San Sebastián in April

July and August bring perfect beach weather but also crowds and inflated prices. Hotel rates triple, and good restaurants book weeks ahead. The International Film Festival in September offers glamour without the summer chaos, though September can be rainy. May through June delivers the sweet spot — warm enough for the beach, cool enough for comfortable walking. Restaurant terraces open, and you can actually get dinner reservations. The Heineken Jazzaldia festival in July adds music but also more crowds. October surprises visitors with mild temperatures and fewer tourists. Many restaurants close for vacation in November, but the ones that stay open offer more personal service. Winter brings serious surf to Zurriola, and pintxos bars feel cozier when rain pounds the Old Town's stone streets. Avoid the week around San Sebastián Day (January 20th) unless you enjoy parades and closed shops. But the tamborrada drum festival that day creates an incredible spectacle if you can handle the noise.