San Sebastian + The Best of Basque Country
Basque Country is a culturally distinct region of Europe which straddles the border between France and Spain. It is bounded by the picturesque Pyrenees Mountains to the east and the glimmering Bay of Biscay to the west. The language spoken in this region is neither French nor Spanish, but Basque - a language as distinctly unique as its culture. This is a place where food is a source of connection, pride, and inspiration. Whether you find yourself in a local “pintxo” bar or one of the nearly 20 Michelin-star restaurants, you will find that the cuisine is nothing less than spectacular. Perfect for foodies, nature lovers, and curious culture connoisseurs, this trip will have you tasting your way through San Sebastian, finding peace in the countryside, and falling in love with the best of Basque Country!
Interested in this trip? Fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
This Trip at a Glance
Dates: TBD | Price: $5,750
This trip features both sophisticated and casual experiences. The pace is moderate, and participants should be comfortable walking and standing for extended periods of time.
If you wish to take this trip at another date, either solo or with a group of your own, contact us and we’ll work with you to customize this trip for your needs.
The Itinerary — 7 Days, 6 Nights
Day 1
San Sebastian from above.
The best way to reach San Sebastian from the United States is by flying into the nearby cities of either Bilbao, Spain or Biarritz, France. Upon your arrival, a driver will escort you via private van into San Sebastian, one of Spain’s most stunning coastal towns.
Drop off your bags at the Hotel Maria Cristina, a gorgeous, 5-star hotel in the heart of the city and a long-held favorite amongst film stars who flock to the area every year for the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Meet your fellow travelers and your ATC Trip host for a Welcome Lunch at Cafe Oquendo, a local favorite.
Following lunch, embark on a walking tour of the city which will delve into the city’s fascinating star-studded history, why some of the Silver Screen Era’s most famous icons were charmed by this quaint locale, and why visitors today continue to fall in love with this authentically Basque city.
Return to the Hotel Maria Cristina to check-in to your room and get settled. In the evening enjoy drinks and dinner at the hotel’s intimate yet dazzling Dry Bar, a setting so classically elegant, you’d almost expect to be sipping a cocktail alongside Bette Davis - rumored to have sipped her last drink at this bar.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
A spread of pintxos at a local bar. Photo source.
In the morning, enjoy breakfast at a cozy, casual café. Afterward, meet with your local guide and embark on a walking tour of the city focused on the heritage and history of San Sebastian (or Donostia as it is known in Basque) from ancient times through the present. Visit some of the city’s most famous sites and listen as your expert guide shares lesser known stories and provides insight into the heart of Basque culture.
Following the tour, enjoy lunch at Restaurant Tracamundana, a family-owned restaurant serving up traditional Basque dishes with a modern twist. After lunch venture to the San Telmo Museum, a museum dedicated to Basque ethnography, history, archaeology, and art. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
In the evening, depart on a private Pintxos & Wine Tasting Tour during which you’ll explore some of the best pintxo bars of the city’s characteristic Old Quarter. Pintxos, similar to tapas, are an integral part of Basque culture, and the Basque way to enjoy them is by bouncing from one bar to the next eating “a little bit, often.” Spend the evening strolling amongst the Old Quarter’s neoclassical buildings, uncovering hidden baroque and gothic churches along the way, and dining like a true local in San Sebastian!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Old Town Bilbao. Photo source.
Begin the day with a quick bite at a local coffee shop before departing on a day trip to the nearby city of Bilbao, Spain. Though just an hour’s drive west of San Sebastian, Bilbao offers travelers a look into a slightly different side of Basque culture. The city is much more metropolitan and industrial than its laid-back San Sebastian cousin, yet similar themes run throughout both cities. Here, you’ll find ancient cobblestone streets and an abundance of pintxos bars juxtaposed by ultra modern buildings and structures, most notably the incredible Guggenheim Museum. Spend the day exploring the best of Bilbao and learn how the city has managed to seamlessly blend the old with the new.
Enjoy the drive back San Sebastian and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure or join a Hidden Parks and Palaces Tour of San Sebastian where you’ll explore some of the lesser-known areas of the city.
In the evening, enjoy dinner at Cafe Saigon, a fine Asian-inspired restaurant located in the Hotel Maria Cristina.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4
Biarritz fishing harbor. Photo source.
While this trip focuses largely on the Spanish side of Basque, French Basque is equally enthralling. On this day, a private guide will escort you on a beautiful scenic drive along the coast towards the stylish French Basque town of Biarritz. Discover why Biarritz became the favored summer destination for aristocracy from across the globe and why it is now considered Europe’s surfing capital. Continue the journey to the small fisherman town of Saint Jean de Luz, France. Enjoy the afternoon strolling along these charming streets and taking in views of the Pyrenees mountains in the distance. Back in Spanish Basque, pay a visit to Hondarribia, a well-preserved Medieval town with a fortified Old City. Despite seeing many battles, much of the town remains intact and beckons travelers to discover the secrets within its storied city walls.
Return to San Sebastian and enjoy the early evening at leisure. Enjoy dinner at Alameda, one of the (relatively) more casual Michelin-star restaurants in San Sebastian serving up traditional Basque staples with an avant-garde twist.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 5
San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja. Photo source.
In the morning, meet your private guide at the hotel where you’ll board a private van and travel across the Basque Mountains to the nearby wine region of Rioja. Your first stop will be the historic town of Haro, where you’ll sample fine wine from some of the oldest wineries, or bodegas, in the region. From there, continue the journey to the picturesque medieval village of Laguardia, pausing to visit the 12th-century San Vicente castle-fortress along the way. As you explore the area, your guide will share tales of the history of La Rioja. Enjoy pintxos and drinks at a local restaurant before beginning the journey back to San Sebastian, stopping for a nature stroll to stretch your legs if time allows.
