Top Hotels in Basque Country Pensions
10 Pensions in Basque Country: Best hotel deals for 2023
Situated at the feet of the western Pyrenees near the French border, Spain's Basque country comprises three provinces: Guipúzcoa and the popular beachfront capital of San Sebastian; Viscaya, where capital Bilbao houses the jaw-dropping Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum; and Alava, whose capital Vitoria teems with medieval architecture. Running with the bulls at Pamplona and drinking rioja from area wineries add to the region's exotic romanticism. Travel in early summer and fall to dodge the madding crowds.
Things to do in Basque Country
1. Pension Kursaal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 549 reviews
Pension Kursaal lies in front of Zurriola Beach, ideal for surfing, and Kursaal Convention Centre, home of the San Sebastian Film Festival and Jazz Festival. Next to the Old Town you will be delighted with all the pintxo bars and very close to the magnificent Concha Beach. Just in the heart of town at walking distance from Tabacalera Contemporary Center, theatres and train station
Our Stay at Pensión Kursaal
Reviewed By Gregory SThe Pensión Kursaal is an excellent place to stay. The location is perfect with lots of restaurants nearby. Everything is within walking distance. The staff was very friendly and helpful to us. We would definitely stay here again.
2. Pension Katrapona
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
Beautiful Getaria
Reviewed By chch00007Very friendly, very helpful and kind reception staff. Beautiful location with views across the harbour. The room was small but quite nice, the bed wasn’t all that comfortable. The only real gripe - our room was pretty much above the sea front pub that is open all day and closes around 11PM - it wasn’t possible to have the balcony doors open to fully enjoy the experience without having to endure the loud reveling of the many drinkers. We’d stay again but would insist on another room and would limit the stay to a maximum of 2 nights.
3. Casa Nicolasa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 250 reviews
This new boutique hotel is located in the center of San Sebastian, in the old part and just 100 meters from La Concha and Zurriola beaches This Pension offers rooms with exquisite design including high spped Wi-Fi connection, air conditioning, minibar, safe and private bathroom with hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. The main area of restaurants and tapas bars are located within a 2 minute walk away. Upon arrival, guests will enjoy free coffee in the lounge and a selection of free drinks from the minibar. The property has modern facilities and is ideally located for enjoying a fabulous stay at this fantastic Basque town.
Very nice, but not stress free.....
Reviewed By GatorgolferWe stayed here for three nights, in an upgraded balcony room at the front of the hotel. The building has been remodeled, and the rooms and bathrooms are very nice. Since it is pension, there is no lobby to speak of, entry is via a key card, and the elevator works, but is small. We had a car, so the first stress was no place in front to stop and drop luggage. My wife jumped out while I circled the block, then jumped back into the car and we searched for the entrance to the nearby underground parking garage....missed in once and circled the block again, then parked. Once parked we had to handle our own bags out of the garage, down the street, into the hotel, up the elevator, out into the little lobby, and up to our room. If you arrive by cab most of this is a moot point. Our room had a little wall mounted air conditioner, with as it turns out a broken control unit. The first night was hot, the AC did not work, so we opened our balcony door to the street below. Of course the Spanish don't dine until after 9 PM, and they party till late, so there was constant noise from the street. Once the people went to bed, the trash trucks started picking up dumpsters across the street. Did I mention that it was hot? Very poor night's sleep. They fixed the AC the next day, so we could close the door and it was sort of cool in the room. Casa Nicolasa is nicely located....easy walk to the old town, to the beach, etc. Good stay for the slightly adventurous.....
4. Ibis Budget Bilbao City
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
Disappointed!
Reviewed By mikegT8518GIBooked here for an overnight stay before we caught the ferry back to Plymouth. The location is fairly convenient to the port but was let down due to the constant banging of doors even to the point where it sounded like our bedroom door was being pushed. Think this is down to the air vacuum throughout the building. Also, one of our pillows was so poor that the fabric inside had split in two!!! Some additional pillows would be a great help to.
5. Pension Balerdi
Overall Ratings
5 based on 118 reviews
Pension Balerdi guest house is located in the entrance of the Old Part of Donostia-San Sebastian very close to the main remarkable places of the city, such as its port, beaches, monuments and its great gastronomic area. We have completely reformed Pension Balerdi in 2015 in order to offer high confort in every room, which includes a private bathroom. Besides, it is very confortable to visit the most emblematic places of Donostia-San Sebastian on foot such as La Concha beach, the Kursaal Congress Palace, the well-known restaurants and Pintxo bars since all of them are very close to Pension Balerdi. Just 50 meters away there is a car park and, moreover, the urban and interurban lines have its bus stops that will allow you to visit every nook of the city and discover new places of the Basque Country. If you choose to stay in our place, we will try our best to make your stay memorable.
