Craving world-famous pintxos or dreaming of golden beaches and fluent Spanish conversation?
In San Sebastián, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable language-learning adventure in one of Europe’s most stunning and culturally rich cities.
Overview
Study Spanish in San Sebastián, Spain
San Sebastián is more than a beautiful coastal city; it’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in the Spanish language. With its sparkling beaches, world-class food, and laid-back lifestyle, every day brings new opportunities to connect, explore, and learn.
Our Spanish immersion program combines high-quality instruction with real-world practice, giving you the confidence to speak in everyday situations, from cafés and shops to sunset strolls along La Concha beach. The city’s friendly, walkable atmosphere and active cultural scene make it easy to meet people and practice Spanish outside the classroom.
Whether you’re a first-time learner or looking to polish your skills, studying in San Sebastián offers the perfect balance of structure, fun, and cultural discovery.
Program Info
Tuition FeesFrom $500/week with accommodation
Language levelsBeginners and up
Location
?
X
In-country
In-country classes are when you travel overseas to study the language in a country where the language is spoken natively.
In‑country
Minimum age18
FrequencyStart almost any Monday
Group Size
Average7
Course Timings
DurationMinimum of 1 week
About our Spanish language school in San Sebastián
Our partner school in San Sebastián offers a warm, student-centered learning environment grounded in excellence and flexibility. The teaching team works closely with each class group to adapt the methodology to student levels, using an eclectic, best-practice approach that mirrors ILI’s own standards of communicative, immersive instruction.
Classes are small (4 to 10 students), with a strong emphasis on speaking confidence and fluency. You’ll benefit from a mix of textbooks, interactive whiteboard activities, and real-world conversation tasks. Teachers are highly supportive and often go above and beyond to assist students with everything from grammar questions to practical daily needs.
The school also provides help with housing, offers daily cultural activities, and connects students to the local community, all helping create a rich and memorable learning experience.
At our partner school in San Sebastián, the teachers are native Spanish speakers who are experienced, qualified, and genuinely passionate about helping students succeed. They create an inclusive, supportive environment that encourages conversation, curiosity, and confidence.
Many teachers also assist students outside of class, answering questions about Spanish life, helping with local logistics, and offering great recommendations. You’ll feel both challenged and supported by people who care deeply about your progress.
“The school in San Sebastian was perfect for my needs, and, what a city! Stunning architecture, amazing shops and the dream seafront. Just walking up and down La Concha you hear so much Spanish, so it’s clearly a favourite destination for Spanish nationals too. ILI were a reassuring force for good which made the decision-making and planning super easy. Thanks Samira!”
Richard
studied Spanish in San Sebastián
Program Info
Tuition FeesFrom $500/week with accommodation
Language levelsBeginners and up
Location
?
X
In-country
In-country classes are when you travel overseas to study the language in a country where the language is spoken natively.
San Sebastián is an ideal place to learn Spanish. The Spanish spoken here is standard Castilian, clear, neutral, and easy for learners to understand. It’s the same Spanish taught in textbooks and recognized in official exams, making it perfect for students at all levels.
You need to know that Basque (Euskera) is also an official language in the region, though nearly everyone in San Sebastián is fully bilingual. Spanish is used and understood everywhere, but to help you create connections faster, the school offers a beginners’ Basque class as a social activity. This gives you some fun phrases to use in shops and cafes. Not everyone you meet will use it, but even just a “Hello” or “Thank you!” in Euskera will surprise and delight the locals. After that, you can go right back into speaking Spanish!
The friendly, relaxed vibe of the city makes it easy to strike up conversations, listen in on native speakers, and practice your skills naturally. Whether you’re ordering pintxos or a Menú del día, bumping into Spanish speakers along the Paseo de la Concha, or asking for directions, you’ll find daily life full of immersive Spanish practice.
You can choose the duration of your stay, you can start almost any Monday, and combine Spanish classes with extra activities, but to get you started, here are the top 3, most popular Spanish abroad programs in San Sebastian:
20 lessons per week, morning Spanish classes
By far the most popular option, as it gives you 20 x 45 minutes of Spanish class per week but leaves lots of free time to explore in the afternoons. This will include taking part in school excursions and activities, and basically, find an exciting place to have lunch every day!
Levels: Beginner* to C2
Start dates: Every Monday
Duration: 1 week minimum, no maximum
Students per class: 12 students max, average 4-8
Course fees: From $245/week + a one-off $150 booking and activity fee
30 lessons per week, Intensive Group Spanish
This is a great way of maximizing your Spanish learning. You combine the 20-lessons per week with a further 10 weekly classes in mini groups (3-8 people) straight after lunch. Many of the excursions take place from around 3pm, so you’ll still be able to join those too.
