Double or Twin Room
- 2 Single beds
- Shower
- Heating
Guest house · San Sebastian · Basque Country
Pension Garate
A modern, no-frills guesthouse one block from La Concha Beach, with rooms that punch above their weight and staff who know the city well.
- One block from La Concha Beach
- Walk to old town in about 5 minutes
- Helpful, multilingual staff
8.7
Great
1661 reviews
Booking.com 8.7 · 1661 reviews
About
Pension Garate
Pension Garate is a modern guesthouse in the heart of San Sebastian’s city centre, on the first floor of a building on the busy San Martin shopping street. It’s a deliberately simple setup: 17 rooms, no restaurant, no lobby to speak of — just clean, well-kept spaces and a location that puts the beach and the old town within a few minutes’ walk. The name says it all — a pension, not a hotel, and it wears that label honestly.
Rooms are compact but thoughtfully fitted, with parquet floors, flat-screen TVs, and kettles. Some have balconies, and the interior rooms offer air conditioning. There’s a lift, luggage storage, and key-card access for security. The guesthouse is on the first floor, above a shopping street, so you trade a little noise for the convenience of being steps from the seafront.
- No smoking on site
- Wi-Fi
- Express check-in/ -out
- No pets allowed
- Security
- Luggage storage
In brief
What works, what to weigh
+
Strengths
4 reasons to book- Two minutes from La Concha Beach — Guests repeatedly describe the location as perfect — one block from the beach and a five-minute walk to the old town.
- Rooms are better than you’d expect — Several guests call the rooms surprisingly spacious, with new furnishings, balconies, and parquet floors. Interior rooms have air conditioning.
- Staff who really help — The small team gets consistent praise for being friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable — with one guest noting they went out of their way during a flight crisis.
- Strong value for San Sebastián — With rates from £72 and guests mentioning paying as little as £39, this is a budget-friendly base in an expensive city.
–
Worth weighing
5 to weigh- Reception isn’t always staffed — The team is only on-site from 10.00 to 16.00, so check-in outside those hours means relying on the express check-in system.
- Not the quietest spot — The guesthouse is above a busy shopping street, and while one guest praised the soundproofing, others note that the first-floor position brings street noise.
- Small, functional rooms — This is a pension, not a full hotel — rooms are compact, and larger families would find them tight. Comfort scores 6.2, lower than any other category.
- No parking or dining on site — There’s no parking and no restaurant, just a vending machine. Guests note the lack of parking and food options.
- Limited space for luggage — While luggage storage is available, the rooms are compact and there’s no dedicated luggage room mentioned beyond basic storage.
01 — Rooms
Rooms & rates
High season: summer dates usually book out a few weeks ahead.
Interior Double Room
- 1 Double bed
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
Single Room
- 1 Single bed
- Shower
- Heating
Apartment Terrace
- 2 Single beds
- Shower
- Heating
- Air conditioning
02 — Amenities
Services & amenities
Everything included at this stay — the facilities and essentials, at a glance.
General
- Wi-Fi
- No smoking on site
- Lift
- Security
- Key card access
- Key access
- Smoke detectors
- Fire extinguishers
- Vending machines
- Housekeeping
Services
- Express check-in/ -out
- Luggage storage
- Tours/Ticket assistance
Room & In-Room
- Heating
- Air conditioning (in some rooms)
- Sitting area
- Dressing area
- Patio / Balcony (in some rooms)
- Dining table (in apartment)
- Electric kettle
- Cookware/ Kitchen utensils
- Flat-screen TV
- Washing machine (in apartment)
- Cots
- Parquet floor
Photos
Gallery
03 — Reviews
What guests say
Recent verified reviews from guests who stayed here.
Guest-rated 8.7/10 from 1,661 reviews
Booking.com · 8.7 · 1661 reviews
8.7Verified guest“Fantastic, friendly staff and a good-sized, beautifully maintained room with a balcony. Great facilities — and we paid only £39. Incredible service.”
8.7Verified guest“I stayed three days and had a genuinely lovely time. The location is magnificent — close to everything, the seafront, the old town, the city centre. Staff were super friendly and welcoming all day. I didn’t want to leave and would happily return.”
8.7Verified guest“Excellent location, just a short walk from all the sights. The room was surprisingly spacious with a small balcony, and the receptionist couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly.”
8.7Verified guest“Staff were very helpful and friendly. Great spot, and the room was new and well soundproofed.”
8.7Verified guest“Staff are only on-site from 10.00 to 16.00, but they were exceptionally helpful during the flight crisis. Location is on the first floor of a big shopping street, one block from the ocean — from the balcony you can even see the sea.”
8.7Verified guest“Great stay in a lovely part of town, right off the beach. Big room, new furnishings, nice bathroom fixtures, and a balcony. The owner spoke perfect English and gave superb restaurant recommendations. Strong Wi-Fi too. I’ll definitely be back.”
04 — Location
Getting around San Sebastian
The property sits in San Sebastian.
La Concha Beach: One block from the guesthouse — about a 2-minute walk. A classic urban beach with a long promenade and calm waters.
Old Town (Parte Vieja): A five-minute walk takes you to the narrow streets packed with pintxos bars, shops, and the lively atmosphere San Sebastián is known for.
City Centre: You’re right in the middle of it — the San Martin shopping street has cafés and retail, and the rest of the centre is on your doorstep.
San Martin, 54 1ª Planta, San Sebastian, Basque Country, 20007, Spain
05 — Good to know
Policies & conditions
Hotel details are shown for reference. Final rate terms are confirmed on the partner’s site at booking.
- Check-in
- From 13:30-22:00
- Check-out
- By 12:00
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation on many rates — terms on booking page
- Payment
- Pay-at-hotel available on many rates; final terms at booking
- Pets
- Not allowed
- Property
- 18 rooms
06 — Questions
Frequently asked
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check-in is from 13:30 to 22:00, and check-out is by 12:00. Express check-in and check-out are also available.
Is there parking at Pension Garate?
No, there is no on-site parking and no special parking arrangement mentioned. You’ll need to find public parking nearby.
Are pets allowed?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
Is there air conditioning in the rooms?
Only the Interior Double Room and Apartment Terrace have air conditioning. Other room types have heating but no cooling.
What time is the reception staff available?
The staff are on-site between 10:00 and 16:00. Outside those hours, you can use the express check-in/check-out system.
Is there Wi-Fi in the rooms?
Yes, Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. One guest noted a strong signal.
The bottom line
A well-run, honest pension that nails the essentials — unbeatable location, spotless rooms, and staff who go out of their way to help. If you can live with a compact room and a reception that’s not always staffed, this is one of the smartest-value bases in San Sebastián.
8.7Our take — who’s it for?
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