha, stay somewhere quieter near Ondarreta Beach or have the pintxos bars of the Old Town on your doorstep, there are some brilliant alternatives.
In this guide, I’ll cover where we actually stayed, the areas I’d consider with children and some of the family hotels and apartments I’d look at if we were booking San Sebastian again.
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Quick answer: where should you stay in San Sebastian with kids?
If you’re visiting San Sebastian for the first time with young children, I’d choose Centro.
It worked brilliantly for us because we didn’t need to rely on taxis or public transport. We walked to the beach, the Old Town, restaurants, playgrounds and most of the attractions we wanted to visit.
Where to stay in San Sebastian with kids: at a glance
Centro — Best overall for families
Our top choice for first-time visitors, with easy access to La Concha Beach, the Old Town, restaurants and attractions.
La Concha — Best for the beach
Perfect if you want to stay as close to the sand as possible and make beach time a big part of your trip.
Antiguo/Ondarreta — Best for a quieter family stay
A calmer option close to family-friendly Ondarreta Beach and Monte Igueldo.
Old Town — Best for food and atmosphere
Ideal if having San Sebastian’s pintxos bars and restaurants on your doorstep is the priority.
Gros — Best for Zurriola Beach
A lively alternative across the river, with its own beach, cafés and restaurants.
For us, the convenience of Centro was difficult to beat.
Where we stayed in San Sebastian with kids
Apartamentos Bellas Artes
We stayed at Apartamentos Bellas Artes in Centro and I would absolutely stay there again.
This was a large apartment with two double bedrooms and two bathrooms, each with a shower and toilet. With two young children, having that much space was a real luxury compared with trying to fit everyone into one hotel room.
The main living space is an open-plan lounge and kitchen with large windows, which made the apartment feel lovely and light.
But it was actually some of the less exciting features that made it work so well for us.
Why we loved staying in an apartment with the children
There is a washing machine, which proved incredibly useful with a one-year-old and four-year-old. There’s also a washing line outside between the buildings, so we could actually get everything dry rather than draping children’s clothes around the apartment.
The kitchen has a large fridge/freezer, which meant we could keep drinks, milk, snacks and food in the apartment.
Even better, there is a supermarket directly opposite.
Being able to walk across the road for nappies, bottles of water and snacks doesn’t sound particularly exciting until you’re travelling with young children. Then it becomes one of the best features of your accommodation.
The owner was waiting for us when we arrived and showed us around the apartment, which made checking in very straightforward.
The location
Location was probably the biggest reason I’d stay here again.
We could walk to La Concha Beach in around 10 minutes, which was perfect because we spent almost every morning there.
We’d head down early, usually around 8am, enjoy the beach before the August heat really kicked in and then walk back into the city for breakfast or whatever we had planned for the rest of the day.
The Old Town was also within walking distance, as were the carousel, playgrounds and many of the restaurants and pintxos bars we visited.
You can read about those in my guides to things to do in San Sebastian with kids and where to eat in San Sebastian with kids.
A couple of things to know before booking
There are two things I’d particularly mention to families.
Firstly, the lift is tiny.
The apartment is two floors up and we could just about squeeze one adult and our small travel pushchair into the lift together. Our Silver Cross Clic is particularly compact, so I’d bear this in mind if you’re travelling with a large pram.
Secondly, there is no air conditioning.
Fans were provided, but San Sebastian was very hot during our August visit. This didn’t change how much we liked the apartment, but if you’re particularly sensitive to heat or travelling during a hot spell, it’s worth knowing before you book.
There are also small balconies, although I’d describe them as only slightly larger than Juliet balconies rather than somewhere you’d expect the family to sit outside.
Would we stay at Apartamentos Bellas Artes again?
Absolutely.
For us, the combination of location and space outweighed the lack of air conditioning.
Having two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a washing machine and a proper fridge/freezer made travelling with young children considerably easier. Add in the supermarket opposite and the fact that we could walk almost everywhere, and it suited our family brilliantly.
Best for: families who want more space and practical facilities than a standard hotel room.
Bear in mind: the tiny lift and lack of air conditioning.
Check prices and availability at Apartamentos Bellas Artes
What is the best area to stay in San Sebastian with kids?
San Sebastian is relatively compact, so choosing an area isn’t quite as daunting as it can be in larger cities.
Nevertheless, where you stay will change the feel of your trip.
Centro – best overall for families
If friends asked me where to stay in San Sebastian with young children, Centro is where I’d tell them to start looking.
This is where we stayed and it gave us the balance we wanted.
La Concha was close enough for spontaneous trips to the beach, while the Old Town was an easy walk when we wanted pintxos. We could get around with the pushchair and didn’t feel that we needed a car.
There were also plenty of places nearby for breakfast, coffee and dinner.
For a first family visit, I think Centro is very hard to beat.
I’d choose Centro if: you want to walk almost everywhere and have a good balance of beach, food and sightseeing.
La Concha – best for the beach
If your dream is to walk out of your hotel and be almost immediately on the sand, look around La Concha.
