San Sebastian, or Donostia in Basque, is the beautiful city where tourists engulf the environmental beauty merged with history and intense culture. This city is located in the center of the Basque region and is well known as a perfect love birds’ perfect destination making a topmost ranked city in Europe. San Sebastian is located beside the green hills and the blue sea of the Bay of Biscay and the natural beauty of this place enhances the beauty of this city. The romantic city of San Sebastian has everything from casual strolls in La Concha beach to rich historical and architectural tours in Old town.
A Culinary Haven: The different flavors gives to the Basque cuisine.
Thus, San Sebastian can justly consider its concentration on the table quite a gratefully received appendage to the city’s make-up. One of its main attractions and famous globally for these characteristics is Basque cuisine which can be tasted in this city. It must be mentioned that the tradition of pintxos which is the Basque version of tapas is also deeply rooted in the city. These small size tasty morsels are much more than just food; they are the epitome of social gastronomic delight. When it comes to pintxos, there is a distinct variety and innovation as every bar has its peculiar way of preparing the conventional dishes.
Richard’s passion for foods is further reflected in the fact that Basque cuisine relies on the use of fresh ingredients preferably from the local markets. Sea foods are easily available fresh since the factories are located near the seas while the vegetables and the meats are easily available fresh since the factories are located in fertile areas. This attitude to the resources led to the diverse and unique culinary culture that presupposes simplicity and focus on the taste. For people in San Sebastian, food is more than a need to feed the stomach – it is an experience, a time to socialize, and be pampered by talented cooks.
Furthermore, through lots of Michelin stars restaurants, it also asserts its validity in the food realm. Places like Arzak the restaurant Akelarre and Martin Berasategui have placed San Sebastian as a global culinary destination thus drawing more and more food lovers. These restaurants provide a wider view of the dining experience and create the new vision of Basque cuisine using elements from past but presenting them in contemporary way. For customer’s dining in one of these restaurants is much more than a meal, it is a trip into the essence of Basque cuisine.
The Best Time to Visit: An important aspect of enjoying the perfect climate for adulthood is to ensure that one follows a rigid diet plan in order to achieve the kind of body type that he or she desires.
Selecting the right time to travel to San Sebastian can go a long way in helping you have the best time. Situated on the northern coast of Spain the climate of the city is temperate maritime with mild winters and warm summers. ideally the best time is between May and October as the temperatures are relatively good for traveling and there is little chances of rains.
During these months, the major attractions of the city are welcoming with the open beauty of the season. The major attractions are the beautiful beaches that can be ideally used for the sunbathing, swimming, and the water sports such as the La Concha beach. It is also warm which is good for visiting parks, gardens, and open-air markets in the city. What is more, it is quite versatile for tourists as several cultural events or festivals is held during this period.
Among them, it is possible to identify the San Sebastian International Film Festival which traditionally takes place in September. This annual event gathers both film producers, actors and viewers of movies of different genre. It is the time where the city comes alive with creativity and allows one to interact with the international film fraternity. Other fairs and events are devoted to Basque culture, music, and dance, thus giving the guests of the region an opportunity of experiencing the charmed atmosphere of authentic celebrations.
Getting There: Thus, suitable travel opportunities.
San Sebastian is easy to reach which is one of the benefits of the location as many people from different parts of the world can easily visit the site. The airport that serves the city is San Sebastian Airport which is roughly 12 miles from the city proper. It not as busy as the large international airports but they provide flights from major Spanish cities and some parts of Europe. On arrival, an airport express bus is available that takes one straight into the city without having to cab it all the way.
Easy to reach from San Sebastian, from Bilbao’s airport – around 100 km away – it is just as straightforward. Bilbao airport is relatively bigger than Santander with more international flights; therefore, suited for international travellers. To get to San Sebastian from Bilbao you can drive on your own car/hire a car or board a bus. The extremity of the trip as a tourist attraction is the beautiful drive through the Basque coast and countryside.
On the other hand, San Sebastian can easily be accessed by a train and buses services are readily available. The northern train station Estación del Norte connects the city directly to other Spanish large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. The bus station which is close by offers regional and international bus services. For the more relax kind of tourists, just driving around the Basque Country attractions can prove to be very exciting.
Sites That You Cannot Afford To Miss in San Sebastian
Playa La Concha and Isla de Santa Clara
La Concha Beach is a beach, but many more than that – an embodiment of San Sebastian spirit, sophistication and overwhelming nature’s design. The curvilinear beaches accompanied to the right of rolling hills and the blue waters of the Bay of Biscay are among the most well-known images of the city. It is indeed a good natured beach with very fine golden sand and shallow water ideal for swimming, sun bathing and other merry making activities on the shore. It is a resort area where people including natives and visitors can efficiently go for a sunbath and sightseeing.
