Where to Stay in San Sebastian: Abba San Sebastian

San Sebastian boasts some of the best beaches and gastronomy in Europe. It also has no shortage of accommodations for travelers. But if you're wondering where to stay for the perfect mix of luxury, location, and value, look no further than the hotel Abba San Sebastian.

Located in northern Spain's Basque country, San Sebastian has long attracted travelers seeking great food, beautiful architecture, stunning beaches, and a slightly cooler climate than the warmer areas of southern Spain.

That means visitors have several accommodation options to choose from. While many of the grand hotels overlooking the sea or on the edge of the old town market themselves to the most discerning clientele, they can also be a big drain on your budget.

So when Marlynn and I traveled to San Sebastian recently, we looked for a place that was centrally located, at least 4 stars, and reasonably priced. Read on to see why we chose the Abba San Sebastian hotel.

Abba San Sebastian

The Abba Hotel is located on the banks of the Urumea River, which features the Old Town on the western side and the relatively newer part of the city on the east. And it's only about a 10-minute walk to the center of Old Town.

We arrived in San Sebastian by bus after flying into the nearby city of Bilbao. And one of the things that attracted us to the Abba was the proximity to the bus station — just about a 5-minute walk away.

When we entered, we were immediately greeted by the concierge who checked us in and recommended where to grab the best pintxos in town. Then we headed up to our room.

Deluxe Corner room

The Abba Hotel has more than 40 rooms to choose from in several different categories, ranging from "cosy" to "deluxe." We opted for one of the deluxe corner rooms. Each of these has about 250 square feet of space with a king-sized bed, a small seating area, and large windows which bring in a lot of light.

The room was elegantly decorated with a giant headboard on the bed and luxurious wall coverings. It also came with some nice touches, such as a robe and slippers placed at the end of the bed.

A desk and chair offered a bit of extra work space.

And we were pleasantly surprised by the big marble bathroom that came with a good-sized shower and plenty of amenities.

The deluxe rooms are at the top end of the range at Hotel Abba, but the rates were lower than you'd find in many other popular European cities. We reserved this room in late May for 5 nights, at a price of about $270 per night, which we thought was a pretty good value.

Note: For a few dollars more per night, you can also get this type of room with a balcony, but those were all reserved by the time we made our booking.

Other rooms at Hotel Abba San Sebastian

If you're looking for something even more budget-friendly, the Abba San Sebastian offers three other room types to choose from.

Small Cosy

The smallest room category is called Small Cosy. It comes with about 160 square feet of space, a queen-sized bed, and small desk area. It's perfect for short stays, especially if you're traveling solo.

Cosy

The next level up is the Cosy. This is similar to the Small Cosy, but the room is slightly larger.

Boutique

The boutique room falls in between the Cosy and the Deluxe styles. These come with about 200 square feet of space, a king-sized bed, and a slightly larger bathroom than the Cosy rooms.

Rooftop bar

If you're looking for the ideal spot to grab a drink and take in the gorgeous San Sebastian cityscape, head up to the roof terrace bar.

Offering unobstructed, panoramic views of the city, plenty of seating, a full bar, and a menu of small bites, this is a fun place to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing.

And you can enjoy a cool glass of local Txakoli wine, a refreshing, slightly effervescent white wine produced throughout the Basque region.

For more on what to eat, drink, and see in this lovely Spanish city, check out Best things to do in San Sebastian guide!

4th Gastrobar

The Abba Hotel also has an onsite restaurant that's open for lunch and dinner. It features a selection of pintxos, as well as pastas, salads, and local wines.

It's a convenient option to grab a bite after a day in town, or before you head back out.  

Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Dinner: Monday to Sunday - 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

Breakfast buffet

I love a good hotel breakfast! Hotel Abba offers a breakfast buffet everyday starting at 7:30 am. Enjoy local fruits, breads, and meats, as well as cereal and some special daily items. Cost is about $18 for adults and about $9 for kids under 12.

Hours: Daily 7:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Fitness center

If you don't like to skip workouts when you travel, the Abba has you covered. Take advantage of its onsite fitness center, open daily from 7 am to 10 pm.

Stay at Abba San Sebastian

You can find Abba hotels all across Spain. The one in San Sebastian is located at:

Paseo de Francia, 4
20012 San Sebastián
Check-in time: 2:00 pm
Check-out time: 12:00 pm

For more information, visit the Abba San Sebastian website.