San Sebastian
Image: Chriseckel reproduced with thanks under a CC Attribution 2.0 Generic
Tucked into a sheltered bay in the Atlantic basin, San Sebastián brings a touch of class to Spanish beach holidays. An eclectic town centre links pristine city beaches, while a quaint old town invites respite from the sun in centuries old stone. It is the blissfully few things to do in San Sebastián that gives the city its appeal. Days on the beach and evenings of tapas merge into sleepy Spanish nights. This is a place to relax and, um, bask in the Basque country. Getting there by train is straightforward... More
Reaching San Sebastián by train from the UK is easy, starting with the Eurostar from London St Pancras. The journey can be made by day on a TGV or on a Corail Lunea night-train. Both options go via Paris and Irun (on the French/Spanish border). If you're taking the TGV you should leave London in the morning to catch your onward connection, or for the night-train option you can leave as late as 7pm.
The TGV departs from Paris Montparnasse station, while at night you need to head to Gare d’Austerlitz to catch the night train (which is usually available for boarding at least an hour before departure). For both the TGV and the Corail Lunea night-train options, the quickest and most frequented route goes via Irun in the Bay of Biscay, and onwards to San Sebastián by regional train in under half an hour. Depending on the specific train, you'll most likely arrive into the Amara station, which is served by RENFE services (always check your ticket as some regional services operate from a different station).
Once in San Sebastián it's time to kick back and relax, or take your pick from one of the highly recommended activities we've picked out for you below.
Loco2 recommends
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Take To The Hills
We do love a good old-fashioned funicular railway here at Loco2. Try as we might to resist the train geekery, we’d be lying if we said the old world transport to Monte Igueldo doesn’t float our boat (ahem, train). On the mountain scale, Monte Igueldo is more of a medium sized hill - but it offers giant-sized panoramic views across San Sebastián, the island of Santa Clara and surrounding Basque countryside.
Take the short ride on the railway from Ondarreta beach in the west of the city, or walk up for better view of the train...sorry, countryside!
If this gives you a taste for exploration, take the bus to the nearby fishing village of Fuenterrabía (Hondarribia to some), 20km north of San Sebastián up the coast. Here awaits a slightly more serious hill climb up Mount Jaizkibel to the church of Guadalupe. More seasoned walkers might consider walking back to San Sebastián, but at an estimated ten hours start early or plan to camp!
Image: Mimenza reproduced with thanks under a CC Attribution 2.0 Generic Licence
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Sun, Sea and Surf
Boasting fine white sands, Spain’s northern beaches have a well-deserved reputation as some of Spain’s best. They're not just for basking either, offering a wealth of beach-side activities. For lazy summer days and sandcastles, there’s a choice of city beaches. Blue-flagged and well-kept Concha bay is the best known and a popular swimming spot. Nearby, surf’s up at Zurriola beach with it’s invitingly frothy breakers perfect for those looking to catch a wave.
At Zurriola, surfing and windsurfing dominate, providing ample opportunity to surf for all you’re worth! Beginners will do well to invest in lessons at surf school, while those with experience can rent boards to get out in the swell on their own.
If your idea of fun on the beach is more Baywatch than Point Break fear not, there’s volleyball, kayaking, and yes, lifeguards, up and down the coast in this area. The further afield you go the more sand you’ll be able to claim, making the smaller fishing villages and seaside towns definitely worthy of investigation.
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Taste Sensation
Few places do old town better than the Spanish. San Sebastián’s Parte Vieja (Old town) dates back to the mid 19th Century and is among Spain’s liveliest.
The best way to appreciate the old town’s offering is to do as locals do and indulge your tastebuds on a tour of the many pinxtos bars. A take on the traditional tapas, pinxtos are taster plates of some of the best the Basque country has to offer, and range from simple fresh fish (from the morning’s catch at the nearby Mercado de la Brecha) to odd but no doubt delicious concoctions such as squid with chestnut purée.
Enjoy a drink and a few small plates in one bar, before moving on to the next. Explore back alleys and dine with the locals in this relaxed manner, and you’ll easily find that you’re well into the night and bursting with delicious food. Guided tours are available if you’re that way inclined, or go it alone and see where the evening takes you.