GUIDE TO ANTIGUO
This guide will take you through Antiguo, one of San Sebastián’s most historic and charming neighborhoods. Here, you’ll discover a tunnel that feels like you’re underwater, a royal palace with dreamlike gardens, a family-friendly beach with island views, a century-old amusement park reached by a wooden funicular, and one of contemporary Basque art’s most iconic works. Keep reading!
WHAT TO SEE IN ANTIGUO?
1. LORETOPEA PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL
This tunnel connects downtown San Sebastián with Antiguo, and since 2016, it’s also been a small work of art. Its vault, lit with blue hues and marine projections, turns the stroll into a sensory experience, especially at night when the lights reflect, creating an almost magical atmosphere.
Did you know? The tunnel’s official name is “Loretopea”, but many people know it as “the Antiguo tunnel” or “the underwater tunnel.” Its artistic transformation is part of an urban improvement project that has won several design awards.
2. MIRAMAR PALACE AND GARDENS
Right above the tunnel, atop the promontory, stand Miramar Palace and its gardens, once the domain of Queen María Cristina. The Palace was built in 1893 by an English architect in an English Neo-Gothic style, serving as the Spanish royal family’s summer residence. Today, it’s an ideal spot for a stroll, reading, or an impromptu picnic overlooking the sea. From here, the views of La Concha Bay are truly picture-perfect.
3. ONDARRETA BEACH
Ondarreta Beach is calmer than La Concha, which is why many local San Sebastián families prefer it. It’s protected by Mount Igueldo and Mount Urgull, with Santa Clara Island directly opposite. Its natural setting makes it a perfect place for swimming, sunbathing, or enjoying a walk along its soft sand.
Did you know? You can swim to Santa Clara Island beach from Ondarreta Beach. It’s about 500 meters, and every summer, many locals and visitors brave the swim. If you need a rest halfway, you can use the floating platforms —the “gabarrones”— which have trampolines and slides, perfect for some family fun.
4. SANTA CLARA ISLAND
Although it belongs to the bay, Santa Clara Island is closely linked to the Antiguo neighborhood, as it’s the easiest place to access it from. In summer, you can visit by boat, swimming, or kayaking. It has a small beach that appears at low tide, picnic areas, showers, lifeguards, and even a small bar with a terrace.
As a fun fact, the island’s lighthouse was automated in the 1960s, and recently, an artistic installation lights it up at night, transforming it into a floating work of light.
5. MOUNT IGUELDO FUNICULAR & AMUSEMENT PARK
From the Antiguo neighborhood, a wooden funicular has been ascending to the summit of Mount Igueldo since 1912. The ride itself is quite an experience, but the best awaits you at the top: an amusement park with an old-world charm and one of the best views of the entire city!
The park’s most famous attraction is the “Swiss Mountain,” a wooden roller coaster that skirts a cliff. Despite its retro look, it still runs perfectly… and it’s more thrilling than it seems!
6. PEINE DEL VIENTO
At the end of Ondarreta Beach, right where the cliffs of Mount Igueldo begin, you’ll find the Peine del Viento: one of sculptor Eduardo Chillida’s most renowned works. Three steel sculptures emerge from the rocks, interacting with the sea and the wind. Beneath the granite slabs are underground tubes that convert the force of the waves into sounds. This way, when the sea is rough, the ensemble becomes a captivating sensory experience that leaves no one indifferent.
Elegant yet welcoming, classic yet vibrant, the Antiguo neighborhood is one of those places best discovered by strolling. It has a beach, art, history, attractions, and cinematic views… all with the stately air of a neighborhood with a royal past. Ready to keep exploring? If you’re coming from the city center, you can walk along La Concha promenade. The journey is as beautiful as the destination.