Return to the hotel to relax and refresh. In the evening, enjoy a delightful dinner at Arzak, a 3-Michelin-star restaurant continually voted the “Best Restaurant in San Sebastian”.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6
At the end of the San Sebastian to San Pedro hike. Photo source.
Note: A moderate fitness level is required for the 4-mile (approximately 4 hour) hike to San Pedro. The pace will be leisurely, but if you do not feel comfortable embarking on this trek, alternate activities will be suggested.
Meet your private guide in the morning in the heart of San Sebastian and depart on a half-day hike along a portion of The Camino de Santiago, or Saint James’ Way as it is known in English.
The Camino de Santiago is a network of medieval pilgrimage routes leading to a shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in northwestern Spain. Because one of these routes happens to run along the coast near San Sebastian, hiking a portion of this historic trail offers travelers the opportunity to embark on their own mini pilgrimage - and enjoy breathtaking scenery along the way. Your journey will end in the small fishing village of San Pedro where your efforts will be rewarded with pintxos and drinks!
Return to San Sebastian (via car) and spend the afternoon at leisure. You might consider a hike to the top of Monte Urgull, a forested hill located at one end of La Concha Bay which offers postcard-worthy views of San Sebastian from above. Also located on Monte Urgull is an abandoned castle and a 40-foot statue of Christ. For a more relaxing afternoon, consider treating yourself to a spa treatment at the famous La Perla Spa.
In the evening, enjoy a leisurely sunset cruise around La Concha Bay on a modern catamaran. Return to shore and enjoy the freedom to choose any restaurant which suits your fancy with dinner on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Private cooking class. Photo source.
By this point, you will certainly have come to understand that the importance of food in Basque culture cannot be overstated. Cuisine and culinary traditions are an integral component of life in San Sebastian, and one of the most honored traditions of all is that of the Sociedad Gastronómica (Gastronomic Society). On this day, you’ll gain an inside look into the inner working of this traditionally mens-only, member-only cooking club. You’ll begin the day with a guided visit to La Brecha food market where chef’s gather local produce and meat needed for the day’s dishes. Then continue on to the Gastronomic Society where you’ll create an authentic, 3-course Basque meal with the help of an expert, local chef.
In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of UNESCO'S Basque Coast Geopark. Witness fantastical rock formations formed millions of years ago, learn what fossils have been found in the area, and discover the local history and traditions of this area.
Return to San Sebastian and in the evening, depending on the wishes of the group, enjoy your Farewell Dinner at either the Hotel Maria Cristina Dry Bar or a local restaurant in town.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
Transfer to either Bilbao or Biarritz for return flight home.
Accommodations: The Hotel Maria Cristina
“Since it opened in 1912, Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel has been intimately linked to the history and cultural life of San Sebastian. In the late 19th century the seaside town on the southern point of the Bay of Biscay became a favorite destination for royalty and aristocrats who came to enjoy the sunshine and newly recognized therapeutic properties of sea bathing. A traditional afternoon stroll along the boardwalk offered an opportunity to see and be seen while the many cafés and open-air terraces were filled with high society. San Sebastian had passed from being a sleepy fishing village into a thriving cosmopolitan town requiring luxurious, modern facilities to meet the demands of its discerning guests. The majestic design of the hotel by architect Charles Mewes, the man responsible for the Ritz in Madrid and Paris, combined with the property’s enviable river setting and sea views, resulted in it immediately becoming the favored accommodation for international high society.”
Gain a glimpse into this fabulous 5-star hotel by watching the attached video!
Photo Gallery
Additional Trip Information
Inclusions
7 nights in the 5-star Hotel Maria Cristina
4 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
All tours mentioned in the itinerary
Private guides
Airport transfer
Local travel concierge
Gratuities
An AstridTravel Club Representative on-site
Exclusions
Airfare
Meals not specified in itinerary
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Travel Insurance
Payment Schedule
$850 deposit is required upon booking
$2,600 payment due on or before January 1, 2021
$2,300 payment due on or before February 1, 2021
Monthly payment plans available. Contact us for details.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel your trip 90 days or more prior to departure, and you will receive a full refund of any monies paid to the ATC. Cancel your trip between 89 - 60 days prior to departure, and you will receive a 50% refund. Cancel your trip between 59 - 30 days prior to departure and you will receive a 25% refund. Cancel your trip less than 30 days prior to departure, and you will receive no refund.
All cancellations must be sent via email to contact@astridtravel.com and are effective the date we receive this correspondence.
ATC reserves the right to cancel this trip for any reason. Such reasons include, but are not limited to, attaining an insufficient number of participants necessary to make the trip feasible, weather, and similar unforeseen circumstances. In such event, you may choose to either receive a full refund or apply your payments to another trip if approved by ATC.
Traveler Requirements
Travelers must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months following the return travel date.
Travelers are responsible for making their own flight arrangements.
Travelers must provide a copy of their desired flight reservation before booking to ensure that all information is correct. If you would like assistance booking your flight, please contact us.
Travelers must purchase travel insurance to go on this trip. In the event that you are unable attend this trip due to an illness, family emergency, missed or canceled flight, act of terrorism, natural disaster, etc., Astrid Solo Travel Advisor, AstridTravel LLC, the AstridTravel Club LLC, nor any affiliated person or party will be held responsible for payment repatriation. Protect yourself against any unforeseen trip disasters and purchase travel insurance. More details will be provided after you make a trip reservation.
Interested in Joining?
If you are interested in this trip to San Sebastian, fill out the brief, no obligation, interest form below and we will reach out to you via email. Please feel free to include any questions or comments you might have about this trip.