Urgull

A nice walk up, with multiple spots to see the views but also some historical monuments and remains. Get yourself lost in this beautiful walk to the top and go to the castle-museum (free)!

A nice hike with beautiful views of the city and ocean. Saw many birds around with colorful feathers. I enjoyed walking around the fort and soaking in the scenery and seeing some history like the canons and jail cells. There were many place to sit along the way up. Recommend for a nice walk and little exercise.

Located in San Sebastián, Mount Urgull offers stunning views of the city and coastline, with paths for all fitness levels. The hike is filled with historical sites, with the most widely known as the statue of Christ. The greenery and vibrant gardens make it perfect for a stroll or picnic. Whether you're into hiking, history, or just enjoying nature, Mount Urgull is a must-visit. Highly recommend!

Worth the climb. Great view of the lovley San Sebastian.

Free! Parking at the bottom of the hill for fair price. The walk uphill was a little workout but was very worth it. Amazing views of the city and beach.

Beautiful scenic view from the top. Worth the relatively quick walk. You don't need hiking shoes but flip flops won't do. You could probably summit in 30-40 minutes, but I'd suggest a leisurely hour each way.

My fav viewing spot in the city. Immerse in the nature, you get a castle, a cute church and a great terrace which is only open 9-10 am weekdays.

May 2023 A nice walk to the top with an amazing view of the city, especially on a clear day. We started our walk from the city centre and then went down on the other side. We were completely lost. We ended up in the port area, and it wasn't too easy to find out way back. You know the streets are crazy and nothing east/west, north/south. Always on a diagonal or curving. A taxi ride back to our starting point saved us. Always an adventure!

A really wonderful hike. Definitely a must-do for Donostia in my opinion. Very good display of history at the top and the view is amazing.

Great hike and workout up to the top of the hill. It's the perfect vantage point. Great view of the entire city. The only annoying thing was that there is "Tourist Go Home" graffitied EVERYWHERE. I don't know if it's the work of one deranged individual or if it's the consensus of the San Sebastián people. Either way, it made me feel very uncomfortable.

One of two viewpoints that are a must while visiting San Sebastian, but be ready for Monte Urgull. Why be ready for Monte Urgull, easy it is a stiff hike for someone who either is not found, ready, or use to vertical hill climbing. The positive aspect is that you can take your time, so while it may be a long and strenuous hike, it can be accomplished by most with the right mindset. I took my time as I had a family member who was not "hill climbing" ready, but was very determined to see those beautiful views that were awaiting us at the top! The trail itself is laid out pretty well, but be aware there are several trails, some leading to lower beach/ocean views, and others leading to small park areas, and the other preferred ones leading to the top. Fast forward past all of the beautiful scenery to top of Monte Urgull and you are greeted with various views, all stunning of course, but you can go to the "very top". This max vertical accession requires going through their free museum which is a nice touch especially on a hot day as some of the exhibit rooms are air conditioned! The very top obviously is where you will catch the iconic panoramic shots that most will see online when researching the city. On one last note, the opposite side of the mountain is the other view point, which is paved and regular bus routes consistently run throughout the day. It really leaves you with two choices, but many prefer the hike.

Although it may look daunting from across the Bay of Concha (photo: http://bit.ly/2pvcXYQ), Jamie W. and I hardly broke a sweat hiking up the 404-foot Monte Urgull because the circuitous trail from the Old Town is paved and the incline is fairly gradual even for the non-cardio crowd. There are glorious views along the way of San Sebastián (photo: http://bit.ly/2BBCGA6) and the surrounding seascape (photo: http://bit.ly/2BR1s3E) that by the time we reached the 16th-century-era Castillo de la Mota, it was rather anticlimactic since the fortress walls covered up the scenery. The highlights were the historic cannons (photo: http://bit.ly/2DQfPme), and the lowlight was that dark subterranean chamber we had to enter to get to the castle grounds. It was like one of those "I Know What You Did Last Summer" moments when a minor character gets murdered for doing something stupid. Looking upward, we saw what we came here to see, the gigantic statue of Christ (photo: http://bit.ly/2zwZKhW). It wasn't that we were looking for redemption, but touching the hem of His garment would have been nice. Too bad He was way up on a huge pedestal so there was no absolution for us. The statue reminded me of the city-defining Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro in the way it stands out from a great distance and appears to welcome all pilgrims. The similarity is probably quite intentional as the scenic parallels with Rio are undeniable. Climbing down the other side of the hill turned out to be a treat as we ended up on a seaside promenade that eventually took us to the newer Gros district. Waves crashing against jagged rock slabs (photo: http://bit.ly/2zwZXle) and a huge public art piece called "Empty Construction" by Jorge Oteiza (photo: http://bit.ly/2DbP8Hl) anchor the walk with authority.

The bulk of Monte Urgull is on of the several Donostia spots that you can climb up to and appreciate the view. And that's exactly what Gayle and I did after we first arrived in San Sebastian. The first thing we noticed was the Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart) sculpture, which brings on Rio de Janeiro parallels. The work was executed by Franco-era sculptor Federico Coullaut in 1950, stands over 12 metres tall, and can be seen from a distance of 4 miles out at sea. Monte Urgull was an important defensive position until the City walls were taken down in 1863. It saw action from the 12th Century onwards in several battles. The Hill is topped by a small fort, the Castillo de la Mota. There are several areas to walk and the views (especially from the ramparts below the Christ statue) are outstanding. However, the buildings and facilities on Monte Urgull appear to be a bit threadbare in spots. Gayle and I eventually descended to the back side of the hill and to the water. Our Big Bonus was admiring the Construcción Vacía (Empty Structure) sculpture by Jorge de Oteiza. The powerful and original work this sculptor and Eduardo Chillida (another Basque artist) is a key touchstone for this Region.

You only need an hour to walk up and get a great view of the city, and listen to the murmur below from the people in Parte Viejo, loudspeakers playing music from Playa de la Concha, and church bells in the distance. Two hours, and you will have a wonderful time exploring the mountain's narrow paths and old fortress walls. Walk down the backside through the Cementerio de los Ingleses, and down to the Pasealeku Berria causeway along the ocean. Spectacular.

If you are in San Sebastian there is no better way to view the city than by taking this beautiful hike. It's a little steep and a tiny bit of a workout, but if you take your time anyone could do it. There are also a number of different trails that lead to the top so you could pick which one suites you better. If you need a break along the way there are many places to sit and rest.

Beautiful hike up to Mount Urgull. It takes about an hour to get to the top. Glad we took some water, it's a low-medium strenuous trail. It has breathtaking views and a little museum up on top-we have some awesome pictures from up there. There are stops along the way up to see. One is a cemetery, one is an old shooting galley and also a castle and we stumbled upon a cool cave. We packed a picnic and stopped on the way down in a cool-shaded area that had seats with a breathtaking view of the water. Would highly recommend!