Plaza Guipúzcoa in San Sebastián

Located in the heart of the city, Plaza Guipúzcoa is one of the most charming places in the city of San Sebastián.

It is a place for relaxation and encounters where you can relax and disconnect, as well as spend some time with family or friends, feed the swans, pigeons and other animals, or enjoy its beautiful gardens.

Here at Go Local San Sebastián we’ll tell you more about this wonderful square and everything you can find there.

History of Plaza Guipúzcoa in San Sebastián

If we look at the Plaza de Guipúzcoa from above we can appreciate, like other squares in the city, its curious irregular rectangular shape, all of which were built around the same time as this one.

This square was designed between 1867 and 1882 and was built in ashlar stone in a neoclassical style.

The Plaza de Guipúzcoa is located between the streets Andia and Bengoetxea, just a few metres from the Old Quarter and the Paseo Marítimo, therefore, as we said at the beginning, it is located in the heart of the city.

Plaza Guipúzcoa Gardens

Did you know that it was the first public park in the city of San Sebastian? That’s right, the Plaza de Guipúzcoa was the first garden in the capital of San Sebastian, which gave way to many other parks over the years.

The gardens of Guipúzcoa Square are characterised, like Alderdi Eder Park, by a great variety of plants, flowers and trees. All this vegetation makes the gardens charming places that you are sure to fall in love with.

In this square there is also a curious wooden and iron bridge that crosses the pond where the swans, ducks, pigeons, etc. can be found.

As you can imagine, the Plaza de Guipúzcoa is a real movie garden.

Guipúzcoa Floral Council

In the Plaza de Guipúzcoa there is a large sculpture of the composer and pianist Usandizaga, next to a white marble time table and a large clock designed with flowers in many different shades.

Also located in this square is the famous Palacio de la Diputación, which was inaugurated in 1883 and burnt down a short time later, although it was rebuilt in 1887.

The interior of this palace has a very stately design, where there is an important art collection, mostly by contemporary Basque painters.

Nativity Scene of 150 figures Plaza Guipúzcoa

If you are in San Sebastian during the Christmas season, you should visit the Plaza de Guipuzcoa where you will find a nativity scene made up of 150 figures, each one a metre high, representing the most important figures in the birth of Jesus.

Visiting the nativity scene located in this square is nowadays a custom that has been picked up over the years by the citizens of San Sebastian, who come every year with their families to see it.

For most of the year, the Plaza de Guipúzcoa is one of the venues where all kinds of events are held.

Don’t forget, if you are visiting the city of San Sebastian soon, take a stroll around the Plaza Guipúzcoa and enjoy its gardens, monuments, events, surrounded by friends.

At Go Local, we offer you the best guided tours of San Sebastian, whether by bike, on foot, or on a private excursion to visit the different places in the city. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.