[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-21px|||” custom_padding=”2px||13px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-11px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||2px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
\u00a0San Sebastian<\/strong> in Northern Spain has been on our wish list for a long time.\u00a0 It’s a place we’d heard such good things about and finally we booked a trip in early April 2025!<\/p>\n We decided to fly because it was a) quicker and b) more cost effective.\u00a0 We flew from Valencia to Madrid (less than an hour in the air) then a quick turnaround in Madrid got us to San Sebastian airport after another short flight.\u00a0 San Sebastian’s small airport is actually in Hondarribia<\/strong>, about a half hour’s drive away and we’d read some good things about it too, so decided to spend the first night there.<\/p>\n We stayed in a lovely hotel in the old town, a converted palace, Palacio Pampinot.<\/strong> \u00a0 It was in a great location and the room was really nice with a super-comfy bed and lovely soft sheet.\u00a0 There isn’t a Reception and we didn’t see any staff, but they give you a code which you enter at the front door of the hotel and the door of your room.\u00a0 It worked well.\u00a0 We’d stay at Palacio Pampinot again without hesitation.\u00a0 Breakfast isn’t served at the hotel, but there was a nice cafe just 2 minutes walk away.\u00a0 Click here<\/a><\/strong> to reserve a room at Palacio Pampinot.\u00a0 We enjoyed our night in Hondarribia.\u00a0 It was really busy there during the day because lots of people visit on a day trip from San Sebastian, but we were surprised how much quieter it was at night, although that was partly because it was a Sunday and several places were closed.<\/p>\n In the morning, we caught the bus E21 to San Sebastian.\u00a0 We were glad we had travelled light as the bus was full and we had to stand the whole way.\u00a0 It cost just 2.80 euros each.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”8px||10px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”33px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1727,1728,1729,1730,1731,1732,1733,1734,1735,1736,1737,1738″ posts_number=”8″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” border_style_all_image=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”21px|||||” custom_padding=”12px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Our first impressions of San Sebastian were good – lots of beautiful flowers around and the city seemed very clean.\u00a0 We checked into our hotel, Hotel Okako<\/strong> in the Gros district, another nice hotel with a comfortable bed.\u00a0 The shower in this hotel was possibly the best in any hotel we’ve stayed in – fantastic!\u00a0 It was a good location, and easy to walk everywhere.\u00a0 Breakfast wasn’t available, but you could get coffee in the lobby 24 hours and in the morning they supplied some fruit, mini muffins, etc.\u00a0 The hotel staff gave us some good tips on places to eat nearby and we didn’t waste any time in trying out their recommendation for tortilla, Bar Zabaleta where we had possibly the best tortilla we have ever eaten, for just 2.80 euros!\u00a0 Click here<\/a><\/strong> to book a room at Hotel Okako.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||5px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1741,1742,1743,1744,1745,1750,1746,1776″ posts_number=”8″ show_title_and_caption=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” min_height=”417px” height=”417px” max_height=”417px” custom_margin=”-16px||31px|||” custom_padding=”||131px|||” border_style_all_image=”none” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||-18px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n One of the most interesting things about San Sebastian is the pintxos.\u00a0 In the old town almost every bar has an amazing selection of these delicious snacks.\u00a0 They vary a lot in price and in quality, but almost all we had were delicious.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In fact, the chicken and pesto one (see above) that we had at Jose Mari Bar was so tasty we went back there for a menu del dia the following day and it was also excellent and very good value at 18.50 euros including a drink.\u00a0 The reason we wanted to have a lunch other than just pintxos was because at night we were going to a sports bar to watch Real Madrid v Arsenal in the Champions League Quarter Final and knew we wouldn’t have much chance to eat.\u00a0 As it was, we went to a place called Goodbar Sports<\/strong> which had a big screen and we were actually able to sit outside and watch the brilliant game where Arsenal won 3-0 much to our delight!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”19px|||||” custom_padding=”2px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1752,1753,1754,1755,1756,1757,1758,1759″ posts_number=”12″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”5px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n San Sebastian has a wonderful setting – the city is situated along an impressive bay of golden sand between the Urgull and Igeldo mountains.\u00a0 You can climb both mountains for amazing views.\u00a0 There is a funicular railway which takes you up to Mount Igueldo for a few euros.\u00a0 You can either get a return ticket, or,\u00a0 like us, you can take the funicular up and walk down.\u00a0 The view on the path down aren’t particularly great, so unless\u00a0 you really feel like the walk it’s probably best just to get the funicular back down.\u00a0 It was a bit overcast the day we went up, but the views were still spectacular.\u00a0 It’s worth paying a few euros to go to the museum in the tower, as you get an even better view from the top of the tower.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”17px||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”13px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1778,1779,1780,1781,1782,1783,1784,1786″ posts_number=”8″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”22px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The following day was our last full day so we wanted to climb up Mount Urgull.\u00a0 We delayed it till the afternoon as the morning was a bit cloudy and luckily we had just started to climb up towards the castle when it brightened up.\u00a0 It’s quite a climb, but the path is good and it should be easy for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Great views again<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”1795,1796,1797,1798,1799,1800,1801,1802″ posts_number=”8″ show_title_and_caption=”off” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”21px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_gallery][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”13px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n We had some great food on our last day. We had to go to La Vina<\/a><\/strong> for their famous Burnt Basque Cheesecake<\/strong> and it didn’t disappoint. So delicious!! We’d read that the best way to eat this cheesecake is with a glass of PX Pedro Ximenez sweet wine, so we got a cup of coffee, a glass of PX and a portion of cheesecake (the portions are huge and more than enough for 2). It was perfect!<\/p>\n We decided to stay in the Gros area for our last night and had some of the nicest food we’ve had on our trip.\u00a0 We went first to Bar Bergara<\/a><\/strong> which is a Michelin Star winning bar with some amazing pinchos.\u00a0 Although pretty small, the Txulepa was mushrooms and prawns in puff pastry and was really delicious as was the amazing duck with apple and calvados.\u00a0 The mini burger and the crispy prawns were also really tasty.\u00a0\u00a0 We then went to Bar Rafael<\/strong> just round the corner where we had a delicious tuna salad with chilli and some of the nicest tomatoes we’ve ever had, and a couple of other tasty pintxos to finish off the night.\u00a0 The staff there were really friendly too.<\/p>\n