We spent every morning of our trip on La Concha Beach, usually arriving early before it became busier and hotter.
With young children, I loved having such a beautiful beach right in the middle of the city. We didn’t have to plan an entire beach day or travel anywhere to reach it. We could spend a couple of hours playing on the sand and then simply carry on with our day.
Accommodation directly overlooking the bay can command a premium, but if the beach is the main reason you’re visiting, it could be worth it.
I’d choose La Concha if: beach access and sea views matter more to you than getting the most space for your money.
Antiguo and Ondarreta – best for a quieter family stay
For a quieter trip, I’d look seriously at Antiguo and the area around Ondarreta Beach.
Ondarreta is at the western end of the bay, towards Monte Igueldo. Official San Sebastian tourism describes it as the quietest of the city’s three beaches during high season and particularly suited to families with children.
There is even a playground on the sand.
You won’t be quite as close to the Old Town as you would in Centro, but that may actually be an advantage if your priority is quieter evenings, beach time and young children rather than being surrounded by the busiest bars.
I’d choose Antiguo/Ondarreta if: you want a calmer beach-focused family holiday.
Old Town – best for food and atmosphere
If you’ve come to San Sebastian primarily to eat, it’s easy to understand the appeal of staying in the Parte Vieja, or Old Town.
This is where you’ll find an extraordinary concentration of pintxos bars and restaurants, and we spent a lot of time wandering around here with the children.
But personally, I wouldn’t automatically choose the Old Town over Centro with a baby or toddler.
I loved being able to walk into the Old Town when we wanted the atmosphere and then leave it behind when we headed back to our apartment.
For parents with older children—or anyone who wants to be right in the middle of San Sebastian’s food scene—it could be perfect.
I’d choose the Old Town if: food and atmosphere are your priorities and you don’t mind being in a busier part of the city.
Gros – best for Zurriola Beach
Across the river from the Old Town is Gros, home to Zurriola Beach.
It has plenty of restaurants, cafés and pintxos bars of its own and still allows you to walk into the centre.
I wouldn’t put it ahead of Centro or Ondarreta for our particular family, but it’s certainly worth considering, especially if you’ve visited San Sebastian before or prefer staying slightly away from the La Concha/Old Town side of the city.
I’d choose Gros if: you want restaurants and beach access but fancy a different base from the traditional centre.
Best family hotels in San Sebastian
We stayed at Apartamentos Bellas Artes, so that’s the only property in this guide I can personally review.
However, if we returned and wanted to stay somewhere different, these are the hotels and apartments I’d consider based on their locations and current family accommodation.
I’ve deliberately kept this list short. I’d rather give you a handful of options that solve different family needs than list 25 hotels simply because they accept children.
Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra – best for La Concha Beach
If we decided to swap an apartment for a hotel and wanted to stay beside La Concha, Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra would be high on my list.
It has one of those locations that is difficult to miss when you’re in San Sebastian: directly beside La Concha, with the bay in front of you and the city centre behind.
We didn’t stay here, so I can’t give it the same first-hand recommendation as Apartamentos Bellas Artes. But after walking to La Concha with the children morning after morning, I can certainly see the appeal of staying this close.
Families aren’t restricted to standard double rooms either. The hotel offers larger rooms and suites that can accommodate families, including options sleeping four and a larger suite for up to six.
It is likely to cost considerably more than some of the alternatives, particularly for rooms with those famous sea views.
Best for: families willing to pay more for an exceptional La Concha location.
Check prices at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
Catalonia Donosti – best for a family room
If you prefer a hotel but don’t want everyone squeezed into a conventional room, Catalonia Donosti is an interesting option.
Its family accommodation includes a room with two bunk beds, giving families a much more practical sleeping arrangement than simply adding a sofa bed to a double room. The hotel also offers larger suite configurations.
It’s centrally located, making it a good alternative for families who like the convenience of Centro but want hotel facilities rather than an apartment.
Best for: families who want a central hotel with a room actually designed with families in mind.
Check prices at Catalonia Donosti
NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu – best for larger families
Finding one hotel booking that works for a family of five or six can be surprisingly difficult.
That’s what makes NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu particularly interesting.
It offers interconnecting family accommodation for up to six people, using two connected rooms.
It’s in the Antiguo area, close to Ondarreta rather than right in the busiest part of Centro, so it could work particularly well for families looking for a slightly quieter base.
Best for: larger families who need proper interconnecting rooms.
Check prices at NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu
SANSEbay – best for staying near the Old Town
For families who really do want to stay in or beside the Old Town, SANSEbay is one I’d investigate.
Its location puts you by the harbour on the edge of Parte Vieja, giving you easy access to the food and atmosphere without choosing a conventional small hotel room.
What makes it particularly interesting for families is the choice of accommodation. As well as hotel rooms and suites, SANSEbay has one- and two-bedroom apartments, including accommodation that can sleep up to six people.
That gives families the option of more space while retaining an Old Town location.
Best for: families who want the Old Town on their doorstep but would prefer apartment-style accommodation.
