Why commit to just one pintxo bar or one beach when this town has so many options to flirt with?
There’sa town in Spainso lovely , so idealistic for solo travel , it ’s literally primed for a queen — a solo poof , no less . After her husband ( you know , the B. B. King ) Alfonso XII died in 1885 , Queen María Cristina start visiting San Sebastián on the regular , solidifying the town as her go - to summer retirement . If you too want to make queen moves , or if you like pintxos , Txakoli ( a crisp white wine ) , the freshest fish you ’ll ever wipe out , an architecturally striking Old Town , sun - imbrue beach and hiking lead , San Sebastián knows how to show you a good time . Pintxo bar , after all , are meant for socialise or for playfulness gang watching .
This super shiver , breezy coastal city in Northern Spain is a stone ’s stroke ( if you may hawk 12 miles ) from the French border . While the town is Spanish , Basque Country is like a world of its own , with its own trenchant culture and language ( Euskara ) , one of the old speech communication in Western Europe . Not to care , you may talk Spanish here , too .
Bigger European cities can be daunting , but San Sebastián is a truly walkable town with urban beach at your fingertips . Donostia - San Sebastián gear place spit you powerful out in the city center , where everything is a 15 - minute walk or less . A dream for the solo traveller , as you may rapidly chuck your carry - on at your hotel and be out and about ( say , at Playa La Concha ) in less than five minutes by foot . Here are a few solo - specific reason why you should extend your trip to San Sebastián .
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Have urban beaches at your fingertips
It acquit repeating : Here , there ’s no getting in a car and ride half an 60 minutes to a beach . The whole Ithiel Town seems to be built on a long stretch of beautiful beaches . Playa La Concha is the more laid back beach situated in front of hotels , restaurants , and shops . direct on the sand here isLa Perla , a seawater therapy centre in a stunning Belle Époque building , where a two - hr pass be 22 euros .
The city also serves as the country ’s most iconic surf township . Zurriola Beach , in the Gros neighbourhood , is the place to ride some wave . Take surfing lesson atZurriola Surf Eskolaand savour a txokotone ( which is like a drinking chocolate panettone ) atThe Loaf Boaker . It ’s so thrill , you ’ll find oneself surfers walking around the streets barefooted in their wetsuits , take hold of post - fun - in - the - sun snack .
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Go on a curated pintxos crawl
One Bible to learn and learn well is pintxos . The low , affordable , and soft - to - eat bite consist of delectability atop bread or serve skewer - style — and there ’s no shortage of pintxos bars in San Sebastián . The word does n’t just signify the snack , though ; it ’s also a cultural custom , where locals and tourists spill out onto the streets for chuck , sip , and conversation . Bar Casa Vallésallegedly cook up this writer ’s preferred pintxo , the Gilda . discover after Rita Hayworth ’s piquant and sexy character inGilda , this sexually attractive treat is made of skewered guindilla peppers , Cantabrian anchovy filet , and manzanilla olives .
Why settle down with just one touch when you could hop around to several joint ? That includesJuantxo Tabernafor the most unbelievable tortilla bocadillo ( a traditional Spanish white potato omelet between shekels ) , Paco Bueno for perfectly battered and deep-fried prawns , Tamborilfor mushroom and stuffed capsicum ( and anything they do with hake ) , andBar Txepetxafor made - to - purchase order anchovies with unlike topping .
Every bar will offer caña ( a small beer ) , Txakoli ( thewhite wine of the orbit ) , Rioja ( red vino … because you ’re not too far from Rioja ) , and Sidra ( a brisk Basque cider ) , and the sip are never more than three to four euros .
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Feast on a whole dining scene that rivals bigger cities
Ganbarais also one of the best pintxos bars in the city , but the accolades do n’t stop there . Up top , you ’ll find the vibey pintxos bar atmosphere , but the real enigma is grade a table downstairs in the wine root cellar , where finely grill hake top seasonal dishes .
The city is also home to many Michelin restaurants , but one in particular to write home about isArzak . This three - Michelin , home - run eating house has been around since 1897 and now focuses on modern Basque cuisine .
For something different , Geralds Bar , a noteworthy outpost from Melbourne , is a nice mix of Spanish and Italian culinary art . And do n’t miss out on the rotate high mallow plate fromElkano 1 Gaztagune , a specialised shop that lever chef cluster to for the good cheese in the field .
Sleep like royalty
Whether alone and on a budget or solo and living enceinte , there ’s a bounty of selection . Colo Colo Hostelstarts at 30 euro a night ( ! ) and offers digital check - in , pod - like bed with noise - cancel headphone , and a articulatio coxae plebeian area where coffee berry is always hang .
Marisol Guesthouseis a solid in - between hostel and boutique hotel , as it feel more like a breezy beach - house with modernistic accents .
If you came here to live it up , fling atHotel Maria Cristina , the hotel distinguish after the reigning queen . overlook the Cantabrian Sea and Urumea River , the hotel ’s striking Belle Époque architecture will have you stepping back in time . And you ’ll never desire to leave once you junket your eyes on the welcome amenity : a Gilda pintxo enhanced with caviare .
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Take a funicular to an old school amusement park on a mountain
Take the funicular up to Mount Igueldo , domicile to a super old - school entertainment parking lot . Built in 1912 , the theme park still manages to trance both kidskin and adult after all these days . Yes , it does get in use , but since it ’s on top of a lot , it ’s actually less crowded than you ’d think . Once you ’re up there , ride Montaña Suiza , a steel railway rolling wave coaster , over the Atlantic ocean . It ’s averyunique way to see the metropolis .
Hike to a medieval fortress
rubble off the sneakers and work off the pintxos with a hike to the most picturesque part of the city . In the Old Town Port Area , you ’ll find a scenic track that leads up to Monte Urgull . The crown is crowned by the twelfth - century medieval Castillo de la Mota fort . History aside , it ’s one of the most beautiful spot for bird’s-eye view of San Sebastián .
How to get to San Sebastián
San Sebastián is easily accessible via multiple transportation options . Although San Sebastián Airport ( EAS ) is a small airport , many travelers pilot into Bilbao Airport ( BIO ) in Spain or Biarritz ( BIQ ) in France .
Taking the train , though , might just be the sluttish ( and most scenic ) option , as it run from most major cities in Spain . It only takes only about five hours fromMadrid , and bring you decently in the center of town .
Once you get , getting around is a breeze , as everything is within walk distance and taxis are promptly available . If you need to get around by public transportation , Dbus provides a great service that link the city shopping centre , beaches , and the Ondarreta neighborhood .
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Glass dome ceilings and lots of wine make for superb views.
And helpful tips once you arrive
Something to keep in creative thinker : It ’s always a good estimation to have euros handy — this is especially true when chatter pintxos bar , as most of them only have hard currency . Paying in euro will help you intermix in well with the local scene , and it make the process faster and smoother in these tight - paced environments .
Additionally , it ’s important to treble - check the opening times of attracter and restaurants , as the metropolis ’s rhythm change with the seasons . Some establishments may close up once the temperatures drop , so it ’s good to plan forward to avoid any surprise .
Bar Vallés
Ganbara Bar - Asador
Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian
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