Sheltered by the Bay of Biscay from the extreme summer heat experienced in other parts of Spain, San Sebastián has a long-established reputation for gastronomic excellence and belle époque resort style.
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Once the summer playground of the Spanish royal family, the city now hosts cinema royalty for a week every September during its international film festival.
For gourmands, two of San Sebastián’s three-star Michelin restaurants — Martín Berasategui and Akelarre — are a short drive from the city proper, in an area where villas and farmhouses begin to dot the landscape.
The Gros district, across the river from the old town, is energetic and creative. Due to the excellent surfing on offer at Zurriola beach, it is popular with young professionals and families.
Those seeking tranquility and more spacious residences will find the hilltop of Aiete to their taste, with easy access to the iconic La Concha beach.
Further inland, cider houses (sagardotegia) serve traditional fare that can often compete with the best. Cider, produced in-house at Rezola sagardotegia, is the perfect accompaniment to the king of Basque dishes: txuletón beef steak, cooked simply and seasoned with rock salt for an authentic flavour of the region.
Santio Zeharra Kalea, 14, 20115 Astigarraga
Photographs: Alamy; Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty; UIG via Getty Images; Dreamstime
