Posts Tagged ‘San Sebastian’
You will find lots of sporting activities in and around San Sebastian, such as horse back riding, golf, a plethora of water sports, and football. Due to San Sebastians proximity to Basque Country‘s nature reserve, there are many outdoor activitites, which you can participate in. 
For those thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies out there, there are a number of exciting activities such as; rock climbing, ravine descent, bungee jumping and canoeing.
San Sebastian is on the Cantabarian Sea, there are many water activitities such as surfing, scuba diving, or even just a day at the beach. If you are drawn to the ocean and waves then Zarautz, Zumaia, and Sopelana are all great surf spots, and the water is warm enough so you will not need a wetsuit. If scuba diving and snorkeling are more up your ally, the best places to submerge yourself are Matxitxako, Villano, Ogono and the Gipuzkoa and Igeldo. Greenish blue crystal clear water and a multitude of sealife make this a perfect place to dive.
On the other hand, the most popular sport is of course football. The Real Sociedad de Futbol is the cities top football team and they play in the first division. Therefore they play with teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. If you are a fan of football, get yourself down to the local stadium and watch some of Europe’s finest teams battle for the win.
Information about traveling to and around San Sebastian, Spain.
Arriving at San Sebastián Airport
San Sebastián
Airport Code: EAS
Address: San Sebastian Airport, Spain, Ctra de Playahundi s/n, E-20280 Hondarribia/Guipúzcoa
Phone: +34 943 668 500
Fax: +34 943 668 561
Website: www.aena.es
Email: infoeas@aena.es
Transportation from the Airport
Car Hire:
The airport has three main car hire companies, which have the convenience of being able to leave the terminal and pick your car up is a great benefit.
Avis
Telephone: +34 943 668 548
Fax: +34 943 644 516
Europcar
Telephone: +34 943 668 530
Fax: +34 943 668 530
Hertz
Telephone: +34 943 668 566
Fax: +34 943 668 526
Bus:
The bus stop is on the airport road about thirty meters from the passenger terminal. Buses depart every 20 minutes and cost around €1.45 to San Sebastian. For further information call: +34 943 641 302.
Taxi:
A taxi from the Airport to San Sebastian (by the motorway) will cost around €26 (including an extra charge for baggage). For further information please call: + 34 943 641 256 and for a Radiotaxi you can call + 34 943 633 303.
Public Transport in San Sebastian
San Sebastian is a relatively small city, so the best way to explore it is by foot. If you intend to travel longer distances, then it´s better to use the public transport systems.
Trains
The trains in San Sebastian are easily accessible. All the trains coming from Spain and France arrive at the Estación del Norte (RENFE – Paseo de Francia, s/n. Telephone +34 283 599 or +34 283 089). The trains coming from Bilbao or from Irun and Hendaya arrive at the Estación de Amara (Plaza Easo, s/n. +34 450 131 or +34 470 815). The railway system is reasonably efficient, reliable and relatively inexpensive.
Website: http://www.renfe.es
Eusko Tren
Address: Estación de Amara, Donosti / San Sebastián. Plaza Easo, s/n
Phone: +34 943 450 131
Website: http://www.euskotren.es
Taxi
The most efficient way to travel around the city is by taxi. The only problem is that taxis are rather expensive. All taxis have meters and their rates vary depending on your destination. The rates are regulated by publicly displayed fares, but to avoid any kind of dispute, it’s wise to negotiate a fixed rate for your destination. You can find many taxi stands around the city. The rates are more expensive between 11.00 pm and 07.00 am and on national holidays.
Donosti
Phone: +34 943 46 46 46
Easo
Phone: +34 467 666 (equipped with vehicules suitable for handicapped passengers).
Santa Clara
Phone: +34 310 111
Suital
Phone: +34 396 840
Radio Suital
Phone: +34 943 396 840
Radio-teléfono
Phone: +34 943 426 642
Vallina Teletaxi
Phone: +34 943 404 040
Bus
San Sebastian’s bus service is very effective and reliable; the buses are clean, very well services and maintained. Buses provide good links to all parts of the city, the local Airport, train stations and downtown areas; they are also a lot cheaper than taxis.
Transportes Pesa Autobuses
Phone: +34 943 463 974
Turytrans – Autobuses
Phone: +34 943 462 360
The city’s population has grown from 2,500 to over 180,000. Primarily now a family resort, San Sebastian is a city that is well know for it’s great summer arts festival; the July Jazz Festival ; a Classical Music Festival held in late August and San Sebastian International Film Festival held in September. On the 20th of January every year the people of San Sebastian celebrate a festival known as the Tamborrada , at midnight in the Constitution Plaza , the leader of the festival raises the flag of San Sebastian and then for 24 hours the entire city is awash with the sound of drums. In August the festival called La Semana Grande de San Sebastián is held and this focuses on traditional Basque folk culture. They have fireworks competitions every night and a fireworks presentation over the bay. At the end, a winner is declared.
San Sebastian is a perfect place to practise almost all kinds of sport. The choice range from golf or horse riding to rock climbing or bungee jumping. Of course, because of the city´s location and its nature reserves, the most popular are sea activities such as surfing, canoeing or scuba diving. Surfing enthusiasts shouldn´t miss the chance to go to Zarautz and Zumaia which are perfect spots for this activity. While Villano, Ogono and Igeldo areas are popular for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Of course, Soccer cannot be forgotten when talking about San Sebastian. This game is probably the most popular sport in the city and majority of locals practise it to a some extend. The Real Sociedad Football is the best team in San Sebastian, which plays in the First Division with elite teams such as F.C. Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Museo Mariposas del Mundo (Butterfly Museum)
Where: Larretxipi, 5 Bajo
This museum has a collection of over 7000 butterflies and insects from different parts of the world. There you can find the lives and detailed characteristics of butterflies, so get ready for very colourful afternoon in the Butterfly Museum.