La Concha Beach is equally beautiful, one can walk on the side of the road parallel to the beach known as promenade. This beautiful marbled promenade has been constructed with the sophisticated belle epoch structures on both sides with history each building has to tell. The Balneario de la Perla is one more former luxurious spa which in present represents wellness center with the various offers of the services and the zones. One of these is the City hall situated inside the former Grand Casino building, the interior and the exterior reveal the cultural richness of the city.
Santa Clara Island in the middle of La Concha Bay boosts the beauty of the beach. This is a small island that is reached by water and is a perfect get-a-way for the noisy city life. The island itself has some rather rough surroundings but guests can take a small boat to the island and establish a small beach where people can have a picnic; the other interesting activity to do is climbing the island which has a lighthouse where guests can view the bay at large. Completely uninhabited and devoid of any outside human interference the island offers utmost serenity which is perfect for nature enthusiasts.
The most beautiful cathedral in Divine Providence of the Good Shepherd
In this respect, it won’t come as a shock that this cathedral was constructed as an emulation of the cathedrals located in other European countries.
Inside the beautiful cathedral the design is magnificent yet soothing. The Main Chapel can be highlighted with beautifully carved furniture and altarpiece located back of it. The large organ one of the largest in Spain occupies the space, filling it with the melodious sound during the services and concerts. Adding some more light and rather somber and dark interiors, marvelous stained glass windows that illustrate scenes from the Bible and the saints of the region were installed.
The fact that it is located in the romantic and rather ‘Parisian’ style quarter is also a plus. This area is defined by the wide avenues and stately structures corresponding to the period of the city’s growth in the late nineteenth century. The Plaza de Gipuzkoa with its green areas and grandiose structures gives one a perfect location to sit, breathe and marvel at beauty of the city. The Provincial Council building is also outstanding due to its large complex with stunning architecture.
Taking a walk a The New Walk
This gives a view of San Sebastian that cannot be seen anywhere else in the city through the New Walk or Paseo Nuevo. This beautiful trail surrounds Mount Urgull and though it is filled with breath-taking view of the city, the sea and the surrounding countryside. The stroll starts at the river Urumea mouth and moves through the harsh coastline with both city and nature sceneries.
The New Walk is still blessed with a dense sightseeing list, among which the Castle of La Mota at the top of Mount Urgull is quite appealing. It is a medieval castle guarding the city and today functioning as an open air historical museum. Seeing that it is build with stone walls and tower it gives a feel of the old world city and from the top one gets to see the whole city. The importance of religion is also represented at the site by the ‘’Sacred Heart of Jesus,’’ a 12-meter-tall statue, and sculpture.
The New Walk still continues with the Zurriola Bridge by your side; the bridge is nicely illuminated by Art Deco-style street lamps. It simply defines the difference between the ancient town and the new developed town of this city. Nearer to the sea and in parallel to the granary, there is a splendid Kursaal Congress Palace and Auditorium building. It is the official venue of the San Sebastian International Film Festival and holds a cultural significance having an international appeal for movie lovers.
For more excitement, there is the Zurriala Beach, following the Kursaal one; this is one of the most famous surfing points. Surf riders visit the beach to ride on its waves making the area more youthful. The New Walk can be described as touristically rich area where nature meets history and where latest trends meet tradition.
The Panoramic Views from Mount Igueldo
It is a part of Mount, Igueldo which can offer one of the best views in the whole of San Sebastian. Getting to the top is half the fun , although there are roads to drive on as well as a funicular railway. The funicular designed back in 1912 gives a rather romantic view of the area and has a beautiful ride towards the top of the mountain. It takes a wooden carriage to get there and the journey up the hill is very welcoming before the beautiful scene that the hoarders paint.
On its top, the mount of Igueldo has several attractions to the visitors. The observation tower built in the eighteen centaury offers a bird spectacular view of the city, the bay, and surrounding mountains. The amusing park with the traditional facilities and accommodation helps to create more playfulness in the area design. A family favourite, it is, and gives a fun spin to visiting the countryside, interestingly enough.
Another more serious attraction is the Mercure Hotel set on the summit of Mount Igueldo. This is a classic hotel that has bedrooms & a restaurant which serves food while overlooking the magnificent views. Except for the tourists, the hotel offers spending a meal or a drink on the terrace watching the sunset in the bay as an extraordinary experience. The shades of the sky and the city lights give the already romantic city a fairy tale like feel making it the most beautiful city in the world.
