Out with the old, in with the new—we’re celebrating New Year’s Eve in San Sebastian!
With the unique Basque culture, beautiful beaches and streets filled with bars and restaurants serving some of the best food in Europe (don’t miss the most typical foods in San Sebastian), it’s no wonder why San Sebastian is the dream destination of many travelers.
Grab your 12 grapes (we’ll get to that) and hit the streets. It’s time to celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime New Year’s Eve in San Sebastian.
The 12 New Year’s grapes
No matter where you find yourself on Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) in Spain, there’s one tradition that remains the same across the board: eating of 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight.
We say “eating,” but normally it ends up being more along the lines of “frantically shoving grapes into your mouth as you attempt to eat one for each stroke of the clock.” It’s harder than it sounds!
On New Year’s Eve, many families either enjoy the traditional uvas at home, or head out to one of the city’s lively plazas to take part in this celebration with hundreds of other locals and visitors.
One popular spot is Plaza Gipuzkoa, which, without fail, always packs to the brim with revelers ringing in the new year.
Traditions on New Year’s Eve in San Sebastian
The grapes are a fun and essential part of celebrating New Year’s Eve, but let’s backtrack a bit.
Every year during the day, on December 31, thousands of athletes lace up their running shoes and take part in the annual San Silvestre race.
The 8.2-kilometer route includes running through the charming city streets as well as sweeping views of the beach.
Whether you’re feeling active and want to participate yourself, or you prefer cheering the runners on from the sidelines, it’s a fun and festive tradition on New Year’s Eve in San Sebastian.
Fancy festivities to ring in the New Year
Think hotels are just for tourists? Think again. Each year, more and more San Sebastian locals opt for one of the dozens of cotillones, or galas, taking place at the city’s finest hotels.
If you’d like to go all out on New Year’s Eve in San Sebastian, you’ll find exclusive events all over the city.
Top hotels like the Hotel María Cristina, Barceló Costa Vasca, Hotel de Londres, and more, feature gala dinners with generous drink allowances, all-night dancing and world-class entertainment in some of the classiest venues in town.
Be sure to book your spot in advance, as spaces at these events are highly coveted.
And loves of parties to discover
Can’t decide where or how you want to celebrate it? Luckily, New Year’s Eve in San Sebastian is the definition of a moveable feast.
Wander through the gorgeous streets of the Old Town and you’ll find that bar after bar is packed with locals enjoying the fun and festivities (but first make sure to check how to order drinks in Spanish like a local).
Pop into whichever looks most inviting, enjoy a few drinks, then continue on to the next. It’s the best way to sample a little bit of everything.
Update notice: This blog post was updated on December 11, 2023.
If you want to get to know a lot of the city before New Year’s Eve, so you can already feel like a local, make sure to check out our Ultimate Pintxos and Wine Tour. See ya there!
Hi! Will the usual pintxos bars be open on NYE? I’ve read that many will shut quite early on in the evening.
Hi Matthew! That is likely the case since December 31 is a traditional evening for family dinners at home. In this post we have a few recommendations for dining in San Sebastian on New Year’s Eve!