Museo de San Telmo (The San Telmo Museum)
Where: Plaza Zuloaga 1
This museum exhibits Basque artwork. Works of well known artists such as Josep Maria Sert or Rubens are displayed there. The exhibition includes paintings, frescoes and sculptures, from 19th and 20th centuries.
Museo Naval (Naval Museum)
Where: Paseo del Muelle, 24
Naval Museum, as it is showed in the name, is focused on the history of naval and its constructions. There you also can find a wide collection of marine books and some important documents as well as different artefacts that are significant for the city´ś maritime past.
Museo de Medio Ambiente (The Environmental Museum)
Where: Barrio Loyola, 1
This museum is all about the technology´s impact on the environment. It tries to analyse and show to what extend increased population, various developments, traffic and many other factors effect the quality of life in urban areas.
Museo Diocesano de San Sebastian (Diocesan Museum of San Sebastian)
Where: Sagrada Familia, 11
This museum is focused on religious art. There is an extended exhibition with different religious artworks in the forms of paintings, images and sculptures from the 8th to the 19th century. Important thing is that all artefacts are displayed in chronological order so you can easily follow the development of religious art.
Sociedad Fotografica (Photographic Society)
Where: Paseo Nuevo, s/n
This is very popular hall which exhibits an impressive collection of photographs and videos taken by both well known professional photographers and students. Moreover, from time to time you can find various workshops taken place over there.
Museo de la Confiteria (Confectionary Museum)
Where: Lechuga, 2, Tolosa
Probably one of the most exciting museums in San Sebastian. Once you step in there, you remember the movie ´Charlie’s Chocolate Factory´. The museum intends to show that chocolate and candies can be a form of art too. One advice – don´t go there hungry 
Museo Vasco del Ferrocarril (Museum of Basque Rail)
Where: Julián Elorza, 8
The Museum shows the history of trains and railway system in Basque country. There you can see an extensive exhibition of trains and mechanical workshop.
Nightlife is other reason to visit San Sebastian. It seems that this city starts to live only after the midnight. The Old Town (Parte Vieja) is usually packed with people who are ready to party till the sunrise, especially on weekends. The best known and the most crowded streets in a city centre are Alameda del Bulevar and Calle Fermín Calvetón. These places have such a variety of bars, pubs, night clubs, that it is easy to get confused and very difficult to decide where to go tonight. So you can go to different places every single night, while you are there! The Gros District and Illumbe are other option for partying the night away, as it also has plenty of options of different late night bars where parties can last till 6 or 7 in the morning.
The main cultural centre of the city is concert hall - Kursaal Centre, there all the major events take place. So it is always worth checking the schedule of the upcoming events, as sometimes you can find really exciting things going on there. By the way, probably one of the best and very original evening entertainment in San Sebastian is tapas-tasting in the Old Town. This is one of those ´must do´ things, which undoubtedly needs to be tried. If you want a calm and quiet evening you can always take a walk along the promenade in La Concha. The warm night breeze and the smell of the sea is another option to have an unforgettable evening.
Although San Sebastian with its well known beaches such as Playa de la Concha, Playa de Gros or Ondaretta is considered as elegant and fashionable seaside resort, there are a number of historical and significant sights which have to be visit as well.
The Old Town
San Sebastian can be really proud of its Old Town, called the Parte Vieje. Although most of the buildings are considered as being relatively new, as they there destroyed and rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1813, it still has very authentic atmosphere and character. The tiny streets and alleys are packed with variety of authentic restaurants, tapas bars and shops, which makes the place the most lively spot in the city. Old town´s heart is Plaza de la Constitución, a charming arcaded square with orange and blue shutters.
Church of Santa Maria
This church is the best know baroque church in the city. It is close to the old town, so you probably cannot not to notice it.
Monte Urgull
It can take more than hour to reach the top of the mountain, but once you climb up, the view is more than worth it, as it provides the best view of the bay and the town. Additionally, on a top of the hill you will find a large statue of Christ (the Monumento al Sagrado Corazón) which definitely has a Rio de Janeiro aura, and a free museum – Castillo de la Mota, which is not big but still can give you a better understanding of a history of San Sebastian.
At first it is worth explaining that San Sebastian is called Donastia in the Basque language, which is one of the two official languages in the city. So don´t get confused.
It is believed that city of San Sebastian was founded in 1180 by the King Sancho el Mayor of Navarra. The city because of its unique location and a port soon became a military centre of that time. This is the main reason why the city was destroyed several times during the 15th and 16th centuries. In addition to wars, San Sebastian has experienced a few occupations as well. At first, in 1719 the city was occupied by French, however after the peace act in 1721 San Sebastian was a relatively peace place until 1808 when Napoleon with his army stepped into the city, and their occupation lasted until they were driven out by anglo-portugues in 1813. In the 19th century the city experienced another war. The Carlist war. However, despite of a great loss, San Sebastian managed to develop and grow to a great extend. Consequently after a while it became a provincial capital of Guipuzcoa.
San Sebastian started to be seen more as an attractive city to visit than a military stronghold in 1845, after a visit of Queen Isabel II. According to history, she was under the necessity to take salt water baths. This visit has influenced fast development of San Sebastian and the city soon became one of the most popular tourist destinations and a spa resort. In addition to this, a casino was built in 1887, which attracted a great amount of upper class people from all of Europe. The city reached its peak during the First World War. While the rest of the world was experiencing a destruction of the war, San Sebastian became one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe.
After the civil war in 1930, the cityś industry boomed. This has lead to an increase of population and an economic development. Nowadays, San Sebastian still continues to develop and maintains its style and excitement with a growing reputation as a major venue for international cultural and commercial events.