Barceló Costa Vasca – best for a quieter hotel stay
Another option I’d consider around the Ondarreta side of the city is Barceló Costa Vasca.
The hotel offers several family configurations, including rooms for four and connecting-room options. It’s also around 550 metres from Ondarreta Beach.
Compared with staying in the Old Town, this is more of a traditional hotel-base option and may appeal to families who value hotel facilities and a quieter location.
Best for: families who want a larger hotel close to the quieter Ondarreta side of San Sebastian.
Check prices at Barceló Costa Vasca
Apartment or hotel in San Sebastian with children?
Before having children, I probably wouldn’t have given much thought to whether we booked a hotel or an apartment.
Now I do.
For this trip, having an apartment was absolutely the right choice for us.
Our children were one and four, so they weren’t necessarily going to sleep—or wake up—at the same time as us. Separate bedrooms meant we weren’t all sitting silently in a dark hotel room once they’d gone to bed.
The washing machine was useful. The large fridge/freezer was useful. Being able to keep breakfast bits, milk, fruit, snacks and cold drinks in the apartment was useful.
None of those things sound as exciting as a rooftop pool or a sea-view cocktail bar, but with two small children they can make a holiday considerably easier.
That said, hotels have their own advantages.
You don’t have to think about cleaning, breakfast can be downstairs and facilities such as swimming pools, restaurants and reception desks can be very convenient.
I’d broadly choose:
Apartment: babies, toddlers, longer stays, early bedtimes and families who value space.
Hotel: shorter breaks, older children and families who value service and hotel facilities more than kitchens and washing machines.
What should you look for when booking family accommodation in San Sebastian?
After this trip, there are a few things I’d check particularly carefully.
Air conditioning: Don’t assume your accommodation has it. We visited in August and it was very hot.
Lift access: San Sebastian is wonderfully walkable with a pushchair, but that doesn’t mean every building is equally pushchair friendly. Our lift was tiny.
Actual sleeping arrangements: “Sleeps four” can mean anything from two bedrooms to four people sharing one room with a sofa bed. Check carefully.
Washing machine: For us, this was far more useful than I expected.
Fridge: Even if you don’t want a full kitchen, somewhere to keep milk, fruit, children’s snacks and drinks cold is useful.
Distance to the beach: Ten minutes worked brilliantly for us because we could go to La Concha for a couple of hours rather than turning it into a full-day expedition.
Supermarkets: Having one opposite our apartment was one of those small conveniences that made travelling with young children easier.
Noise: If you’re considering the Old Town—or visiting during a major event such as Semana Grande—check recent reviews for comments about street noise.
Where would we stay next time?
Having researched all of these alternatives, would I abandon Apartamentos Bellas Artes next time?
Probably not.
I’d happily book it again.
The location worked too well for us, and with young children I valued the extra bedroom, second bathroom, washing machine and kitchen more than I would have before becoming a parent.
If I wanted a hotel and was prepared to spend more, Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra would tempt me, largely because of its position directly beside La Concha.
And if I wanted somewhere quieter, I’d look towards Ondarreta and Antiguo.
But for another first-time-style family city break?
I’d choose Centro again.
FAQs about where to stay in San Sebastian with kids
What is the best area of San Sebastian for families?
For our family, Centro was the best all-round location. We could walk to La Concha, the Old Town, restaurants, playgrounds and attractions without relying on transport.
Families wanting a quieter beach holiday should also consider Antiguo/Ondarreta.
Should you stay near La Concha or the Old Town with children?
With very young children, I’d personally choose La Concha/Centro and walk into the Old Town.
You still get easy access to the pintxos bars and atmosphere, while having the beach and a slightly different environment around your accommodation.
Is San Sebastian pushchair friendly?
We found San Sebastian extremely easy to explore with our compact travel pushchair. We walked almost everywhere.
The thing I’d check more carefully is the accommodation itself. Older buildings can have small lifts, as ours did.
Do you need air conditioning in San Sebastian?
Not necessarily, but I would certainly consider it for a summer trip.
Our apartment didn’t have air conditioning and fans were provided. We still loved the apartment and would stay again, but it was very hot during our August visit.
How many nights should you stay in San Sebastian with kids?
We spent four days in San Sebastian, which worked brilliantly for us.
It gave us enough time to enjoy the beach every morning, explore the Old Town, visit Monte Igueldo and eat our way around the city without rushing from one attraction to another.
Three days would give you a good introduction, while five or more would allow for an even slower pace or day trips.
Planning a family trip to San Sebastian?
Choosing the right accommodation is only part of it.
I’ve also written about our favourite things to do in San Sebastian with kids, including La Concha, the tourist train and Monte Igueldo, as well as where we ate in San Sebastian with our children
And if you’re planning the whole trip, start with my complete family guide to San Sebastian
San Sebastian surprised me with just how easy it was to enjoy as a family. We still ate the food we’d travelled for, wandered around the Old Town and drank txakoli.
We just did it with a pushchair, a lot more trips to the playground—and a supermarket run for nappies thrown in.
