The Aquarium de San Sebastián, San Sebastián, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

The Aquarium de San Sebastián is a marine life attraction on the port of San Sebastián (Donostia), at the foot of Monte Urgull, opened in 1928. It is best known for its oceanarium tunnel, where you walk surrounded by water and sea creatures. It is a good stop for anyone who wants to understand how closely the city has always been tied to the sea.

The story behind it

The aquarium dates from 1928, the late Belle Epoque, when San Sebastián was a fashionable seaside resort. It was built right on the harbour, between the Old Town and the water, where the city's fishing and seafaring life played out. Few places in town show so clearly that Donostia was a working port as well as a resort.

That link with the sea goes back centuries. Basque coastal communities fished the Bay of Biscay and took part in whaling in the 16th and 17th centuries. The traditional rowing regattas of the Basque coast are often said to have grown out of that seafaring world, and they remain a living tradition in the region today. The aquarium's setting on the quay keeps that maritime story close at hand.

What to look for

• The oceanarium tunnel, where water surrounds you on all sides and fish pass overhead and alongside you.
• The harbour setting itself, with fishing and leisure boats moored close by and the green slope of Monte Urgull rising behind.
• The plaza outside the entrance, a good spot for looking across the port towards the Old Town rooftops.
• The species from the Bay of Biscay, a reminder of what the local fishing communities have lived from for generations.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about one to two hours inside, more if you travel with children. Check current opening hours and ticket information before you go.
• It works well on a rainy day, and also as a cool break in the middle of a summer walk.
• The Old Town, the port and the path up Monte Urgull are all a few minutes away on foot, so you can combine them in one outing.
• The Naval Museum (Untzi Museoa) is also on the quay, a natural pairing if you want more of the city's seafaring history.

See it on a quest

The aquarium sits on the edge of the Old Town, so it fits well into a longer walk. San Sebastian: The Basque Goddess of the Old Town is a self-guided quest through this part of the city. You reach the places on foot, the app tells you about each one as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.