Best time to visit San Sebastian
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart recolours live for your heat & sea limits 27°C · sea 29°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Default 29 °C is the Beach Climate Index "bathtub" line (Morgan et al.) — where the sea stops being refreshing and starts feeling like a warm bath.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in San Sebastian
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on San Sebastian).
- 1
Pintxo tour and D.O wines in San Sebastian - 2
San Sebastian History & Highlights Walking Tour | Small Group - 3
Biarritz and the French Coast from San Sebastian or Bilbao - 4
Gaztelugatxe and Guernica from San Sebastian - 5
San Sebastian Historic Walking Tour in Small Group - 6
Private Cultural Tour: Biarritz, St Jean de Luz & Hondarribia - 7
Full Rioja Wine Tour with Lunch – Private Tour from San Sebastian - 8
Private Bayonne, Biarritz & St Jean de Luz from San Sebastian - 9
Private French Coast Tour: Bayonne, Biarritz & St-Jean-de-Luz - 10
San Sebastian Premium Pintxo Food, Wine & Market Foodie Tour - 11
San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour - 12
San Sebastian : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide - 13
Discover San Sebastián’s Best Pintxos on a Unique Culinary Tour - 14
Small-Group Electric Bike Tour in San Sebastián - 15
French Basque Countryside Tour from San Sebastian - 16
Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English - 17
San Sebastian E-bike trour: Basque History and Cultural. - 18
San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local - 19
2 bays, mornings and afternoons, and sunset with cava - 20
Eating San Sebastian: Beyond Pintxos Tour - 21
Bilbao, Guggenheim and Gaztelugatxe from San Sebastian - 22
Hondarribia, San Juan & San Pedro from San Sebastian - 23
San Sebastian walking tour with pintxo and drink option - 24
Private walking tour in San Sebastian - 25
Getaria Txakoli wine tour from San Sebastian - 26
Private Half Day Txakoli Wine Tour & Getaria Fishing Village - 27
Private Pamplona Day Trip from San Sebastian - 28
Private Guggenheim Bilbao & Basque Coast Tour from San Sebastian - 29
Private Tour: Txakoli Winery and Pintxos Route in Hondarribia - 30
San Sebastian Private Photoshoots by Sofia
Last refreshed 2026-08-13.
Similar climatesBiarritz92% · Deauville84% · Opatija84%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to San Sebastian (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against San Sebastian's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6–12 | 10 | 14 | 205 | 14.6 | 76% | 19 | 129 | 1 | Quiet | 5 |
| Feb | 8–15 | 13 | 13 | 171 | 13.2 | 72% | 20 | 138 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Mar | 8–16 | 14 | 16 | 215 | 13.4 | 69% | 20 | 190 | 3 | Quiet | 5 |
| Apr | 10–17 | 15 | 13 | 199 | 15.3 | 69% | 17 | 198 | 5 | Quiet | 6 |
| May | 12–20 | 20 | 16 | 214 | 13.4 | 73% | 15 | 240 | 5 | Quiet | 5 |
| Jun | 15–22 | 23 | 16 | 223 | 13.9 | 76% | 14 | 226 | 6 | Moderate | 5 |
| Jul | 17–24 | 25 | 11 | 153 | 13.9 | 74% | 13 | 259 | 7 | Peak | 7 |
| Aug | 18–25 | 27 | 13 | 177 | 13.6 | 73% | 14 | 245 | 6 | Peak | 6 |
| Sep | 16–23 | 24 | 14 | 203 | 14.5 | 71% | 16 | 214 | 5 | Moderate | 6 |
| Oct | 14–21 | 21 | 14 | 175 | 12.5 | 71% | 19 | 169 | 3 | Quiet | 6 |
| Nov | 10–17 | 15 | 16 | 231 | 14.4 | 76% | 19 | 129 | 2 | Quiet | 5 |
| Dec | 8–14 | 12 | 17 | 259 | 15.2 | 76% | 21 | 115 | 1 | Quiet | 4 |
UV Index in San Sebastian by Month
UV index in San Sebastian peaks at 7 (high) in July, dropping to 1 (low) in December. June, July, August have high UV — SPF 30+ and sunglasses recommended.
Best months in detail
July
7/1017–24°C (feels 25°C) · 11 rain days (153h) · 259 sun hours · 74% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
October
6/1014–21°C · 14 rain days (175h) · 169 sun hours · 71% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
August
6/1018–25°C (feels 27°C) · 13 rain days (177h) · 245 sun hours · 73% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
5/106–12°C (feels 10°C) · 14 rain days (205h) · 129 sun hours · 76% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
February
6/108–15°C (feels 13°C) · 13 rain days (171h) · 138 sun hours · 72% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
March
5/108–16°C (feels 14°C) · 16 rain days (215h) · 190 sun hours · 69% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 5 (moderate)
April
6/1010–17°C (feels 15°C) · 13 rain days (199h) · 198 sun hours · 69% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
May
5/1012–20°C · 16 rain days (214h) · 240 sun hours · 73% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
June
5/1015–22°C (feels 23°C) · 16 rain days (223h) · 226 sun hours · 76% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
September
6/1016–23°C · 14 rain days (203h) · 214 sun hours · 71% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (high)
November
5/1010–17°C (feels 15°C) · 16 rain days (231h) · 129 sun hours · 76% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
December
4/108–14°C (feels 12°C) · 17 rain days (259h) · 115 sun hours · 76% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
Green because it rains, in a country known for sun
San Sebastián sits on the Atlantic, not the Mediterranean, and its climate belongs to northern Europe rather than to the Spain most visitors picture. Annual rainfall is around 1,500 mm — roughly three times Madrid's — spread across some 186 rain days a year. Even July, one of the driest months, sees around 50 mm.