I am amused
Reviewed By steppinstonedDon’t cash in your pension, you won’t need to, perfect place, immaculate and so easy to get to everywhere in San Sebastián. Our host, could not have been more helpful, amusing ( it takes a lot) we really had a great time. Don’t be put off by initial entrance, couldn’t have wished for more , felt lucky to find this little gem
6. Pension Garibai
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 107 reviews
See why so many travelers make Pension Garibai their pension (b&b) of choice when visiting San Sebastian - Donostia. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a trendy setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you. While staying at Pension Garibai, visitors can check out Plaza de Guipuzkoa (0.1 mi) and Ayuntamiento de San Sebastian (0.1 mi), some of San Sebastian - Donostia's top attractions. Pension Garibai is a trendy pension (b&b) offering a flat screen TV, air conditioning, and a minibar in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests. The pension (b&b) features a concierge and baggage storage. For guests with a vehicle, there is paid public parking available nearby. While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the French restaurants, including Sustrai and Portobello Snack-Bar, all of which are a short distance from Pension Garibai. Plus, during your trip, don’t forget to check out some of the popular art galleries, such as Kubo Kutxa and Vetusart. At Pension Garibai, your comfort and satisfaction come first, and they look forward to welcoming you to San Sebastian - Donostia.
Excellent location, clean & comfortable
Reviewed By greavsey1This was the best of our 3 accommodations on our trip to Bilbao via Bordeaux. The location is excellent for the Old town and beach. The rooms were clean, comfortable and quiet. The check in staff were friendly. The bar virtually next door was great for breakfast and a night cap so don't let the no food aspect put you off. Lastly the speed in which they dealt with the clothes I left behind was superb, informing me of progress along the way. Very worthy of 5 stars.
7. Caravan Cinema
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 201 reviews
Caravan Cinema is a wink to the contemporary spanish movie makers. Our little new age retro design vintage pension was opened on July 7th 2014, with five rooms, special confortable maitresses, great showers, natural ammenities and design furniture and lamps from the 60's, 70's & 80's. The hotel is in the heart of the old town, surrounded by shops, bares, restaurants, theaters and monuments. Guggenheim museum is 20 minutes walk away from the hotel and all the main touristic attractions are very closed to the hotel. Familiar athomosphere. Feel like home during your stay in Bilbao Caravan Cinema
Great hotel right in the heart of the old town
Reviewed By Fung SIf you want a no-fuss stay in the old town area of Bilbao, then I would recommend Caravan Cinema. The "pension" is located minutes from Casco Viejo Metro station and a few footsteps from plaza nueva. Caravan Cinema does not offer 24-hour conciege service, but there is regular email contact before arrival and contact details were given during our stay. Our plane was delayed by nearly two hours but we kept the hotel updated about our estimated time of arrival and was greeted warmly in the reception area when we finally arrived. Despite the cental locality, the hotel was very quiet and we didn't hear any noise from the streets at all. We reserved a standard room and all the basics were covered. The room was very clean, had a walk-in shower, fluffy towels, complimentary toiletories, air con unit, safe, storage area, desk and a nespesso coffee machine. Our room was cleaned very day. There was a very handy water dispenser, useful for filling up the Nespresso machine. Posters of Fellini movies was a great touch and added to the character and charm of the hotel. Because of the hotel's central locality, it was convenient to take a break from siteseeing and sneak in a siesta. The hotel is just 15 minutes from the Guggenheim museum, 25 minutes from the Funicular, 5 minutes from the Tourne bike hire store, 5 minutes from the Tourism office and department store, and @10 minutes away from the Ribera food market.
8. Casual Bilbao Serantes
Overall Ratings
4 based on 76 reviews
New charming thematic rooms with private bathroom and heating in the old town of the city close to Plaza Nueva and Cathedral of Santiago
lovely stay
Reviewed By brooksskihad a very good stay. Although we only stopped for one night and arrived rather early, we were looked after likely regulars. The room was ready and very clean. We had lots of space. If you need a simple but affordable room right in the centre, then this is a good choice.
9. Pension Nuevas Artes
Overall Ratings
4 based on 95 reviews
Very tiny room and extremely noisy
Reviewed By Kjellaug TVery nice staff and good location, so easy to find it and to walk to and from. What I didn't like was that it was very noisy, so very poor sleep quality. Could here everything from the next door rooms, from the reception and the street. The room was also very tiny.
10. Pension San Ignacio Centro
Overall Ratings
4 based on 111 reviews
Dirty!
Reviewed By tossan24Last stop which we really looked forward to. But, eventhough location great does not compensate for the awful smell in the room and the dirty towels and dirty linen! Asked for a replacement but didn’t seem to go through. So disappointed!!! Select somewhere else for your stay!
