San Sebastian

San Sebastián (Donostia) is the culinary capital of the world — a claim backed by the extraordinary concentration of Michelin stars per capita (the highest density in the world outside Kyoto), a thriving pintxo bar culture that has elevated bar snacks to high gastronomy, and a collective culinary obsession that permeates every level of the local food culture. The Basque city on the Bay of Biscay is also one of the most beautiful in Spain. La Concha beach, curving along the bay between two headlands (Monte Urgull and Monte Igueldo), is universally agreed to be one of the finest urban beaches in Europe — sheltered, clean, magnificently backed by the city's Belle Époque seafront. The Old Town (Parte Vieja), on the east bank of the Urumea River, is the pintxo epicentre — Calle de la 31 de Agosto, Calle Fermín Calbetón and Fermin Bergara offer dozens of bars where you help yourself from plates of pintxos (small snacks on bread) and pay by counting the cocktail sticks. The quality is exceptional. Beyond the Old Town, the Gros neighbourhood across the river has excellent surf beaches. Arzak and Mugaritz (both multi-Michelin-starred) represent the summit of Basque nouvelle cuisine. The San Sebastián Film Festival (September) is one of Europe's most important. Day trips to Hondarribia, Biarritz and the Basque Coast are all excellent. The Basque Country's commitment to quality, craft and cultural identity makes San Sebastián the most concentrated expression of what makes this region special.