Hotel Maria Cristina
María Cristina Hotel is a luxurious and emblematic space of the city of San Sebastián, inaugurated in 1912 and with a capacity for 320 pax.HOTEL MARIA CRISTINA´S HISTORY
Since it opened in 1912 the 136-room Hotel Maria Cristina has been intimately linked to the history and cultural life of San Sebastian.
In the late 19th century the seaside town on the southern point of the Bay of Biscay became a favorite destination for royalty and aristocrats who came to enjoy the sunshine and newly recognized therapeutic properties of sea bathing. A traditional afternoon stroll along the boardwalk offered an opportunity to see and be seen while the many cafés and open-air terraces were filled with high society.
San Sebastian had passed from being a sleepy fishing village into a thriving cosmopolitan town requiring luxurious, modern facilities to meet the demands of its discerning guests.
Serendipitously this urban blossoming occurred at the height of the Belle Époque era, and today the majority of buildings flanking the famed La Concha beach, including the city hall, Victoria Eugenia Theater and the Hotel Maria Cristina, are constructed in this style. The majestic design of the hotel by architect Charles Mewes, the man responsible for the Ritz in Madrid and Paris, combined with the property’s enviable river setting and sea views, resulted in it immediately becoming the favored accommodation for international high society.
In July 1912 the hotel’s namesake, Spain’s regent Maria Cristina, was the first person to cross the threshold.
Over 40 years later, with the inauguration of the San Sebastian Film Festival in 1953, the hotel was still attracting big names – screen stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis, Woody Allen, Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Brad Pitt and Susan Sarandon.
Destination Weddings and Events
A special occasion deserves as special a place as the hotel Maria Cristina San Sebastian.
Its spacious and elegant banqueting rooms with magnificent views from their terraces, its renowned cuisine, the attentive customer service and a tempting selection of menus are details that both the bride, groom and family members will appreciate as exclusive. Our weddings & banquet specialists will take care of every detail.
TAILORED MEETINGS & EVENTS
Whatever your meeting or event´s characteristics, the specialists will take care of every tiny detail to make sure everything will be perfect and exceed your guest´s expectations. Working and doing business at the Hotel Maria Cristina will be a pleasure.
Conveniently located on the ground floor off the grand gallery, are the hotel’s three palatial reception rooms: the 282 square meter Ibaia; Elcano, which offers 206 square meters; and Zubia, covering 109 square meters. All rooms are filled with natural daylight and offer high-speed Wi-Fi plus the latest facilities for computer-generated audio-visual presentations.
Features
Minimum guests:From small weddings to 310 diners
Menu from 135€
Pets Welcome: Yes
Accommodation: Yes
Accommodation
The hotel has 138 rooms.the space offered by these 25-40 square-meter rooms which offer a relaxing garden view and feature large French doors which allow natural light to pour into the room throughout the day.
Best Things to Do
There are a thousand reasons to visit San Sebastian. Nature, its breathtaking beaches, its wonderful location in amongst the mountains, the beauty of its monuments and streets all in Belle-Époque style, the animated cultural life and spirit of leisure make this the perfect destination for a get away.
Here we suggest a few ideal activities and interesting places to visit in the city:
BEACHES OF SAN SEBASTIAN
San Sebastian’s beaches are one of the main attractions in the summer and have been recognized worldwide for its beauty.
MOUNTAINS
San Sebastian is surrounded by mountains that embrace and protect the city, giving it a beautiful and picturesque appearance.
SCULPTURE
San Sebastian is a work of art outdoors, which allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of its landscapes and their unique works.
GASTRONOMY
Exquisite culinary offerings are idiosyncratic to the city of San Sebastian. High quality of its gastronomy is recognised and applauded at an international level and has accumulated as many as 16 Michelin stars, the highest number obtained by one city per metre squared than any other place in the world.
HISTORIC ZONE
The bustling historic part of San Sebastian is the social and commercial centre of the city, offering a never-ending array of leisure activities. It is a must see for visitors, who will learn of how the locals live as they pass through the winding, cobbled streets and squares. Going out to restaurants in the historic centre is the done thing, hopping from bar to bar sampling the famous “pinxtos”, one of the gastronomic treasures of San Sebastian, which are small bites, from sliced bread with toppings to small creations of high quality Basque cooking.
How to arrive to Hotel Maria Cristina
San Sebastian is connected to the rest of Spain and to France by the national motorways N1/AP1 (Madrid-Irún), the A-8 (Bilbao-Irún), A-63 (Paris-Irún) and the A-15 (Pamplona-San Sebastian). From these routes you can get to any part of the city, including Hotel Maria Cristina.
