San Sebastian
The culinary capital of Spain also offers the perfect city break for both surf fans and culture vultures
Immensely popular with French and Spanish holidaymakers, British travellers have largely ignored San Sebastian, preferring instead to head to the resorts on Spain's south coast.
Though this city may not boast the soaring temperatures of the south, it does however offer the chance to enjoy a lazy beach holiday in the morning, while exploring a fascinating old town boasting some of Europe's finest cuisine by night.
(((Traditions and Culture in San Sebastian)))
Forget the Spanish holiday phrasebook, travellers looking to both endear themselves to the locals and get the most out of a trip to San Sebastain should dive head-first into the Basque culture, including its language.
The city is in the heart of the Spanish Basque Country and the majority of the locals are fiercely proud of their heritage, which unsurprisingly includes their centuries-old sea-faring traditions, meaning some of Europe's finest seafood is served up in tiny tavernas by the harbour side. Indeed, one of the best times to visit the city is in November, when the local restaurants and bars compete in the annual Gastronomia festival, though the summer months are also the ideal chance to get involved in one of the more modern traditions in San Sebastian, surfing at La Zurriola beach.
(((Recommended in San Sebastian)))
San Sebastian is the perfect place for the leisurely tourist as the true highlights of the city are enjoying one of the finest beaches in Europe and sampling the local food and wine.
In addition to La Zurriola beach, where hire shops and surf schools cater for even the least able of beginners, La Concha sits in a stunning natural harbour, which makes it ideal for paddling and sunbathing. Competition for space in the summer months can be fierce and so getting there early is essential, though most people leave for a long-lunch once the blazing sun of the early-morning dies down.
Less busy is the statue of Christ overlooking the bay and reached by a short but rather taxing hike from the old town, though those who want to enjoy the views with minimal effort can also ride the funicular railway to the top of Mount Igelado, where an ageing amusement park popular with young families and old reminiscing locals can be found.
As the well-healed nature of the locals and Madrid-natives on holiday suggests, the shops in San Sebastian include a number of high-end boutiques and hotels and even those travellers whose budgets can't stretch that far can nevertheless enjoy window-shopping amid the shaded narrow streets of the old town.
At night, it's best to follow the crowds and crawl from bar to bar enjoying the local tapas dishes and cider.
(((Weather in San Sebastian)))
As with most parts of northern Spain, San Sebastian gets a lot of rain during the winter months, with life in the city slowing down as the tourist numbers dwindle.
However, summers are long, dry and hot and the high levels of sunshine have been attracting people to the city and neighbouring Biarritz for decades.
(((Destination checklist for San Sebastian)))
The currency in use in San Sebastian, as with the rest of the country, is the Euro and, while the street signs are often written in Basque, visitors will be able to get by with a bit of Spanish or even English - though even the slightest attempt at mastering the local tongue will be highly appreciated.
The city is just one hour ahead of GMT and its international dialling code is +34.
