Spa and Wellness Hotels in San Sebastián

Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra is the most direct route to wellness by the sea. The grand 19th-century hotel overlooks La Concha Bay with beachfront access on the promenade, and its description includes discounted access to La Perla Spa, the seawater spa set on the same promenade. With a 9.2 score from 4,590 reviews, it is also the most reviewed hotel of this group. I would choose it for a short break built around the bay: a swim at La Concha, a session at La Perla a few minutes' walk along the seafront, and dinner with bay views at the hotel.

Akelarre - Relais & Châteaux is the address for a stay where food and wellness carry equal weight. Its description lists sea-view rooms, a terrace, a spa centre and two restaurants, one of them holding three Michelin stars. The score of 9.4 comes from only 207 reviews, a small sample for a small hotel, but the combination is unique in the city. It sits on the slopes of Monte Igueldo, west of the centre, so it suits travellers who want calm and views over the Bay of Biscay more than walks to the old town, which require a car or a taxi.

ARIMA Hotel & Spa - Small Luxury Hotels takes a Scandinavian approach. Its description mentions a spa with an infrared sauna, a seasonal outdoor pool and soundproofed rooms, and it scores 9.1 from 2,523 reviews. The point to keep in mind is location: the hotel sits within the Gipuzkoa Technology Park, away from the beaches and the old town. My advice is to treat it as a quiet base for a spa-focused stay with a car, rather than a hotel for walking to La Concha or Zurriola. For a beach holiday with daily swims, the bayfront hotels make more sense.

Several other hotels on this list offer wellness through pools and gyms rather than spas. Villa Eugenia Boutique Hotel has an infinity pool, a sun terrace and a garden less than 1 km from Zurriola Beach, with a 9.2 score. Zenit Convento San Martin combines a rooftop pool with a fitness centre and sun terrace, scoring 9.1 from 3,168 reviews. Catalonia Donosti sits on a hill above the city with a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness centre and many sea-view rooms. Hotel Villa Soro, rated 9.6, offers a gym, free bicycles and beach towels a short walk from Zurriola Beach.