As we began our hike to the top of the 400-foot hill, it didn’t take long for the views below to stop us in our tracks.
To say what we saw was breathtaking doesn’t seem to do justice to the golden beaches, the Bay of Biscay’s turquoise water, the surrounding green, forested mountains, and the bright blue sky.
Navigating the switchback trail as we climbed up the hill took longer than we thought because around every corner was a new view that was worthy of a stop to admire the sights that got better and better.
My wife and I had arrived in San Sebastián, Spain, about 12 hours earlier after having taken a six-hour train from Barcelona to Bilbao, Spain. From there, we boarded a bus to travel another 90 minutes to San Sebastián, a city of about 187,000 people that is located in northern Spain about 12 miles from France on the coast of the Bay of Biscay.
We spent part of our first full day hiking. The trip to get to San Sebastián the previous day forced us to sit most all day, and our legs were craving exercise.
One of the most popular hikes in Sen Sebastián is to walk to the top of Monte Urgull, which is home to a small castle and a big statue of Christ that you can see from almost any spot in the city.
The hike up the hill is on a well-marked trail and is not too steep, but it’s impossible to make it to the top without a myriad of stops. The climb up will not take your breath away, but the views of the beach, ocean, surrounding mountains and city will leave you breathless.
It took us about two hours to hike up, admire the views and return to the city just in time to find a place for lunch.
San Sebastián is famous for its food scene, as you see more Michelin stars on the outside of restaurants than you see shells on a beach. More specifically, the city is known for its pintxos — small snacks that would be like an appetizer in the United States. They are normally served on small plates on top of bread or served with a skewer or toothpick.
San Sebastián is full of pintxo restaurants that display their delicacies on the bar tops. It’s normal to visit several of these bars for lunch and dinner, sampling a couple of pintxos at each place before moving on to the next restaurant to try some more until you’re full.
San Sebastián is not only one of Spain’s culinary capitals but also one of the world’s most famous spots to enjoy tiny plates of culinary art — everything from Iberian ham croquettes to mushrooms grilled with prawns.
Just like Street Fair week in Bluffton, calories don’t count when you’re in San Sebastián.
The beaches around San Sebastián are just as lovely as the food if you’re craving some sun. And for those of you who prefer to go shopping, the city is full of small stores that sell anything you could imagine.
The climate was ideal as well during our time there — temperatures in the low 70s and sunny. Summers in San Sebastián are comfortable with the temperature rarely exceeding the mid-80s.
My wife and I have both visited Spain before, but this summer’s trip was our first time in San Sebastián. Two days there, however, were not enough. We’d like to spend at least three to four days the next time we find ourselves in this little piece of Spanish paradise where all of your senses will be in overdrive.
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