About Spain |
San Sebastian, also known as Donostia, is what many would consider a quintessentially Spanish city. Firstly, it's a coastal city that highlights the beauty of the Mediterranean. When you're here, every time you step out constantly reminds you that you're in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. San Sebastian is also a city that embraces traditional Spanish culture, ranging from food and social customs. So when you're here, you truly get to experience what Spain is all about. And this is why you ought to know more about San Sebastian!
Perched beside the Bay of Biscay in the mountainous region of Basque Country, San Sebastian, also known as Donostia, is a famous resort city in Spain. With a population of only 185,422 residents as of 2021, there's more space for tourists to come by and enjoy a peaceful stay here. Although the city doesn't compare to the likes of Madrid, Barcelona, and even Ibiza when it comes to popularity, it has been getting a lot of international visitors over the past few years. But be that as it may, Spanish remains the dominant language here, taught at the various language schools in the city.
Since San Sebastian is a coastal city, one would think that the best time to go here would be during summer, right? While there's nothing wrong with that, the heat here can get pretty overwhelming, especially for those who came from or are used to colder climates. Because of this, the best time to travel to San Sebastian is during spring, typically within the months of March and May. The temperature isn't as extreme and the climate isn't as harsh or intense. Conversely, you might want to avoid going here in July and November. The former is the hottest month of the year while the latter is the wettest.
When talking about the most idyllic Mediterranean destinations, San Sebastian rarely comes up in the conversation. Granted that it's not as famous as the likes of Barcelona, Cannes, Sicily, and more, it's still a beautiful place in its own right. You'd only really see its true beauty if you get to explore the different neighborhoods in San Sebastian. From the artistic appeal of Egia and the bustling energy of Centro to the captivating scenery of Gros and the historic charms of Parte Vieja, there's no other place quite like this city! You'd miss out on a lot if you choose not to go here when given the chance.
Don't think that since San Sebastian is a coastal city, the beaches here are the only worthwhile places to see. That couldn't be farther from the truth! In fact, you can spend an entire day in San Sebastian without going to the beach and you'd be surprised as to how many beautiful spots you visited or all the new things you experience.
You can go to Palacio de Miramar, for instance, which once stood as the vacation home of Queen Victoria of the UK. The peak of Monte Igueldo, on the other hand, will give you a stunning view that you won't find anywhere else!
As beautiful a city as San Sebastian is, it's actually an affordable place as well. Since the Mediterranean is infamous for its luxurious coastal cities, it's easy to think that Donostia is one of them, right? Well, it isn't. On the contrary, you'd be surprised at how low many of the living costs in this city are. Take common rental fees, for instance. In San Sebastian, you can already get a luxury home that's as low as €550.00 a month. Not bad, right? And when it comes to food, €54.70 can already get you one to two weeks' worth of groceries!
Although San Sebastian has a small population, you still won't want to offend any of the locals here. You won't want to deal with angry Spaniards as they can get pretty out there when they don't like someone. So to ensure that you don't end up offending them in any way, adhere to the social customs here.
Although San Sebastian is a relatively small city, it's still made up of different neighborhoods, districts, and the like. So, of course, the public transport here would be as bustling and busy as ever. San Sebastian has everything, from the buses that follow a strict schedule, taxis that you can hail off the street, and even rental services if you prefer to drive your own vehicle. Moreover, even the most useful transportation apps work here too. How's that for convenience? If ever you're in need of public transport in San Sebastian, know that you have a ton of options to choose from!
Since it's a resort town, San Sebastian has garnered quite a pleasant reputation as a top tourist medical destination in Spain. It offers the perfect environment for patients to recover and recuperate. But how does one take care of healthcare here? Well, since Spanish healthcare is a universal system, legal residents have nothing to worry about. But if you're a visitor or a medical tourist, you might want to get private healthcare to help you get treated in the city. The smartest way is to get a plan from international providers like Allianz Care or Cignal Global.
Of course, one of the best parts about traveling to new places is getting to taste their food. Here in San Sebastian, you can expect some of the most sumptuous Spanish seafood you'll ever have! From delicious crab that gets you excited with every crack to a myriad of fishes that they've fried, smoked, or filleted, you'll get your fair share of Mediterranean cuisine in San Sebastian.
Especially if you go to some of the most notable foodie hotspots in the city. Many of them offer traditional Spanish menus that lean more on the seafood side.
You should also be wary of the Spanish holidays when you travel to San Sebastian. Despite being a coastal city, the place isn't so disconnected that it doesn't celebrate the national holidays of the country. And yes, these special occasions can affect your stay here. Since Spain is a Roman Catholic country, they take the various holy days very seriously, from the Lenten Season and Easter Sunday to Christmas and beyond. You'll find that on such days, the city tends to feel more solemn and quiet, with most locals heading off to church to hear mass or simply pray in their own homes.
After one visit, you'll definitely be tempted to actually move to San Sebastian. Who wouldn't want to live in such a paradise, right? But don't think that it's easy! Starting a new life, even in such a dreamy destination like San Sebastian, is a lot of hard work. You'll need to start from scratch, such as opening a new bank account, starting a new lease on your home, and more.
Fortunately, this relocation guide can show you the ropes. It lists everything you'll need to know and do in order to settle down in San Sebastian with no problem at all.
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