Exploring the Old Town
San Sebastian Old Town or Parte Vieja is the oldest site present in the region and is a culturally rich part of the city. This area is a network of winding alleyways that are paved with the cobblestones; the architecture of the buildings is rather colorful and varies from house to house. Old Town is quite busy; there are many bars and restaurants, shops and sights to see. Is a historical site that never seems to lose its charm; every point of interest has something to narrate.
Calle Mayor, the one and only main street in the Old Town, opens out to the Basilica of Santa María del Coro. It is a beautiful baroque church to visit, coated with a fine façade and the astonishing details of the inside part. Truly, the well adorned church which also hosts beautiful artistic masterpieces is on every art and history lovers’ bucket list.
There is another important point of interest in Old Towns: the Plaza de la Constitución. This old looking square was earlier used as the bull ring and even today has a very similar look. To this day the balconies around the square carry the numbers which reflected the viewers seating during Bull fights hence depicting the culture the city possessed earlier. Today it is a busy social area with coffee shops and taverns, and the people of the city as well as tourists who come to drink coffee and just sit and observe people passing by.
To the gourmets the Old Town is a gastronomic Disneyland. The forged called “Calle 31 de Agosto” is also full of pintxos bars, and every bar has its choice of yummy snacks. Familiar dishes consist of potato omelet and anchovies all the way to the more exotic spider crab and cod. There are some ancient bars in the Old Town and overall the mood here is warm, friendly, and the food is delicious which makes the viewers feel the taste of Basque people’s hospitality.
The Elegant Miramar Palace
Thus, Miramar Palace is an iconic emblem of the royal tradition of San Sebastian. This splendid palace was built in the end of the nineteenth century to be a summer residence ordered by the Queen Maria Cristina for the Royal Family of Spain. La Concha and Ondarreta are two nice beaches of the city and the palace lies on the hill between them.
The architectural design is English and the building material used for construction is red bricks; large windows open up to the garden as well as the sea. The interior design of palace is also very impressive and merchant has various rooms with luxurious look and period furniture. While the palace is today closed off to any visitors, the gardens which are located near the palace are frequented by locals as well as tourists. These well-cultivated gardens make it easy to sit and enjoy the portion of the view you are given.
Having known that the palace has the rich history and the architectural landmark, many international visitors are attracted to visit the palace. It can also used a perspective into the sites that offer beautiful beaches and the beautiful coast of the city. If you have an interest in history, architecture, or just a nice place to visit then I would recommend Miramar Palace.
The San Telmo Museum: Kulturgeschichtliches Eigengut
The San Telmo Museum is a kind of archaeological site cultural center that provides insights on the history of the Basque people. The particularity of a Gothic convent transformed in a contemporary museum interestingly intertwines the history of the place and its architecture.
Pieces that make up the museum’s collection are a cross-section of the entire Basque region and they range from artefacts dating back to prehistoric time to modern day works of art; paintings done by famous artists like Sorolla, El Greco and Rubens. It also has temporary exhibitions and information on the different facets of the Basque country such as folklore, arts, music and dance, and crafts on leisure.
Among them there is an ethnographic hall where materials that can give an idea of the life and culture of the people of Bask점 are exhibited. There are historical and ethnographic subjects, including typical clothing and tools, early Christianity and art in the Basque Country, folk costumes, utensils, tools, glass, ceramics and more cumulative collections, children are allowed to touch many things and there are videos and films.
Even though the San Telmo Museum specializes in art, it is more of a cultural establishment that provides much insight into the Basque people’s lives. Sitting at the foothills of Mount Urgull, the scenery is quiet giving a perfect backdrop as one exulbrates in checking out on the rich culture that the area has to offer.
Conclusion: Welcome to the Beauty and Culture of San Sebastian
San Sebastian is a city that leaves a traveller breathless due to it strategic locality, historical significance and a boisterous culture. Whether it’s the famous La Concha Beach, or the ancient walls of the Old Town, there is so much to see and do in this city. If however you are interested in gastronomy, have a passion for history, or you just wish to spend some nice time while watching beautiful views, San Sebastian is a place for everybody.
Basque country gastronomy and pintxos bars are a true delight; pedestrians have a rare opportunity to taste exquisite dishes of the legendary Basque cuisine. The old constructions and designs of the buildings are picturesque and complemented by the abundance of cultural programs in museums and festivities. Also, the remarkably beautiful and scenic coastal land and the opportunities of mountainous regions cannot be ignored.
So, not only San Sebastian is a place to travel, it is a place where you can plunge into the world of the Basque Country. The atmosphere of the city, its peculiarities and attractions can be awesomely impressing both if a person is staying there for a few days’ or moving to live there permanently. So if you are considering a visit to Spain, then what are you waiting for? Get ready to roll of the beautiful and the charming Malaga.
