SPAIN: San Sebastián Foodie Tour - 8 days:
Destinations: Spain: San Sebastián
Tour Grading
Tour Commences In: San Sebastián
Number of Days: San Sebastián
Accommodation:
Leaders:
Tour Concludes In:
Tour Style:
Meals: Breakfast; : lunch; ; Dinner: :
Transportation: Chauffeur driver - Private Luxury vehicle
San Sebastián
Day 1: Friday: Arrive San Sebastián – City Tour: (D)
Welcome to San Sebastian. You will be met by our guide at the airport or train station and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have free time to explore this great city. You may wish to arrive a day earlier to shop or maybe just to get your bearings and recover from any jet lag you may have. If you do choose to arrive early, we are able to extend your hotel bookings and provide any information or advice you may need in order to make the most of your time in this exciting metropolis.
Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel Lobby before departing for a city tour. Enjoy a nice and easy walk along the bay until the Comb of the Wind, one of the most famous sculpture by the Basque artist Eduardo Chillida (bus available for those who do not wish to walk).
Stop at the Miramar Palace, where the queen Maria Cristina used to spend her summer holidays in San Sebastián.
Take the funicular up the Monte Igueldo hill, to enjoy the best views of the city. Stop for coffee with local sweets is waiting for you.
Your private car will be waiting for you to take you to the first restaurant to start this gastro holiday. The chef always tries to use local seasonal products in his kitchen and the restaurant is known for its high quality both in the menu and the service. This restaurant is well known for its magnificent cellar: Thousands of the best bottles of wine are hidden underneath its foundation. A large variety of soups from over 20 countries allow a special and unique complicity with every customer and every moment.
Day 2: – Saturday: Discover Basque Gastronomy: (B/L/D)
Be ready to discover the inland of the region, where you’ll find out the essence of the real Basque people.
Once the capital of Gipuzkoa, Tolosa was for centuries a strategic commercial point that connected the interior of the country with the Cantabrian ports due to its location on the Oria river.
The Saturday market is probably the largest market in the Basque Country. Farmers from the region gather in Tolosa to sell their local products, always of the highest quality and freshness. And there are many specialties in the area! When talking about Tolosa, every Basque will automatically think about a "red bean”, one of the city’s gastronomy gem. A local "red bean” producer will be ready to guide us along the Basque Red Bean association and give us a talk about this Basque speciality.
You will enjoy Lunch at ‘Casa’. Three generations have been working hard to become ‘The Place to eat the best meat of the region’, where even big business is done.
Transfer back to your hotel and enjoy some free time to rest before enjoying another gourmet moment.
Dinner at a restaurant which is located within walking distance to your hotel.
Day 3: Sunday: Discover San Sebastián & a French City: (B/L/D)
It’s pintxos time!
At this moment, you might have already appreciated that there are lots of "TX” in the Basque Language. This sound is quite similar to the "CH” sound in English. We use it every time!
Some people think that the Pintxos are the Basque tapas, but this is not 100% correct. While a tapa might be just a slice of bread with Spanish chorizo or a bowl of olives; the pintxos are more elaborated.
Your local host will guide you through the streets of the old town of San Sebastián to choose the best specialties and do not expect to sit down in one place and just ask for some pintxos.
We local Donostiarras, (the Basque way to call a person from Donostia-San Sebastian) are used to entering different restaurants and asking for the best pintxo together with a glass of Rioja wine, Txakoli or Basque apple cider. It´s up to you!
Transfer to San Juan de Luz (maybe a nice siesta to recover from the pintxos tour). Nice option to have the chance to get a rough idea of what the French Basque Country looks like. Feel free to enjoy a sweet break in some of the local bakeries.
In the evening you will enjoy a light dinner at San Juan de Luz before retuning back to San Sebastian.
Day 4: Monday: Discover Basque Culture: (B/L)
Today you'll taste one of the typical Basque drinks the area is famous for, the Cider.
We will visit a cider house which is an ideal place to taste cider and traditional Basque gastronomy: in the heart of nature, surrounded by apple trees.
Here you can discover the culture of cider which has had a vital presence and importance in Basque society since its origins. Later it’s time to join a guided visit through the cider house. You will also have the possibility to enjoy the rural sport exhibition of the house. After this guided tour, we will savour a full menu in the apple cider house itself.
Return to your hotel in San Sebastián, enjoy the rest of the afternoon to discover more of the city of San Sebastián on your own.
Day 5: Tuesday: Be a Local – ‘Donostiarras’: (B/L/D)
Nearly every family in San Sebastian has at least one (or more) members who belong to a private gastronomic club. Being one, gives you the right of booking a table and using the kitchen together with your friends or family to cook a great Basque seasonal menu.
