"San Sebastian" Isla de la Gomera Things to Do Tip by barryg23

San Sebastian is the main town in La Gomera and makes an ideal base for exploring the island. The town has a good selection of hotels, restaurants and bars, while there are fairly regular ferry connections to Tenerife and La Palma.

San Sebastian lies on the east side of the island and has a population of about 5000. The town was the first Spanish settlement on La Gomera in the 15th century.

The town makes much of its association with Christopher Columbus, who made the island his last stop before sailing west in 1492. There is a Casa de Colon which on the main street, Calle del Medio, containing some exhibits related to Columbus and the New World. The house however dates from more than 100 years after his visit.

The other building of note in San Sebastian is the Torre del Conde, a small, medieval fort dating from 1447, which lies in an attractive setting in Parque de la Torre. The tower contains old maps of San Sebastian and La Gomera.

There are two beaches in San Sebastian: Playa de San Sebastian is the bigger beach, located beside the harbour and the town, while Playa de la Cueva is quieter, but more appealing.

It takes little more than half a day to see all the main sights in San Sebastian, but if you plan to stay longer and explore more of La Gomera then San Sebastian makes a good base as nowhere on the island is more than a couple of hours travel at most.