San Sebastian, one of the top 20 cities in the world surf

San Sebastián, Spain

Photograph by Ian McDonnell, Getty Images

Best For: Couples who want to spend nights enjoying the bars and world-class restaurants in one of the most romantic small cities in Europe and afternoons surfing off their hangovers

San Sebastián, or Donostia in the local language, is the cultural capital of Spain’s vibrant Basque country. Though not as renowned for waves as its northeastern neighbors in France, it more than makes up for it by being a center for music, cinema, and molecular gastronomy for all of Europe.

“Donostia is a marvelous place with a lot to offer both in and out of the water,” says local surfer and city tourism official Jokin Arroyo Uriarte. “It’s a small city where you can surf at Zurriola Beach then walk over to the old part of the city for a few pintxos (Basque referring to small portions like tapas), a couple glasses of beer, and an incredibly authentic ambiance. Apart from having one of the most beautiful bays in the world, Bahía de la Concha, the city has a love affair with surfing and tons of infrastructure for the visiting surfer.”

When

June to November. The waves are better in the fall, but the city hosts numerous excellent festivals in the summer, such as the Amstel Surfilm Festibal.

Learn

Zurriola Surf Eskola is San Sebastián’s newest surf school, with great equipment and a young, dedicated staff.

Eat/Drink

The old part of the city is filled with pintxo restaurants that double as bars. For a sit-down meal, head to the Michelin-rated Arzak, the restaurant of one of Europe’s greatest chefs, Juan Mari Arzak. Remember that most locals don’t eat dinner until around 10:00 p.m., and the real nightlife doesn’t get rolling until the wee hours.

Play

Hike up Mount Urgull for great views of the Bahía de la Concha, or visit a Sidrería, where the Basques make some of their famous hard ciders. For a longer excursion, head to the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Local Tip

“Drop by the surf club and chat with some locals,” says Arroyo Uriarte. “If you’re lucky, someone might invite you to a private dinner in one of the gastronomic societies, which are temples of Basque gastronomy.” Also, remember that speaking a little Basque goes a long way: kaixo means “hello” and agur means “see you later.”