Let’s go shopping! You will start your walk on the opposite direction of the previous day and towards one of the two food markets in town.
Meet a local chef at the Bretxa Market or San Martin. They will guide you through the different stands while explaining the main characteristics of the seasonal products.
Springtime is usually perfect for most of the local vegetables but it would be specially recommended the white asparagus from Navarre or green peas: so your menu should include some fresh seasonal vegetables! Depending on the season, you might be lucky to see the first anchovies entering the Cantabric! Let’s keep fingers crossed! Fresh anchovies are a real delicacy.
Once the shopping is done, walk to the gastronomic club, where the next step of the gastronomic adventure will take place. It’s then time to become a great Basque chef and attend a cooking lesson, where you’ll be able to learn the secrets from the traditional Basque cuisine with a complete menu.
While cooking, you might have the chance to interact with small groups of local families or friends, who will invite you to have a glass of Txakoli, the local white wine.
The end of this activity is certainly an unforgettable experience to feel like a real Basque: enjoy your meal!
Dinner is at a restaurant nestled in the foothills of mount Ulía.
Day 6: Wednesday: The Basques and the Sea: (B/L)
Time to learn something new about the Basque people and their relationship to the sea.
This morning we go by private transfer to Albaola, the sea factory of the Basques. With the building of historical boats as its main activity, Albaola is an innovative environment where nautical craftsmanship and technology is recovered and showcased. Together we will visit its museum.
The factory is the place where incredible journeys are undertaken and carried out. We seek knowledge through the experimentation that has been part of the Basque maritime heritage. Pay attention to your private guide as they will teach you not only about our maritime history but also, its relation with the apple cider production.
Take the boat across the river to go from Pasajes San Pedro to Pasajes San Juan, one of the most picturesque villages of the Basque Country.
Located on the eastern part of the river mouth, the urban area runs parallel to the river along a single paved street which closely meanders towards the sea, passing typical fishermen’s houses that blend harmoniously with other stately buildings.
From time to time, the street becomes tunnel a few meters deep. On this street, the French writer Victor Hugo wrote in the 19th century: "nothing more power or serene than reflecting by the Pasajes of the side of the bay; nothing more severe, or more somber than the Pasajes seen from the mountains. Their houses are palaces in the front and huts in the back.”
Enjoy lunch at the Casa restaurant, founded in 1884 and based on a XVII century house. Being just over the sea makes this restaurant "the place” to enjoy a seafood and fish menu.
We will go back by boat to San Pedro and take our private transfer back to San Sebastián.
The rest of the day you will enjoy on your own as well as the dinner.
Day 7: Thursday: Day in Bilbao: (B/D)
Discover the region of Biscay, Bilbao. Drive to Bilbao and on the way, we will have a short visit to the historical town of Gernika: quick stop and visit to the Assembly house.
We’ll then have a short trip from Gernika to Bilbao.
Now you’ll have time for a break to enjoy some coffee, drinks or maybe you’re looking for some pintxos. If needed, there’s the option to get some at the café of the museum.
In the afternoon you will enjoy a private guided visit with your local host to the Guggenheim Museum. Your host will introduce you in the Museum as an icon of the Bilbao transformation, the building itself and the collection exhibited.
Your car will be ready around the Guggenheim Museum. Walking tour (or by car) of the old town where you will be able to savour local gastronomy. Do your best selecting the best pintxos around the main square.
We will meet after coffee and return to San Sebastián. Enjoy your free afternoon on your own and relax.
In the evening, enjoy a very special exquisite farewell dinner.
Enjoy a 3 Michelín Starred dinner at Akelarre restaurant, by Pedro Subijana chef.
Day 8: Friday: Depart San Sebastian: (B)
This morning, check out of our hotel after breakfast. It is time to say farewell to acquaintances and new-found friends.
At your leisure before transferring to the airport or train station for your onward or homebound journey.
Depending on your departure itinerary, you may have time for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping. We are able to organise our private guide to accompany you.
Some guests may wish to stay another day or more in this amazing country. Please don’t hesitate to contact Boutique Tours & Travel for further travel arrangements.
Our specially curated itineraries are carefully planned and well thought out and we often can find some wonderful surprises. The magic of travelling in such a small group allows us to cater for this spontaneity and it is sometimes these unplanned occurrences that can be the most memorable. The rich tapestry of experiences and the characters you meet along the way will make this guided tour something special and one you will remember for a lifetime.
Flexibility
The itinerary can be flexible, sometimes due to weather or on-going events which guests may want to see. If there is something else you’d like to do or see on your trip please contact us and we’ll try our best to ensure it can be done.
San Sebastián
San Sebastian
San Sebastián