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HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Fantastic food > Guggenheim Museum > Surfing

San Sebastian and Bilbao are the two main cities of the Basque Country, or Euskadi as it is known in the Basque language. Situated within an hour’s drive of each other on the Bay of Biscay, each is very different in character, and either individually or together they make a great city break destination.

The Basque Country is also renowned as the gastronomic heartland of Spain, and both cities offers everything from superb restaurants to simple tapas bars. Indulge in a txikiteo (tapas crawl) and sample the delicious local cider and busy nightlife.

San Sebastian (known as Donostia in Basque) has a scenic position at the foothills of the Pyrénées, close to the French border. Set around a sheltered bay, the town became a fashionable coastal resort in the 19th century and has a relaxed, small-town feel, with wide streets and elegant buildings.

There are several good beaches - the golden sweep of La Concha arcs around the edge of the bay, ending at the twisted metal shape of Eduardo Chillida's most famous sculpture; and good surfing is possible on Zurriola beach next door. In culinary terms, San Sebastian surpasses even Bilbao, with several acclaimed gastro-temples run by famous chefs and more Michelin stars than anywhere else in the world except Manhattan. There are also plenty of good, simple eating houses, and the narrow streets of the Parte Vieja, or old quarter, have one of the greatest concentrations of bars in Spain.

Bilbao, the larger of the two cities, has been transformed in recent years by an ambitious programme of urban renewal that has rescued it from post-industrial decline. The most striking symbol of this revival is the famous Guggenheim Museum with its shimmering titanium shell, moored like a ship on the banks of the Nervión River. Outside the museum is Jeff Koons’ equally iconic, kitsch floral sculpture of a giant puppy.

The Guggenheim is by no means the only show in town, however. There are other good museums, notably the Museo de Bellas Artes, the Mercado de la Ribera - the largest covered market in Spain - good shopping and a cityscape further transformed by new architecture from the likes of Norman Foster and Santiago Calatrava.

Altogether, these two cities make superb short break territory, and also serve as ideal bases from which to explore the rest of the Basque country, with its extraordinary language, long history and proud local culture.

In San Sebastian, stay at the Villa Soro, a charming 25-room hotel housed in a renovated 19th century villa. Zurriola beach and the old quarter of town are within easy walking distance. Alternatively, the stately Maria Cristina is San Sebastian's most luxurious hotel. Set on the banks of the Urumea River in the heart of the town, the Maria Cristina offers first class facilities in stylish surroundings.

In Bilbao, stay at the Hotel Miro, a fashionable boutique hotel created by one of Spain's top designers. Located just 200 yards from the Guggenheim, the Hotel Miro offers modern style and makes the ideal base from which to explore this resurgent city. The stylish alternative is the Sheraton Bibao. Designed by the famous architect Ricardo Legorreta, it has been built with great attention to detail and the interiors are decorated with an impressive collection of contemporary art.

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PRICES
The price shown above is based on the sample itinerary, with flights in economy class, accommodation on a B&B basis (or more where stated), transfers and activities specific to this trip. Where prices fluctuate throughout the year, the price is based on low season rates and where more than one accommodation option is listed, on the cheapest available. We would be delighted to put together a current and 100% accurate quotation based on your specific travel requirements, so please contact the relevant member of our expert team.

TAILORED TO YOUR EXACT SPECIFICATIONS
Almost every one of our Big Short Breaks and Beyond the Big Short Breaks can be entirely tailormade from scratch, so you can enjoy the holiday exactly how you want it, exactly when you want it, and for exactly as long as you want it. Our expert team, who have been to every one of our destinations, are here to talk you through all the options available in order to create the trip best suited to you.