Five Favorites in San Sebastián, Spain

an in-depth guide packed with personally researched *gems* for food, drink, apt. rentals, and more.

I’ve had San Sebastián on my travel list for nearly two decades. With all that I’ve read and heard about this area — and, in particular, its food scene — I certainly had high expectations, which we all know can spell disaster for a trip.

San Sebastián, or Donostia in Basque, is a place that exceeds even the highest hopes for a trip. (Maybe not now that I’ve made yours even higher…) I truly loved it that much and cannot recommend it enough.

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Heads up! Most of this week’s travel edition is for paid subscribers only. Why, you ask? Travel writing includes more of my direct experience and expertise. Plus, you have my commitment that travel guides will be personally written and always ad and affiliate link-free.

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For all its allure, San Sebastián, and the Basque country in which it’s situated, seem to be mostly overlooked by travelers when they think of Spain. I see people planning trips to Barcelona, Madrid, Andalucia, and even its neighbor Portugal. And I get it — I was one of them! Even when I studied in Barcelona and later frequently traveled back to Spain, I did not prioritize the Basque region. Que lástima!

In just a few days, San Sebastián became one of my favorite destinations in the world. If your idea of a good time is eating small bites of incredible food and/or lounging on a beautiful beach in a European city…it can’t be beat.

(Plus: I found to be very family-friendly.)

In this guide, I’ll focus on the primary reason I finally booked the trip — the food. After all, San Sebastián does have one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred eateries in the world. 🌎

I’ll cover not only which pintxo bars are not to be missed in the Parte Vieja, but what and how to order. I read a ton of guides ranking the best spots to eat, but very few gave specifics on what to order from each spot (or how to best choose for yourself!) I’ll also share the local small business I used to find the apartment I rented — a better, cheaper alternative to Airbnb.

If you’re planning a trip, or hoping to be inspired to, please do benefit from my arduous research!

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