6 language schools in San Sebastian from 216€ for a 1 week Spanish course
San Sebastian ratings & opinions
How our students rated their experience in San Sebastian
What our students said about San Sebastian
The city is simply gorgeous! Nestled in a mountain landscape, with three beaches right in the centre. The sea offers many activities such as surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddling or swimming. The nightlife was also great, there are lots of young people and there's actually something going on every night, especially on Friday and Saturday, of course. The prices for beer and wine seemed very reasonable to me (about 1€ for a glass of beer, 1.50€ for a glass of wine), but you had to pay more for food. Overall, the locals made a very open and warm-hearted impression on me, and it was fun to talk to them once a week at the "intercambio de las lenguas".
My favourite city in Spain! It is easily walkable to the main areas, 3 beaches all walkable from each other, in summer was nice temperatures, not too hot most days but still warm enough to want to swim at the beaches (both surf and calm bay beach) (though it rained for about a week out of the 4 weeks I was there), lots of bars, beautiful city and cool old town too. Some great day trips too to France (Biarritz, San Jean de Luz, Bayonne) and along the basque country coastline. mountains nearby. Loved it!
We had heavy rain every day. We could see the potential of the city, which is beautiful in parts but walking outside we got soaked all the time ..even with umbrellas. Very unpleasant weather and although we were very unlucky I would never again visit this part of northern Spain in November.
It’s a beautiful city, that is larger than I remembered from my college days. Next time I will choose accommodations in the city center or over by the river for the best access to activities.
It’s quite a rainy city but a good size. I found a jazz club and three bars with open mike sessions to play in and a guitar school which were all within walking distance.
Beautiful landscapes! Unfortunately, there was little on offer for vegans and I was stared at a lot because of my somewhat funky hairstyle (very conservative?).
Great town with lots of leisure activities: Ideal for surfing, hiking, cycling; Perfect location for day trips also to France; Clean and safe city
It's a very pleasant, chic town with very good facilities! I tried out the cinema and the theatre (very affordable prices). I love this town
What's up with the restaurant waiters? They are very rude and the service is usually quite slow and bad. :) Everybody else was very friendly.
The city is safe, secure, and quiet. Rain is frequent, so a compact umbrella is necessary. The weather is pleasant and not overly hot.
What language school directors said about San Sebastian

Urban beaches, spectacular hills surroundings, cultural tradition (Basque culture) and long tradition gastronomy. Safe city and all in a walking distance.
Most recent student reviews of language schools in San Sebastian

Nice, patient and competent teachers, helpful and quick administrative staff, interesting lessons, varied cultural programme, possibility to book an additional surf course. For the second year in a row, it was a really great stay.
Many thanks to all involved
19 August 2024
Course: Intensive Plus Course 25 - 3 weeks
Student age: 42 years

The teachers are excellent and the location of the school is excellent as well. The city of San Sebastian is a paradise for pedestrians. I enjoyed every minute of my stay and strongly recommend it.
I had a wonderful stay.
28 May 2024
Course: Intensive Course 20 - 4 weeks
Student age: 73 years

Great school in a really nice location (in the new location).
Motivated and very professional teachers!
All employees are always approachable, open and helpful with questions or problems of any kind!
Colorful mix of nations and ages of students.
Thanks to extracurricular activities such as joint hikes
Overall, extremely pleasant and very familiar atmosphere.
28 May 2024
Course: Intensive Course 20 - 2 weeks
Student age: 59 years

Clean classrooms
Excellent classes
Friendly school teachers and staff
Great atmosphere
Everyone speaks Basque, so you can learn a little Basque, such as greetings.
27 May 2024
Course: Intensive Course 22 - 2 weeks
Student age: 62 years

Great language school with nice teachers and very good organization. They are super flexible and offer lots of activities outside of class that help deepen your Spanish.
21 May 2024
Course: Intensive Course - 1 week
Student age: 30 years
Information about San Sebastian
Key Facts about San Sebastian
- Big Mac price (Spain average):
4.20 € (7% cheaper than in USA)
- Residential voltage: 230 V
- Frequency: 50 Hz
Weather in San Sebastian
Events in San Sebastian

23 June 2025 - 24 June 2025San Juan is a Spanish tradition rooted in welcoming the arrival of summer. Families and friends gather on the beaches and in the streets to enjoy bonfires, fireworks, and Basque cuisine.

22 July 2025 - 26 July 2025Known as Jazzaldia, this is Spain's first and foremost jazz festival and they always have a fabulous roster of both international and national artists. It includes free and paid events, there are indoor and outdoor stages presenting a wide variety of musical styles.

09 August 2025 - 16 August 2025Every summer, during the middle of August, San Sebastián celebrates its "Big Week" with nightly firework displays, concerts, travelling musicians, children's games and attractions, and much more!

19 September 2025 - 27 September 2025This thought-provoking and inspiring event brings together film-makers, activists, and audiences from around the world to celebrate and advocate for human rights through the power of cinema.
What to do in San Sebastian





Arrival airports
Public transportation to city center:
Every 60 minutes, 75 minutes.
Main stops: Airport Loiu Bilbao, San Sebastián
Taxi: 20 minutes drive to city center of San Sebastian
Public transportation to city center:
Every 30 minutes, 25 minutes.
Main stops: San Sebastián Airport EAS - Irún, Gros - San Sebastián
Every 5 minutes, 70 minutes.
Main stops: Biarritz Aéroport, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, San Sebastián
Taxi: 60 minutes drive to city center of San Sebastian
Public transportation to city center:
Taxi: 75 minutes drive to city center of San Sebastian
Q&A - Questions about Spanish courses and schools in San Sebastian
Is there a metro in San Sebastián?
My son and a friend would like to obtain a DELE A2 certificate. They have no knowledge of the Spanish language yet. What does the learning path look like for them?
A DELE exam preparation course is usually around 4 weeks. So they could do the following to get DELE A2:
- 2 months Intensive Course 20 (on its own or combined with private lessons for faster progress, conversation, surfing, etc.)
- 1 month Intensive Course 20 + DELE private lessons exam preparation.”
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions About Spanish Courses in San Sebastian
What happens if there are not enough students for a specific level of group?
Is San Sebastian a great place to surf and learn Spanish?
- You can find renowned surf spots (such as Zurriola Beach, La Concha Bay, Ondarreta Beach...)
- You also have very good language schools offering surfing activities
- There is a strong surfing community, lots of surf shops, many organised competitions and events that make it a hub for surfers in Europe.
San Sebastian offers therefore a nice mix of active learning, cultural immersion, and fun, making it our top choice for surfing and learning Spanish in Spain.”