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San Sebastián

Pintxos Capital of the World

3-4 nights recommendedJune-September (warmest), September (film festival)Plan this chapter →

San Sebastián may be the greatest food city for its size anywhere on earth: three Michelin three-star restaurants in a city of 180,000 people, plus a pintxos bar scene that turns every evening into a culinary treasure hunt. La Concha beach curves in a perfect crescent, the old town buzzes with Basque energy, and the surrounding hills frame it all like a green amphitheatre.

We also arrange tables at Martín Berasategui and Mugaritz, the fishing town of Getaria, and Bilbao's Guggenheim, arriving via Bilbao (BIO).

Ideal for

Foodies · Wine Enthusiasts · Beach Lovers · Film Buffs

San Sebastián, Pintxos Capital of the World — Plate ISan Sebastián.

The Stay

Belle époque hotels and Basque Country retreats.

Hotel Maria Cristina

The grand dame overlooking the Urumea River, host to San Sebastián Film Festival stars.

Belle époque architecture
River views
Café Saigón

Villa Favorita

Former embassy turned intimate luxury hotel in the residential Ondarreta district.

Beach proximity
Quiet elegance
Garden terrace

Akelarre Hotel

Pedro Subijana's three-star restaurant with rooms on Monte Igueldo.

Bay panorama
Three Michelin stars on site
Spa with ocean views

The Palate

The highest concentration of Michelin stars per capita in the world.

01Parte Vieja pintxos crawl: bar to bar through the old town, one bite at a time
02Arzak, three Michelin stars of Basque avant-garde from the founding family
03Akelarre: Pedro Subijana's clifftop tasting menu above the Cantabrian Sea
04Txakoli wine tasting at a vineyard overlooking the coast

The Stillness

The sweep of La Concha and the Basque hills at their most serene.

01La Concha beach at sunrise, the perfect crescent empty and golden
02Monte Igueldo funicular at sunset, the entire bay spread below
03Wind Comb sculptures at Ondarreta: Chillida's iron meeting the Cantabrian waves

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