NYT on Spain’s Costa Brava

The New York Times published an article entitled “Spain’s Wild Coast”. In it, Sarah Wildman writes about Costa Brava, an area in Catalonia near Barcelona.

She talks about cities like Cantallops and Llanca, mountain scenery, and the Mediterranean coast. Small medieval villages, ancient churches, historic farmhouses, beaches with crystal clear water, and delicious food all play a role.

Above all, she discusses how the area has maintained an authentic feel despite the tourism industry’s efforts to increase visitor numbers.

You can read the full story on nytimes.com.

Best Surfing in San Sebastian

Beach in San Sebastian
Beach in San Sebastian

Like many coastal cities in the Basque Country, San Sebastian is known for its surfing.

Surfing is a very popular activity in the city, and it’s hard to walk down a street during the day without seeing someone heading to the beach, surfboard in hand. The best surfing beaches in San Sebastian are right in the city center. They are as follows:

Playa Zurriola
Playa Zurriola (also called Playa Gros) is the best surfing beach in San Sebastian. It has surf conditions that can be enjoyed by beginners and advanced surfers alike.

Playa Zurriola also has a surf shop and school called Pukas where visitors can rent surf boards. The prices are not cheap, though, so if you can bring your own surf board to San Sebastian, you should do so.

Playa Ondarreta
Playa Ondarreta is another great surfing beach in San Sebastian. The beach is shielded by Santa Clara Island, which makes it a great place for beginner surfers. Playa Ondarreta is located on the opposite side of San Sebastian from Playa Zurriola.

Heading to France on the same trip? Try surfing in Biarritz while you’re there!

Top 10 Things to Do in San Sebastian

San Sebastian
San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a city that can keep visitors busy for a long time. With its great beaches, world-class cuisine and beautiful architecture, it’s hard to narrow down a list of things to do and see.

To help you plan your trip and narrow down what can feel like an endless array of choices, here is a list of the top 10 things to do in San Sebastian:

1. Eat a mouth-watering gelato at Gelateria Boulevard (located at Alameda Boulevard 20). It has some of the best gelato in the city, and is the perfect place to go on a hot summer day.

2. Spend a leisurely afternoon with a glass of wine or cup of coffee at one of the many outdoor cafes in San Sebastian

3. Visit the Mercado de la Bretxa, an underground food market in the center of San Sebastian

4. Party the night away at Etxekalte bar or Bataplan

5. Walk around admiring the beautiful buildings and historic architecture in San Sebastian

6. Hike up to the top of the hill near the old town. There you can explore the old fort and take in the views of the city below.

7. Try surfing in San Sebastian’s Atlantic waters

8. Lie out on La Concha beach on a summer day

9. Eat dinner at a three Michelin starred restaurant (Akelare restaurant is my favorite)

10. Spend an evening bar hopping and sampling the best pintxos in the old town