Much of it arrives as sirimiri, also written txirimiri: a fine, persistent Basque drizzle that hangs in the air rather than falling properly. It rarely soaks you quickly and it rarely stops either. It is why the hills behind the city are green all year, and why the food culture that made San Sebastián famous developed indoors, in bars.
A rainfall figure here therefore misleads in both directions: there are many wet days, but few washouts.
Sources: Climates to Travel — San Sebastián climate , Ikusnahi — the weather of the Basque Country
Does it really rain that much?
Around 1,500 mm a year across roughly 186 rain days — this is green Atlantic Spain, not the Mediterranean, and even July averages about 82 mm. But much of it falls as sirimiri, a fine persistent drizzle rather than heavy rain, so plan around intermittent damp rather than washouts. November is wettest at around 178 mm.
What is the rainiest month in San Sebastian?
November, at around 178 mm, and the city is wet by Spanish standards year-round — even July averages about 82 mm, far more than the Mediterranean coast. This is green, Atlantic Spain, and the weather is the main reason visitors are surprised. Pack a rain jacket in any month.
What is the best month to visit San Sebastian?
June or September. August peaks near 23C — mild rather than hot — but brings the heaviest Spanish holiday crowds and the film festival follows in September. June offers long days and quieter pintxos bars, while September has the warmest sea and the best weather odds of the year.
Is San Sebastian warm enough for the beach?
In high summer, yes, though this is the Atlantic rather than the Mediterranean — August highs average only about 23C and the water is bracing. La Concha is a beautiful city beach used year-round by locals, but visitors expecting Costa del Sol warmth will find it noticeably cooler.
How many days do you need in San Sebastian?
Two to three. One for the Parte Vieja and its pintxos bars, La Concha and Monte Urgull; a second for Monte Igueldo, the Peine del Viento and a longer meal. A third allows a trip to Bilbao for the Guggenheim or into the Rioja wine country. Book any starred restaurant well ahead — the city holds one of the highest concentrations of Michelin stars anywhere.
Is San Sebastian expensive?
Among the pricier Spanish cities, driven by its restaurant reputation — it holds one of the highest concentrations of Michelin stars anywhere. But pintxos bars remain reasonable if you eat standing at the counter like locals, and that is the better experience anyway.
What is San Sebastián best known for?
Food. It holds one of the highest concentrations of Michelin stars per head anywhere in the world, and the pintxos bars of the Parte Vieja are the everyday version of the same culture. Beyond eating: La Concha, a near-perfect shell-shaped city beach, and the September film festival, one of Europe's oldest.
What not to miss in San Sebastián?
A pintxos crawl through the Parte Vieja, eating one thing per bar standing at the counter, which is how it is meant to work. Then the funicular up Monte Igueldo for the view over the bay, Eduardo Chillida's Peine del Viento sculptures where the promenade ends, and a walk round Monte Urgull.
Is San Sebastián worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for food — few cities of its size offer as much. It is also a handsome Belle Époque seaside town with an excellent beach. The one thing to plan around is weather: this is Atlantic Spain, with about 1,500 mm of rain a year, so it is green and often damp rather than reliably sunny.
How do you eat pintxos properly?
Move between bars rather than settling in one, taking one or two items and a small drink at each — a txikito of wine or a zurito of beer. Many bars display cold pintxos on the counter but cook the best ones to order from a board, so look up before taking from the pile. Pay per bar as you leave.
Frequently asked questions about visiting San Sebastian
When is the best time to visit San Sebastian?
July is the highest-scoring month (7/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 17–24°C (11 rainy days). The top three months by score are July, October, August.
What is the worst time to visit San Sebastian?
December is the lowest-scoring month (4/10). Typical conditions: 8–14°C (17 rainy days).
When are crowds lowest in San Sebastian?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in December and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in San Sebastian have good weather but fewer tourists?
February (climate 6/10, crowd index 8) and April (climate 6/10, crowd index 26) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in San Sebastian by month?
UV peaks at 7 (high) in July and is lowest in December at 1 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 1, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 5, May 5, Jun 6, Jul 7, Aug 6, Sep 5, Oct 3, Nov 2, Dec 1.
What is the UV index in San Sebastian in July?
July is the peak UV month in San Sebastian, with a daily-peak UV index of 7 (high). Apply SPF 30+, wear sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.
How high can UV get in San Sebastian on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. June is the worst case: typical days average UV 6 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 9 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: March, April, May, June, July, August, September. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in San Sebastian bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 1 month: February. The worst month is February with a typical-day mean of 9 µg/m³ (fair); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 17 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.