San Sebastian is one of the most-loved cities in the world. It’s not just the editors of Condé Nast Traveller who have fallen for this diminutive oceanfront city in the Basque Country, but our readers too – you voted it the best city in Europe in our 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards and the best city for food in the world.
And it checks out. San Sebastian has some of the finest restaurants in the world (there are more Michelin stars per square metre than any city on the planet), a rich history, plus some excellent places to stay (see our edit of hotels in San Sebastian for inspiration). But what should you do once you arrive? Below, we’ve rounded up the best things to do in San Sebastian to inspire your next trip to this people-pleasing city.
Traditional PintxosGetty Images
Go pintxos bar-hopping
Tapas is more synonymous with Spanish culture – but this is the Basque Country, really, and pintxos are the order of the day here. A pintxo is a small snack served in tavernas or bars and is most often (although not always) served on top of a slice of bread, speared with a cocktail stick to keep the toppings (anchovies, perhaps, or goat cheese and ham, or tortilla) in place. Pintxos are small enough to whet your appetite over a glass of wine or beer pre-supper – but in San Sebastian, we recommend foregoing a sit-down dinner altogether, instead embarking on a pintxos hopping tour. One popular route starts at Borda Berri (order the confusingly named ‘kebab’, which is actually a melty pork rib) before wandering down the street for pitstops at Bar Sport (order the txangurro, or crab) and Txepetxa, where all the pintxos come with an anchovy and your choice of additional toppings. Whichever route you take, make sure to finish the crawl at La Viña, the birthplace of the burnt Basque cheesecake.