Levels: Beginner* to C2
Start dates: Every Monday
Duration: 1 week minimum, no maximum
Students per class: 12 students max, average 4-8
Course fees: From $425/week + a one-off $150 booking and activity fee
20 Intensive Group lessons + 5 Private Spanish lessons per week
This is a lovely option if you have, say a B1/B2 level and you really want to lean into your language skills, focus on sticking points, dive into specialist language, say for work. It’s still available from Beginner level, but really, you’ll get so much from your morning classes already, we think you might max out if you take this option too early.
Levels: Beginner* to C2
Start dates: Every Monday
Duration: 1 week minimum, no maximum
Students per class: 12 students max, average 4-8
Course fees: From $475/week + a one-off $150 booking and activity fee
Other courses to consider in San Sebastian:
You could also book:
Only Individual Private Classes (and you can choose, in multiples of 5, how many lessons you’d like per week)
Spanish + Surfing Classes (20 lessons in the mornings, with 5 surf lessons per week)
Custom Group Classes for your Special Interest Group – travel as a group (we can provide you with a Spanish-speaking group leader if you wish), and we’ll help build a totally customised experience for you.
DELE preparation course – if you dream of moving to Spain, you’ll need a confirmed B2 level of Spanish to apply for the visa. Dele is the state-approved exam, and we can help you prepare for it.
Good to know…
*Total beginners can start every second Monday throughout the year. If you’re a total beginner in Spanish, we’ll give you more details when you inquire ;o) The school charges a booking fee, which is a one-off payment regardless of how long you stay. The booking fee includes ILI support and counselling,evaluation and level monitoring, all course materials (except total beginners who are encouraged to buy their own book), welcome pack, end of course certificate, free tutorials and cultural and activity program.
Use the inquiry form to get the conversation started. Once you do, we’ll do everything we can to help build your dream Spanish program in San Sebastian, Spain.
Things you can think about in advance, if you want to get excited already:
Do you have any special requirements, such as dietary or mobility needs?
Which program are you most interested in?
How long would you like to study for?
What time of year would you like to go?
If you’re arriving by plane, would you like airport transfers?
Do you want to source your own accommodations, or would you like help? (We can book host-family and self-catering apartment options for you as part of your package)
Will you need specialist educational travel insurance?
We’re certain that you’ll have plenty of questions ahead of booking a Spanish in Spain language program, and that’s why we’re here to help.
Here are some of the questions we get asked the most. Please use the form below to get in touch, and we’ll be right back to you.
Selected FAQs
Yes. Many of our partners offer Language + Activity type of courses. Here are some example courses: Spanish and cooking; French and wine tasting; Italian and fashion; Portuguese and surfing and many more combinations.
Some of our partner schools have campuses in different ciites and allow students to spend part of their time in one location and continue their studies in another one as they follow the same curriculum.
We are accredited by the International Association of Language Centres (IALC) and have created great partnerships with other small language schools around the world.
We have sent students to a number of schools and in exchange we receive a commission on the student’s tuition for the recommendation at no extra cost to you. We put this money towards our Free English Program for Immigrants and Refugees. This helps close the gap on funding we receive from the state of Massachusetts and what the program actually costs to run.
Most of our partner schools have a minimum of one week requirement for their language travel program so you can go for a week or more!
Yes. Many of our partner schools offer language classes for younger kids as well so there could be opportunities to plan a family language travel experience depending on your destination.
Most of our partners offer homestay, shared or studio apartments options.
The cost of studying abroad can vary widely depending on several factors, including how long you go for, the type of course. you choose, accommodation, airport transfers, and other expenses. However, as a general guideline, you can expect to budget approximately $500 per week for tuition and accommodation. Keep in mind that the overall cost may fluctuate based on your specific choices and the duration of your stay as well as airfare and spending money.
In most cases, when studying abroad, the availability of food options can vary. Many of our partners offer accommodations with the option of one or two meals a day as part of the package. You may also choose to do all your food shopping or eat out if you prefer.
Click here to see a map of our partner schools’ locations.
When it comes to making arrangements for flights and transportation from the airport to your accommodation, students are responsible for purchasing their flight tickets independently. However, our partner schools often offer the convenience of airport transfers, which can be booked in conjunction with the courses and accommodations. This service simplifies the process of getting from the airport to your destination once you arrive at your study location.
Our students typically travel on their own, accompanied by a partner, friend, or family members. Additionally, our partner schools have the capability to host group trips, and we can assist in organizing these group language travel experiences. However, currently, we do not personally accompany the groups on these trips. Perhaps in the future, we might consider offering such a service as we continue growing!
While San Sebastián is a truly exceptional place to study, ILI offers a range of partner schools in other dynamic Spanish cities. In each location, you’ll find immersive programs with strong teaching and cultural connection throughout Spain. If you’ve started your language journey at our ILI language school in Massachusetts, we guarantee you’ll feel at home in any of our partner schools in Spain.
Study Spanish abroad in one of three captivating Mexican locations. Discover the rich cultural heritage, vibrant traditions, and stunning natural beauty.
Richard studied Spanish in San Sebastián
