Sketches of Spain: San Sebastián / Donostia

View from the western side of La Concha.

I had the pleasure of visiting San Sebastián (locally known in the Basque language as Donostia) for a few days in June. I had never been to the Basque country though I had heard it was much different than the rest of the country. I didn't expect much from the city of San Sebastián but I was blown away how much I loved the area and the city.

San Sebastián is geographically attractive with lush green hillsides framing a long coastline filled with parks and beaches. It reminded me of the Pacific Northwest in America and the inhabitants appeared to share a similar outdoorsy and active lifestyle. Cyclists, joggers, and hikers were found throughout the city and the surrounding environs.

We had two afternoons in the town and we came each night (four nights total) to sample the pintxos. On the weekends the town was packed and gave off a tremendous energy as we walked around the streets. While there were obviously loads of tourists there also appeared to be majority locals. The city is built for strolling around, whether it is the famed beach and waterfront of La Concha or the bustling neighborhoods around the river. When you look at the tourist map it actually looks like the majority of the city is a park and/or green space and that is not entirely far from the truth.

The vibes and energy of San Sebastián easily put it as one of my favorite cities I've ever visited worldwide. It has a busy feel without being too large or crowded, tons of outdoors activities, amazing food, and beautiful surroundings. It also has the strong Bosque culture and language and sense of history that runs deep in the area. I will admit that there were several factors that made the town even more lively such as the summer solstice and the festival of San Juan over the weekend but I'd imagine the place to be lively any time of the year.