Category Archives: San Sebastián

Zarautz, Guipuzkoa (Basque Country)

zarautz beach and sea

Located on the breathtaking Cantabrian Sea Coast, in the province of Guipuzkoa in the north of Spain, Zarautz is a popular resort town only 20 km away from the beautiful Donostia – San Sebastian city. With a population of about of 23,000 inhabitants, Zarautz is really a famous tourist destination of high quality in Spain for people who like enjoying its traditional cuisine and its excellent beach, as well as leisure activities and sports among others.

mapa san sebastian spainThe old fishing village of Zarautz became a favorite destination for aristocracy and upper class people who chose Zarautz to enjoy the quiet beach during their holidays in the late 19th century. Nowadays, one of the most important economic sectors in Zarautz is really tourism. Therefore, Zarautz has focused on the preservation of its heritage cultural, its healthy lifestyle, its traditions and its natural surroundings so that Zarautz goes on being a tourist destination of the highest quality.

Gastronomy

playa y paseo maritimoZarautz is known over all world for its delicious cuisine and its magnificent chefs who are used to cooking with the best and freshest ingredients. Moreover, the excellent food attracts not only local people, but also other visitors from other cities and countries. In fact, here tourists can find some of the most renowned restaurants and bars of Basque Country full of friendly people tasting the flavorful pintxos (a tiny haute cuisine) with the traditional txakoli (light white wine). If tourists visit the popular local market of Zarautz, they will certainly soak up the atmosphere of this town and understand its traditional gastronomy.

Beach and Sports

zarautzThe Beach of Zarautz, which is one of the longest beaches in the Cantabrian Sea coast with more than 2,500 m long of fine golden sand and clear blue water, is other attraction for lovers of the outdoor activities, such as surfers who can enjoy the spectacular waves; golfers that can play golf in the Real Club of Golf of Zarautz which borders a part of the beach on the eastern area. Moreover the beach is also bordered by the lively promenade, the main meeting point of the town, where visitors can find a lot of excellent restaurants, bars, terraces, cafés, shops and have a lot of fun.

Visitors can also enjoy the outstanding natural landscape of Zarautz walking along its picturesque streets, taking a stroll about its peaceful surroundings as well as climbing its hills and mountains because there are facilities for most cultural and athletic activities. Besides, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking scenery if they decide to go to Getaria on foot bordering the Cantabrian sea coast. As for Getaria (Guetaria), it is a beautiful fishing village only 3 km away from Zarautz with medieval houses and the remarkable San Salvador’s church in Gothic style dating from 14th century. Both Zarautz and Getaria are connected by a spectacular promenade between the mountain and sea.

basque country beachZarautz can also offer tourists interesting buildings such as Santa María la Real’s Church built between the 15th and 16th centuries in Gothic style; the Zarautz Tower, which is the oldest building in Zarautz from the 15th century, is used for the Museum of Art and History and for the bell tower. Inside the church visitors can find several impressive Baroque altarpieces and the tomb of Lopez Martinez de Zarautz from 15th century; the four storey-Luzea Tower was built in the 15th century in Gothic style; the Narros Palace built in the mid 16th century in renaissance style with lovely gardens; the Portu House is a remarkable three-storey building from 16th century ( Town Hall headquarters); Franciscans’ Convent Church from early 17th century; Makatxa House among others.

If visitors wander through the streets and squares, they will come across impressive sculptures, other magnificent buildings and beautiful gardens and parks that are worth visiting.

 

Other places to visit in The Basque Country (País Vasco)

San Sebastian (Donostia) Situated in the north of Spain on the Bay of Biscay coast, washed by the Cantabrian Sea, San Sebastian (or Donostia)  also known as Perla del Cantábrico (the Cantabrian Sea Pearl) is renowned for its spectacular natural beauty.

Bilbao: Bilbao is one of the main cities of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. It has more than 700.000 inhabitants, counting the city and the metropolitan area. In this article we are going to tell you about what are the best places to visit in the city, and how to visit them on foot in a two-days weekend.

More places to see in The Basque Country.

 

San Sebastián / Donostia: What to visit in San Sebastian city

san sebastian

Situated in the north of Spain on the Bay of Biscay coast, washed by the Cantabrian Sea, San Sebastian (or Donostia)  also known as Perla del Cantábrico (the Cantabrian Sea Pearl) is renowned for its spectacular natural beauty. Being one of the most elegant cities of Spain with about 200,000 inhabitants, Donostia – San Sebatian and the Polish city of Wroclaw will have the honor of being the Cultural Capitals of Europe in 2016.

mapa san sebastian spainBeing one of the main tourist destination of quality in Spain, Donostia (in Basque or Euskera language), or San Sebastian (in Spanish Language) is the capital of Gipuzkoa province (in The Basque Country region) and both the capital and the region really have a lot of to offer citizens and visitors in the way of the gastronomy, culture, architecture, water sports, comfortable lifestyle, entertainment, beaches, leisure activities, festivals, among other things.

