“San Sebastián is Spain’s answer to Monte Carlo”
“San Sebastián is Spain’s answer to Monte Carlo”
1. San Miguel de Allende, 2. Udaipur, 3. Istanbul, 4. Ubud, 5. Kyoto, 6. Florence, 7. Mexico City, 8. Oaxaca, 9. Chiang Mai, 10. Bangkok, 11. Taipei, 12. Krakow, 13. Luang Prabang, 14. Rome, 15. San Sebastián, 16. Bodrum, 17. Jaipur, 18. Charleston, 19. Tokyo, 20. Cape Town. This is the list of the best cities in the world, according to the survey published by the well-known Travel + Leisure Magazine. And, once again, San Sebastián is there among the most desirable destinations of the planet.
San Sebastián, called Donostia in Basque, has been characterized for years as a select destination for the most demanding of travelers; those who require the maximum in terms of service and quality. The factor that has most influenced San Sebastián’s popularity on the world scene is its gastronomy. A total of 19 Michelin stars in a radius of 25 kilometers have made the city the favorite of food lovers. Nevertheless, haute cuisine in San Sebastián is not limited to restaurants with stars in the Michelin guide: the general level of restaurants in this region is very high, and we must also consider the love that the people from here have for local products, traditional recipes, cider houses, txakoli wineries, fresh markets, and, of course, pintxos. So as not to get lost amidst this plethora of temptations for the taste buds, it is recommendable to be advised by local guides: they are the ones who best transmit the passion that the Basque have for food.
Likewise, a varied array of cultural activities plays a relevant role in the daily life of the city and makes it an attractive destination for the most demanding visitors: museums, festivals, sculptures on display in squares, parks and promenades, the town’s architecture, and the Basque language – one of the oldest languages in Europe. These are all part of Basque culture, and the activities that are organized each day allow the visitor to get to know and experience that marked local identity.
Added to the “innate” charms of San Sebastián are the top-level services provided by the city’s companies. While the classic premium hotels have kept up with the times and adapted to the needs of the contemporary traveler, at the same time numerous boutique hotels and exclusive holiday homes have been opened, all of which offer a comfortable and friendly stay.
Flanked by the sea and the mountains, San Sebastián offers a plethora of experiences and activities that allow you to enjoy nature by land, sea, and air: sailboat trips, luxury picnics at private estates with incredible views, and flying over La Concha Bay in a helicopter. The best thing to do to get the most out of your time without missing anything is to take the advice of a local agency specialized in designing authentic experiences that are tailored to your needs.
Travelers with high purchasing power seek destinations where quality of life, safety, and comfort are guaranteed. In the case of San Sebastián, there are a series of factors that make them possible: the value of the city’s small size, of its slow movement, of its way of doing things well. Being able to stroll through a pedestrian-friendly city with a mild climate all year round and having good sports and health facilities is a true luxury.
Local commerce and fashion brands are also taking on an increasing role in the city and are an asset that is quite demanded by tourists. Local commerce together with the elements mentioned above have positioned San Sebastián at the top of the rankingin all the world. It’s no wonder that the readers of Travel + Leisure have voted it the fifteenth best city of the world and they define it as “Spain’s answer to Monte Carlo.”
Donostia Turismoa
Tel.: +34 943 481 166
