Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
A Big Short Break to San Sebastian Beachfront Fun & Foodie Feasts
Spain – San Sebastian
Delve straight into San Sebastian’s food scene with a leisurely lunch at a restaurant recommended by our local Concierge, whose expert knowledge will guide you through the top culinary spots in the city. When you’ve satiated your cravings, wander through the verdant hillsides surrounding the city and explore the nearby honey-hued beaches.
Along with its reputation as Spain’s culinary capital, San Sebastian also attracts avid surfers, and you’ll join them during a private surf lesson on Zurriola Beach. This adrenaline-inducing activity is bound to stimulate your appetite, so follow it up with authentic pintxos (tapas) and plenty of txakoli (white wine).
Having sampled plenty of the city’s best dishes, it’s then time to make your own during a private cookery class. Here, you’ll (hopefully) master the art of Basque cooking before heading home to test out your newfound culinary skills...
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Bags packed and passports at the ready – your big short break to San Sebastian starts today.
Head to the airport, breeze through security, then enjoy a tipple in the lounge before boarding your two-hour flight to Bilbao. That’s plenty of time to brush up on your Spanish – starting with how to order a plate of churros, naturally.
When you touch down, pick up your hire car and embark on the one-and-a-half-hour drive along the coast to San Sebastian. You’ll arrive, rather conveniently, just in time for lunch.
So, after checking in to your hotel for a two-night stay, hit the streets of Spain’s foodie capital, hopping from bar to restaurant to... another bar. Our local Concierge is also on hand with recommendations, including where to find the best sangria in town. With a glass (or two) polished off, round off the day with a sunset stroll along one of the golden beaches.
Ready to give surfing a whirl? This morning, saunter down to Zurriola Beach, considered a surfer’s paradise for its rolling Atlantic waves, and join their (very cool) ranks during a private surfing lesson. Don your wetsuit and ride the swell, with plenty of laughs, wobbles and ‘did you see that?’ moments as you go.
Alternatively, art aficionados can stroll along the coast to admire Peine del Viento (the wind comb), Eduardo Chillida's steel sculpture jutting out from wave-dashed rocks.
After a siesta at your hotel, follow the irresistible aromas and clinking wine glasses back into San Sebastian for an evening pintxos crawl. For the uninitiated, pintxos are the Basque equivalent of tapas: small bites, mighty flavours.
Your guide knows exactly where the tastiest plates are served, so follow them between bars, feasting on smoky grilled octopus, olive skewers and oozy, cheese-stuffed croquettes. Wash it all down with a glass of txakoli (a fizzy white wine), poured into tumblers from a daringly ambitious height. Cheers, or rather, salud, to that.
Yesterday you were the taste tester... today, you’re the chef. Make your way to a local kitchen this morning for a private cookery lesson, where you’ll learn how to prepare traditional Basque dishes with a member of one of the city's secretive cooking societies. Your next dinner party guests are in for a real treat.
As you chop, whisk and stir under the watchful eye of your expert chef tutor, learn just what it is about Basque cooking that draws in travellers from across the globe.
Suitably stuffed, it’s sadly time to head home this afternoon. It’s a one-and-a-half-hour drive back along the coast to Bilbao Airport, where you’ll drop off your hire car and board your flight home. You’ll spend around two hours in the air – plenty of time to ruminate on which dishes you’ll recreate in your own kitchen and dream about your next foodie adventure...
Why visit Spain with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Spain
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