 

The Concha, Ondarreta and Zurriola beaches

playaTaking a stroll along its coastal promenade, the starting point might be at the Peine del Viento (the Wind Comb) the famous sculpture by the architect Luis Peña and the world renowned sculptor Eduardo Chillida. At Igeldo Mountain by the sea, visitors can feast their eyes on the beautiful Bahía de la Concha (the Shell Bay) (so called because the Bahía de la Concha is shaped like a shell) where are the Ondarreta Beach and La Concha Beach, which are some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain. In front of both beaches in the heart of the bay is Santa Clara island the symbol of the city with a small beach.

Following the enjoyable stroll walkers will find a large garden, the impressive Miramar Palace and its park and interesting buildings on the right, and the Ondarreta Beach and the Concha Beach on the left. After 30 minutes on foot they will arrive at the Hall City an imposing building on the right and at the end the Concha Beach on the left. By the way, both beaches have the best facilities people can go windsurfing, kayaking, canoing and others. Visitors must not leave the city without walking along this romantic and elegant area.

If visitors go on walking they will arrive at the Zurriola Beach the largest Beach of San Sebastian where people go surfing, swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, so on. It takes about 20 minutes on foot from Hall City to the Zurriola Beach, walking through the pedestrian Zumardia Boulevard, crossing the Kursaal Bridge over the Urumea River, in the Gros Neighborhood. It is a pleasant and unbelievable stroll.

 

Tasting the gastronomy of Donostia San Sebastián

tapas mercado de san miguelIt is said that one of the main tourist attractions in Donostia- San Sebastian is its gourmet food because Gipuzkoa is known all over the world for its excellent restaurants, a famous chefs and traditional cuisine. Local people, who are easy going and friendly, are used to enjoying good food and fine wine at home and out with friends and visitors.

Wandering through the lively Old Neighborhood (La Parte Vieja) from Zurmardia Boulevard to Urgull mountain, tourists can find traditional bars, cafés, restaurants full of people eating pintxos (tapas) and drinking txakoli (a special white wine) or sidra (cider) creating a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere while enjoying the delicious and tasty pintxos.

There are plenty of bars, restaurants and cafés in the Gros and the Center neighborhood which also serve great variety of excellent pintxos and traditional wine. Moreover, visitors will come across stylish restaurants, bars and cafés which offer a rich variety of local specialty.

The three neighborhoods come alive at night when people are attracted by music, dance, food and drink. Donostia – San Sebastian is probability the best city to enjoy a pleasurable lifestyle and a lively nightlife. In fact, most tourists come back again in order to have a lot of fun at its parties.

 

Monuments, buildings and other interesting places

Probablyyou should visit The Mota Castle on the hill of Urgull mountain dates from 12th century, with a breathtaking view of the Concha Bay. It takes about 10 minutes on foot from Hall City. It is worth a visit.

The Gothic San Vicente Church dates from 16th century, the Baroque Santa Maria Basilica from 18 th century, and the historic Constitución Square, which is the main meeting point of the city, are located in the Old Neighborhood.

Nearby the luxury Maria Cristina Hotel, the outstanding Victoria Eugenia Theater by the Urumea River, and other interesting buildings can be seen walking around the center neighborhood. Moreover, walkers will come across amazing sculptures and buildings as they stroll along the streets such as the neogothic Buen Pastor Cathedral which was built in 19th century, one of the most emblematic buildings of the city it is located in the center neighborhood where visitors can stare other magnificent buildings. Do not miss out on this spellbinding church.

 

Parks, gardens and fun

San Sebastian has many large parks and lovely gardens where people can do sport, play football or tennis, spend the free time. Moreover, the city has plenty of green areas, and a theme park for children and multiples activities for all family. Besides, the Palacio del Mar (the Sea Palace) is one of the most modern aquarium in Europe with more than 5,000 living species.

In conclusion, San Sebastian can offer people luxury hotels, fine restaurants; a good theater; clean and sandy beaches with clear and blue water; unique festivals, Cinema, Gastronomy, Fashion, Music, Regattas, Surfing, fascinating museums, high class shops and so on. In fact, San Sebastian is a very glamorous holiday destination.

San Sebastian is situated to 30 km. from France, 80 Km. from Pamplona; 100 km. from Bilbao, and 450 km. from Madrid.

 

 

Other cities and regions to visit near San Sebastián / Donostia

Bilbao: In Bilbao you can visit The Guggenheim Art Center, Gexto town and beaches and many more interesting places.

The Basque Country: Check here all our posts about the Basque Country.

Asturias: Asturias region is placed close to the Basque country. In there you will discover Gijón and Oviedo cities and a lot nature.