Last year, San Sebastián won an award for having the best food in the world. However, as well as appealing to your stomach, this city, known as Donostia in the local Basque language, will win your heart. Here's how you'll fall in love with the cit on your next San Sebastian holidays.
La Concha
Although it faces stiff competition from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria's Canteras, San Sebastián's La Concha just about shades it as Europe's most attractive urban beach. 1.5km long, its sand, the colour of vanilla ice cream, has graced many a picture postcard. Little wonder it's also known as the Pearl of the Cantabrian Sea.
Catedral del Buen Pastor de San Sebastián
In Basque this cathedral's known as Artzain Onaren katedrala, whilst it translates into English as the Good Shepherd Cathedral. Completed in 1897 and designed by Basque artist Manuel de Echave, it's built of sandstone hailing from the Monte Igueldo quarry. To see its interior as well as exterior, visit any day for the week, from 8:30am to 12:30pm and then again from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
Casa Consistorial
During the Belle Epoque (the Golden Age) of the late 19th/early 20th century, this opulent building wasn't City Hall. Instead, it was the Grand Casino, a magnet for the beautiful people who were enchanted by its ballroom and roulette wheels. However, when gambling was prohibited in 1924, the casino closed before reopening as the City Hall in 1947. Easily reached from La Concha, rest awhile in the Alderdi-Eder Gardens in front of the building before exploring the Old Town behind.
Plaza de la Constitución
A Baroque masterpiece, Constitution Square was the erstwhile home of City Hall. Nowadays there are shops and bars instead, which make it a great place to browse and enjoy a drink. Originally constructed in 1723, this plaza had to be rebuilt after being destroyed by fire in 1813.
Peine de Viento
An artistic collaboration between sculptor Eduardo Chillida and architect Luis Peña Ganchegui, the idea for the Wind Comb came about from Chillida's pride in his home town. He considered San Sebastián to be so beautiful, that the wind needed to be combed before entering the city. Built in 1977 along with the adjoining Plaza del Tenis, the latter provides a fantastic meeting place for locals and visitors alike with the former providing the role of conversation starter, and indeed, stopper.
Monte Urgull
A brisk 10-minute climb will see you reach highs of 123 metres. Your reward for ascending Urgull mountain will be a panoramic view of San Sebastián below. La Concha, in particular, looks even more spectacular from above.
Zurriola
800 metres plays host to surfers and beach-volleyball players in high season. For this beach is very much a sports one. In low season when the sun doesn't always shine, it's perfect for a romantic stroll.