Visiting Spain

Language in the Basque Country

Basque Flag

The Basque country of Spain and France has its own language and culture. The language in San Sebastian and the rest of the region is the Basque language of Euskera.

Euskera is spoken in San Sebastian and throughout the Basque country in northern Spain and southwestern France. The origins of the language are debated, but it has been spoken for centuries.

Almost everyone in San Sebastian and the Basque Country also speaks Spanish, so you don’t have to worry about a big language barrier if you travel there. However, as in most places, learning a few words in the local language will go a long way with the people there.

All road and municipal signs in San Sebastian are bilingual in Euskera and Spanish, and San Sebastian is called Donostia in Euskera. You will see this on signs throughout the region, so it is a good one to remember.

Pension Bikain in San Sebastian Review

San Sebastian

Pension Bikain Hotel in San Sebastian
Address: Triunfo, 8 Entrlo. San Sebastian, Spain
Phone: +34 94 345 4333
Web: http://www.pensionbikain.com

Located just 50 meters from La Concha beach in the heart of the city, the 2-star Pension Bikain is a great hotel in San Sebastian.

Rooms are decorated in simple, traditional decor with floral bedspreads, curtains, and wood floors.

There are seven double bedrooms at the hotel. Each one has an ensuite bathroom with a shower, and all of them come with air conditioning, satellite TV, telephones, and a refrigerator. To top it all off, Pension Bikain offers free WiFi internet access to all guests.

With double rooms starting at 65 euros a night, Pension Bikain is also a very cheap hotel in San Sebastian. It offers great value for money, and is a good place to stay if you are traveling in Spain on a budget.

Best Restaurants in San Sebastian

Akelare

San Sebastian has some of the best restaurants in the world, and the most Michelin stars per capita of any city.

Here is a list of the best restaurants in San Sebastian:

Akelare – Akelare restaurant has three Michelin stars and serves inventive cuisine in a stunning cliff-top dining room. Make sure to arrive hungry, as the tasting menus involve many courses.

Arzak – Arzak restaurant has three Michelin stars and is consistently ranked high on the Top 50 Restaurants in the World list. It is arguably the best restaurant in San Sebastian.

Martin Berasategui – Martin Berasategui restaurant has three Michelin stars and is known for its creative cooking techniques.

Mugaritz – Mugaritz is a 2-Michelin starred restaurant that always places high on the Top 50 Restaurants in the World list. It claims to be a “gastronomic-musical collaborative project”, and is known for evoking emotion with its cuisine.

Asador Etxebarri – Asador Etxebarri restaurant (in Atxondo-Bizkaia, between Bilbao and San Sebastian) also places among the Top 50 Restaurants in the World. The cuisine focuses on the grill and the chef likes to experiment with “primitive” cooking techniques.

Want something lighter? Try some of the best pintxos in San Sebastian. You can find a list of the top 5 places to eat them here.