Museo San Telmo
Museum of Basque society in a 16th-century Dominican convent in the Parte Vieja, with archaeology, ethnography, art and the canvases of Sert.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum was founded in 1902, when the Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País brought its collections together in a Museum of Ethnography and Fine Arts. After occupying a first venue and, from 1909, a building on calle Urdaneta, it moved in 1932 to the former convent of San Telmo. It is one of the oldest museums in the Basque Country.
The building is a Dominican convent built between 1544 and 1562 at the foot of Mount Urgull, with features in transition from Gothic to Renaissance. The friars were expelled in 1836 and the complex was used as an artillery barracks; in 1913 it was declared a national monument and in 1928 the city council bought it. In the 1930s Josep Maria Sert painted a group of large allegorical canvases on Basque themes for the church.
A refurbishment and extension by the architects Nieto and Sobejano, discreetly integrated into the hillside, allowed the museum to reopen in 2011. Today it houses collections of archaeology, ethnography, fine arts and photography that help to understand the history and culture of Basque society.
Highlights
- Allegorical canvases by Josep Maria Sert in the former convent church
- Cloister and 16th-century building, with the contemporary extension by Nieto and Sobejano
- Collections of Basque archaeology and ethnography
- Basque and European painting of the 19th and 20th centuries, with works by Zuloaga and Sorolla
- Photography collection and photobooks
Permanent exhibitions
- Colección permanente: la sociedad vasca – A journey through the history and culture of the Basque people, through the museum's collections of archaeology, ethnography, fine arts and photography.
- Lienzos de Sert en la iglesia – The former conventual church houses the large allegorical canvases that Josep Maria Sert painted in the 1930s on Basque Country themes.
- Founded
- 1902
- Operated by
- Ayuntamiento de San Sebastián
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Holders of a student card, Gaztetxartela or Gaztekutxa card, people aged 65 or over, large families and groups of at least 10 people (with accreditation). |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 24 · Free admission for under-25s (with accreditation). |
| Seniors | €4From 65 years of age, with accreditation. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and their groups, including companions where necessary. |
| Students & apprentices | €4With student card. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personGroups of at least 10 people. Guided tours for groups of the permanent or temporary exhibitions require prior booking and admit a maximum of 25 people. |
| Families | –There is no family ticket; large families are entitled to the reduced ticket. |
| Guided tour for groups (per group, maximum 25 people; admission not included) | €75Prior booking by phone on 943 48 15 61, Monday to Friday 12:00–14:00. |
Free admission: Every Tuesday and 18 May (International Museum Day), for all visitors.
10% discount for members of Donostia Kultura and holders of the San Sebastian Card. Free admission, with accreditation, for museum members, under-25s, unemployed people, teachers, ICOM members, official tourist guides, media professionals and people at risk of social exclusion. Tickets can be bought online.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum lends wheelchairs and walkers free of charge. According to the TUR4all accessibility report, the main entrance has no steps and the building has a lift and accessible toilets. Dogs are not admitted, except guide dogs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 24 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum runs family activities and workshops (for example, at a price of €5 per participant); the programme is on its website.
Getting there & parking
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Private cars cannot reach the museum; the nearest car parks are those on the Boulevard and Okendo. On the Paseo Nuevo there is an area where coaches can make a short stop.
The museum is in the Parte Vieja of San Sebastián, a pedestrian zone.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
The museum has a café and a restaurant.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The church, the cloister and a gastro-cultural space are available for hire, with catering and restaurant services.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The museum offers a free app for mobiles and tablets with audio content. Guided group visits are booked by phone. The Parte Vieja is a pedestrian zone. |
