When Condé Nast Traveler recently named the best cities in Europe for various types of travelers, it wasn’t Paris, Lyon, or Bologna that was honored as the No. 1 for foodies, but rather a beautiful coastal city in Spain.
Located along the country’s northeast coast in Basque Country, San Sebastian is renowned for its rich tapas culture, as the birthplace of the pintxo, the sophisticated Basque version of tapas. Think everything from seafood skewers and Idiazabal cheese to Basque burnt cheesecake.
Pintxo Bars to Michelin-Starred Restaurants
Locals and visitors alike hop from one pintxo bar to the next, enjoying pintxos paired with txakoli (sparkling white wine) or zurito (a small beer). But you’ll have everything from pintxo bars to Michelin-starred eateries choose from here; in fact, there are 19 restaurants with Michelin stars (three with three stars), one of the highest concentrations per capita in the world.
The city center, including the area just outside Old Town (Parte Vieja), with its colorful buildings known for their numbered balconies where spectators once watched bullfights, is home to many top restaurants and pintxo bars. Three-starred Arzak, a landmark in Basque cuisine, is a couple of miles east, but the two-Michelin-star Amelia in the elegant Villa Favorita hotel is just a short stroll from the Old Town overlooking the world-famous La Concha beach.
The Beaches
Speaking of beaches, while foodies are guaranteed an unforgettable experience in San Sebastian, the city is sure to please beach lovers too.
Playa de La Concha steals the show as one of the country’s most spectacular. A crescent of soft, golden sands lapped by clear blue waters, it curves for nearly a mile, making it ideal for long, scenic walks. Stretching from City Hall to Pico del Loroa, it’s backed by soaring emerald mountains. The water is a bit chilly, but it’s popular for refreshing dips in the summer, as well as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding out to Santa Clara Island, with tours and rentals available. The island also has its own small, unique beach providing a tranquil place to relax right in the center of the bay.
There’s a beach for nearly everyone within easy reach of San Sebastian’s city center, including more urban beaches. Playa de la Zurriola, the “surfer beach,” is less than 10 minutes on foot from the Old Town, offering a vibrant atmosphere and stronger waves. Playa de Ondarreta is a bit further, located at the far end of the bay, enjoying a quieter setting for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports.
While paddling and swimming are popular at Playa de La Concha and many of the other San Sebastian beaches, another great way to work off all the delicious dishes you’re bound to eat is to hike to the top of Mount Urgull. Your reward? A panoramic view of the beach and Santa Clara Island.
