Experience the Charm of San Sebastián
If you've read my other posts on San Sebastián, I have already highlighted that one can spend entire days wandering the cobblestone streets of the town, eating pinxtos, drinking txakoli and shopping at the cute boutiques. But, there is even more to do!
A highlight of the trip was a hike (slight overstatement) to the summit of Monte Urgull. We spent a few hours exploring the wooded trails as we ascended to Castillo de la Mota and the massive statue of Christ. There are signs to guide you as you explore; much of what you see are fortifications built across many centuries to protect San Sebastián from invaders. The views of the beaches and Santa Clara Island are fabulous and well worth the (sometimes steep) walk up. Take a bottle of water and your camera, then plan to stop at the cliffside cafe for ice cream on the way back down.
On a different afternoon, we borrowed the hotel's bicycles and rode through town and around the entirety of Playa de la Concha. San Sebastián has bike lanes everywhere, which made it really easy (and safe) to get around. After riding past Ayuntamiento (city hall), taking in the views of Santa Clara island, seeing iron sculptures above crashing waves and breathing in the sea air, we stopped at Cafe de la Concha for a bottle of rose and a recap of the day. Lovely!
If we had had more time, there are three additional things I would have moved to do. First, I would have rented a car for a drive to Bilbao. It's not far and offers a different taste of the Basque region. Second, I would have taken a cooking class from MiMo Cooking School. The list of classes looked so fun!! Lastly, I'd visit a Txakoli vineyard. Txakoli is a refreshing, slightly fizzy (from a very high pour) wine with low alcohol content, making it especially easy to drink ALL DAY. You'll get plenty in town anywhere you go but a vineyard would be next level. I'll put it on my list for next time.
