For an even foodier version of Barcelona, try this ‘gorgeous’ Basque city — flights start from as little as £45 return

This town is a Basque gem (Picture: Getty Images)

When it comes to culture, nightlife and beaches, Barcelona ticks all of those boxes.

But in 2023 alone, more than 12 million people holidayed in the Catalan capital – and the Sagrada Familia is now one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain.

If you’re looking for a similar cultural experience without the crowds, the Basque town of Donostia/San Sebastián is a sure-fire way to have a super foodie holiday for slightly less.

Nestled in the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain’s mountainous Basque country, San Sebastián is known for its gorgeous sandy beaches, world-famous restaurants and historic old town – much like Barcelona.

Ondarreta beach has gorgeous sand (Picture: Getty Images)

Termed ‘gorgeous’ by adorning visitors in one Reddit thread, San Sebastián has earned its stripes, but it’s often overshadowed by the likes of Spanish tourism giants Madrid, Valenica and Seville.

It’s also just over an hour away from the larger, more industrial port city of Bilbao, famous for the curvy Guggenheim Museum and looming hills.

Things to do in San Sebastián

If you’re in search of a foodie long weekend away, then San Sebastián has everything you could ask for. The most popular dishes here are comprised of fish, including baked spider crab, hake cheeks in green sauce, and hake koxkera.

The local pintxos (not dissimilar to tapas, but often spiked with a tooth pick) are also popular, with dishes including stuffed peppers, tortilla de patatas, and croquettes.

If you’d like to experience the best local places, you can even book yourself onto a Pintxos Tour in the Old Town – available through the likes of TripAdvisor.

The sunsets here are unrivalled (Picture: Getty Images)

For San Sebastián’s answer to Barcelona’s (undoubtedly more crowded) sandy beaches, there’s the likes of La Concha Beach, Ondarreta Beach, and Zurriola Beach, all featuring stunning blue waters.

Meanwhile, Monte Urgill overlooks the ocean, and reaches an impressive 123 metres at its peak. Converted into a military fortress in the 12th century, its walls were attacked throughout the years – including by France, the UK and Portugal.

Peine del Viento is a classic snapshot of San Sebastián, a modern iron sculpture designed by Eduardo Chillida and embedded into the rocks by the sea shore.

And, to learn more about Basque history, visit the San Telmo Museoa, a converted monastery that now operates as a museum, presenting items from various periods in Basque history.

How to get to San Sebastián

While there isn’t a direct flight from London to San Sebastián, the closest airport is Bilbao.

Flights from London Gatwick Airport to the Basque city take 2 hours, and are available via Vueling for as little as £45 return.

Plate of Pintxos, anyone? (Picture: Getty Images)

From there, San Sebastián is just over one hour by car, or 1 hour and 11 minutes on the train.

From Manchester, you can take a flight to Barcelona El-Prat Airport, which takes 2 hours and 25 minutes, and transfer for a flight to San Sebastián Airport. This is slightly more costly though, coming in around the £120 mark for a return journey.

When to visit San Sebastián

If you’re in search of sunshine, then the summer is undoubtedly the optimum time of year to visit San Sebastián.

In June, temperatures can reach 21C, whilst in July and August the mercury can swoop up to 23C and 24C respectively.

If you want to avoid the crowds though, there’s always the possibility of some winter sun.

In February and March, temperatures flit between a respectable 13C and 14C (arguably warmer than the UK that time of year, when London averages between (9C and 12C).

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