‘I found one of Europe’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities – and it’s not where you might think’

Upon thinking of where to travel for an LGBTQ+ friendly experience, my mind went immediately to Amsterdam, Mykonos and Barcelona, but I had never considered San Sebastián.

I’ve been to Spain once and wasn’t set on returning, but an invite from The Social Hub changed that, and I found myself on a flight to Bilbao to visit its hub in San Sebastián.

Celebrated for its crescent-shaped La Concha beach and a culinary scene that inspires chefs globally, it takes just under two hours to get there from London.

However, it’s not just its culinary delights, mostly in the form of pintxos (pronounced peen-chos), that are worth taking a trip there for; it’s the fact that it offers a safe and inclusive haven for the LGBTQ+ community.

I travelled with my partner to the city in Spain’s Basque Country during Pride Month, and the visibility of inclusivity was overt, with monuments and buildings decorated with flags and rainbows more than you’d expect to see in most inclusive cities.

San Sebastián’s City Hall was proudly adorned with a Progress Pride flag and matching rainbow-coloured steps, an attraction that brought a smile and prompted photos from everyone who passed.

We also enjoyed an LGBTQ+ gathering that brought together members of the community and allies, who congregated in the Plaza de la Constitución to play music and spread LGBTQ+ joy.

The city is a place that won’t disappoint; in fact, it’s more than likely to be even better than you’d expected.

At high tide, the Urumea River flows full, and on a sunny day, it glistens in a bright marina blue. It’s one of the most beautiful sights and offers the same allure as Paris, yet with a far more relaxed atmosphere.

Getting there

We flew from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Bilbao Airport (BIO) with Vueling in about two hours. BIO has a bus stop directly outside that takes passengers straight to San Sebastián in about an hour. The cost was €13.50, and the journey was seamless and picturesque.

The San Sebastián bus drop-off is right in the centre of town, making it easy to find your way to your chosen hotel. Ours was just a 20-minute walk away, through some of the most scenic views we’ve enjoyed on a holiday.

At the time of writing this, Economy Light fares from LGW to BIO range from £43 in July, £31 in August, £37 in September, and from £28 in October. 

Flights can be booked at vueling.com.

What to do

Bar Teorema is a must-visit: we were drawn to it like moths to a flame, thanks to its year-round Pride flag. It offered a friendly environment for a cooling drink on the outside terrace under umbrellas, a needed break from the midday heat, and the perfect place for people-watching.

The bar is located in the Gros neighbourhood, just a short walk from a Pride crossing installed to celebrate International Pride Day in 2025. The tribute remains in pristine condition.

The Old Town of Donostia-San Sebastián, known as the Parte Vieja, is the place to be, with ample bars and places to eat which may not showcase flags but, in our experience, were certainly inclusive and friendly spaces.

Plaza de la Constitución, known as Constitution Square, where we were lucky enough to watch a Pride gathering, is a short walk from the port and the Beach of La Concha. A walk along the beach offers even more culinary and watering-hole options, including swish bars such as Hotel Villa Favorita, which boasts an outdoor seating area overlooking the sea, with views that are hard to take your eyes off.

A brilliant find, which I highly recommend, is Kafe Botanika, in the centre of Donosti and a short walk from the bus station. The café features friendly staff (one of whom we spotted at a Pride gathering), delicious drinks and food, and a botanical setting, plus vegetarian and vegan options.

There’s also a sauna in the area called Venconmen Sauna, featuring a steam sauna, dry sauna and a bar area for socialising. It has mostly good ratings online and was described by the social media account The Wandering Gays as being “a small, hygienic and clean sauna space with 10 cabins, a very social bar area and nicely designed”.

Where to stay

The Social Hub, located 2.4km from La Concha Beach and 18km from San Sebastián Airport, is the place to stay. Fitted with a lift sporting a Pride-inspired rainbow interior, it felt like the coolest spot in town.

There’s also so much to do within the hub itself that you find yourself having to convince yourself to leave. A rooftop bar and pool, which attracted a mostly young, trendy crowd, a modern gym open 24/7, games in the downstairs area, and an impressive bar and restaurant that felt like something you’d find in a Soho House. Community events and workout classes are also available to guests, including a summer morning yoga ritual to help you start the day feeling balanced.

Its interiors are modern and comfortable, with standard room prices starting from upwards of £177 across peak months on weekdays, dropping to less than £70 a night outside of May to October.

We stayed in an executive double room (from £196), which was airy and modern and featured a king-sized bed. The design echoed that of a very chic student dorm, since the hub also offers student accommodation.

The room’s separate bathroom was immaculate and featured shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and a nourishing moisturiser — a detail so many hotels miss – which made it feel that bit more luxurious. The desk and separate lounge chair also came in useful when I wanted to work, and my partner wanted to rest. It’s the perfect space to unwind and get ready for the day’s activities.

A buffet breakfast was included, offering an array of options such as avocado on toast, pancakes with turkey bacon and syrup, scrambled eggs, or yoghurt and granola, to name a few.

Where to eat

There is almost too much choice in San Sebastián, as you’d expect.

Pintxos are the Basque version of Spanish tapas: small, bite-sized foods, both hot and cold, usually served on a piece of baguette. They offer a brilliant way to try foods you’d never imagined, like sea urchin, which we tasted at Taberna Gandarias Jatetxea in the old town of Donostia-San Sebastián. It was creamy, with a mild salty taste, but not the strong fishy flavour we expected. At the same spot, we indulged in mushroom, mini-burger, filet steak, and goat’s cheese pintxos, all mouthwateringly good. This was the best place we found for pintxos, busy, but worth every minute of the wait.

At Bar Beti-Jai, also in the old town, we enjoyed a gilda – a green olive, a spicy pickled guindilla pepper and a salted anchovy on a toothpick – and a sausage pintxo with a tangy tomato base.

As we were hosted by The Social Hub, we made sure to try the menu there too, made up mostly of local classics designed to be ordered tapas-style.

During our stay, we enjoyed appetisers of ham croquettes, which I highly recommend (though be warned, they’re moreish), crisps and mussels in escabeche (an acidic, vinegar-based sauce), which was nice but didn’t stand out, but the fresh white beans in escabeche from Navarra and grilled artichokes from Navarra were a hit with our tastebuds, offering a filling option that was rich in butteriness. 

For mains, we tried the farm chicken cannelloni, comparable to a quesadilla with shredded chicken, which was nice enough. But it was the grilled Iberian pork secreto that was absolutely our favourite dish on the menu, standing out for its succulence and delicate taste. If you try just one dish, make it this one.

If you have room, the lychee sorbet is delightfully refreshing, while the baked cookie is a sugar hit that will keep you partying all night.

Drink-wise, the menu offers everything from soft drinks to local wines. The white Txakoli Blai was a favourite of ours: crisp, with delicate green fruit and citrus notes, slightly sparkling and, in our opinion, easy to drink. Of the cocktails, the espresso martini is divine and generously sized for a night of partying ahead.

The beauty of the hub is that it transforms to suit guests’ needs throughout the day: a breakfast spot in the morning, a workspace by day, a restaurant in the late afternoon, but always a welcoming, inclusive space for all to enjoy.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.