Sampling San Sebastián: Bite into this Basque City's History and Culture

The Basque region‘s joie de vivre has been an enduring source of envy among Europeans for hundreds of years. Discover why on this San Sebastián walking tour, where we‘ll trace the city‘s origins as a haven for sailors, whales, and cider, to its reign as a royal beach resort and the continent‘s fine dining capital.

We‘ll be kicking off this celebration of San Sebastián near the famous Zurriola Playa beach, next to the Kursaal Auditorium. From there, we‘ll wind our way through the ancient city to finish up our tour in the heart of the cobblestoned Old Town at Konstituzio Plaza (Constitution Square). With many stops at local landmarks including the Basilica de Santa Maria del Coro, the Victoria Eugenia Antzokia (a theatre), and San Sebastián City Hall, you‘ll gain a historical, political, and cultural perspective on this town. This tour isn‘t all facts though. Along the way, I‘ll make a handful of recommendations for some must-eat pintxos, AKA Basque tapas, in the city famed for its abundance of good eats, good times, and the good life!

Along the way, you‘ll have a chance to:

• Stroll through plazas, parks and gardens from the Hotel Maria Cristina‘s courtyard to Gipuzkoa Plaza and Alderdi Eder parkea (literally, “beautiful place” park) which borders the Bahia La Concha (La Concha Bay)
• Visit the San Telmo Museum, the foremost authority on all things Basque
• Marvel at Miramar Palace and learn how its construction changed the story of San Sebastián forever by bringing royalty to the city
• Discover the heresy that was La Cuchara de San Telmo, the first pintxo bar to only serve warm pintxos
• Take in the old port at the edge of town where the Cantabrian Sea smashes our rocky coastline
• Observe the quirky boat-shaped El Nautico building and learn about the businesses inside
• Follow in the footsteps of Anthony Bourdain in the Old Town‘s labyrinth of tavernas
• Find out why this region‘s identity and way of life is so fiercely guarded

By the end of this two-and-a-half-hour tour of San Sebastián, you‘ll have a greater appreciation for the city, its delicious cultural heritage and unique Basque identity.