San Sebastian is a stylish city located on the Basque coast of north west Spain just 20km from the French border. It has long been an attractive resort for the wealthy who escape the overpowering heat of the interior during the summer months and as a result property prices in San Sebastian remain amongst the highest in the country.
The city spreads around the famous La Concha beach which is packed in July and August with a huge number of visitors. The other beaches of Playa de Ondarreta to the west and Playa de la Zurriola to the east are also popular and attract a lot of surfers looking to ride the Atlantic waves. Inland are the beautiful green mountain landscapes of Guipúzcoa of which San Sebastian is the provincial capital. The city is a great base from which to discover the whole of País Vasco (the Basque Country).
You'll find more Michelin star restaurants in San Sebastian than in any other city in Spain. You can also sample some excellent tapas in the many bars of the old quarter (La Parte Vieja) where you simply take a plate from the barman and select whatever you fancy from the vast selection of freshly prepared dishes which are laid out on the bar. If you fancy a drink with the locals just wander around the tiny streets of the old quarter and you'll find the biggest concentration of bars in the whole country.
As a resort San Sebastian has been particularly fashionable since 1912 when the Queen opened a grand hotel here in her name. Today the Hotel Maria Cristina is a member of the leading hotels of the world group. There is a small selection of other fine hotels here but not sufficient to cater for the summer influx of visitors so be sure to make advance reservations.
September is another popular time for tourists when the San Sebastián International Film Festival takes place and the second half of July is the annual International Jazz Festival. The biggest annual event is Aste Nagusia which is a full week of partying in mid-August which includes traditional Basque music and dance as well as gastronomic and sporting events (plus drinking and fireworks of course).
The city spreads around the famous La Concha beach which is packed in July and August with a huge number of visitors. The other beaches of Playa de Ondarreta to the west and Playa de la Zurriola to the east are also popular and attract a lot of surfers looking to ride the Atlantic waves. Inland are the beautiful green mountain landscapes of Guipúzcoa of which San Sebastian is the provincial capital. The city is a great base from which to discover the whole of País Vasco (the Basque Country).
You'll find more Michelin star restaurants in San Sebastian than in any other city in Spain. You can also sample some excellent tapas in the many bars of the old quarter (La Parte Vieja) where you simply take a plate from the barman and select whatever you fancy from the vast selection of freshly prepared dishes which are laid out on the bar. If you fancy a drink with the locals just wander around the tiny streets of the old quarter and you'll find the biggest concentration of bars in the whole country.
As a resort San Sebastian has been particularly fashionable since 1912 when the Queen opened a grand hotel here in her name. Today the Hotel Maria Cristina is a member of the leading hotels of the world group. There is a small selection of other fine hotels here but not sufficient to cater for the summer influx of visitors so be sure to make advance reservations.
September is another popular time for tourists when the San Sebastián International Film Festival takes place and the second half of July is the annual International Jazz Festival. The biggest annual event is Aste Nagusia which is a full week of partying in mid-August which includes traditional Basque music and dance as well as gastronomic and sporting events (plus drinking and fireworks of course).
Transport
By Plane
There are several domestic flights to San Sebastian every day from Madrid and Barcelona. The airport is along the coast near Hondarribia. Buses run to the city center every 20 minutes on Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays. The last service is around 9pm.
By Train
San Sebastian lies on the Madrid to Paris rail route and there are also connections to and from Barcelona. For timetables and prices check the RENFE website. This is available in English.
By Bus
The national bus network links San Sebastian with most of Spain's major cities. Try the www.alsa.es website for details.
Weather
Located right on the coast in the north of Spain the San Sebastian weather involves many rainy days and even when it is not raining it is often dull and cloudy.
The summer weather tends to be a bit drier than in winter and when the sun does come out there are some spectacular beaches to visit and enjoy the day. During the day the temperatures can reach close to 25ºC.
Winter is colder but the temperatures seldom fall below 5ºC and there is almost never snow.
San Sebastian is a beautiful coastal town which is well worth the visit irrespective of the weather.
More Information:
San Sebastian Top Tourist Attractions
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