Hotel Maria Cristina has been closely tied to San Sebastian’s Belle Epoque identity and international film-festival glamour since the early 20th century. Overlooking the Urumea River, the hotel combines grand proportions, elegant rooms and a refined sense of ceremony with easy access to the old town, beaches and pintxo bars. Its interiors are polished but not overly ornate, allowing the building’s history and riverside setting to carry the experience. It remains one of northern Spain’s most distinguished city hotels.