San Sebastián town hall

San Sebastián Town Hall sits right on the seafront, wedged between the Alderdi Eder gardens and La Concha beach, in Donostia/San Sebastián, capital of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country.

Why does the town hall look more like a palace than a government building?

The building now housing the city council was never meant to be a town hall. It went up between 1882 and 1887 as the Gran Casino, one of the grandest gambling houses in Spain at the time. That explains the ornate towers, domed rooflines and belle époque facade that feel completely out of place for a municipal office — first-time visitors regularly assume it's a theatre or a grand hotel rather than city hall.

Why is San Sebastián nicknamed "Little Paris"?

The city's transformation traces back to Queen Isabel II, who moved her summer court to San Sebastián on doctors' advice to bathe in the sea. Her presence drew European aristocracy and wealthy visitors, fuelling a wave of luxury development — hotels, seafront promenades, and the casino itself. That period of glamour is what earned the city its "Little Paris" reputation, and traces of it still shape the look of the old center today.

What happened to the casino, and how did it become a town hall?

Gambling was outlawed across Spain in the 1920s, forcing the Gran Casino to shut its doors in 1924. The building then sat without a clear purpose for more than two decades until 1947, when the city council took it over and converted it into the town hall it remains today.

Are there any visible scars from the civil war?

Yes. The building survived the Spanish Civil War, and bullet marks from that period are still visible on parts of the facade — a small but tangible reminder of the turbulent decades the city went through in the 20th century.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The town hall borders the Alderdi Eder gardens directly and faces La Concha beach, one of Europe's most recognisable urban bays. It also serves as an informal landmark during the San Sebastián International Film Festival, one of the continent's most prestigious cinema events, and marks a natural starting point for exploring the Old Town's famous pintxos bars and restaurants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors go inside the town hall? The building is an active seat of city government, so interior access is limited to municipal business rather than open tourist visits.

How old is the building? Construction dates to 1882–1887, making it well over a century old, though it has only served as the town hall since 1947.

How close is it to La Concha beach? It stands directly on the promenade next to the Alderdi Eder gardens, putting La Concha beach just a short walk away.

Is it worth seeing even from the outside? Definitely — the belle époque facade, the civil-war-era bullet marks, and its position between the beach and the Old Town make it one of the most photographed spots in San Sebastián.