Has anyone traveled to San Sebastian in Dec? suggestions for where to go? We're thinking right around christmas and would like to tie in with a trip to Portugal as well.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
1) Carefully investigate San Sebastian's weather at that time, and make sure that is what you want and can handle. By all accounts, outside of summer, San Sebastian is rainy, cool, cloudy, and did I mention rainy? That's why the area is so green, but it may not be so pleasant as a visitor.
2) Connecting San Sebastian to Portugal is surprisingly complicated. Look into how you will do this before getting too attached to the idea of seeing both of these on the same trip. You may have to fly from Bilbao airport (San Sebastian's airport only has flights to Madrid and Barcelona, so from these you would need a connecting flight to get to Portugal).
3) If you aren't daunted by the above, investigate seeing Bilbao when you go to San Sebastian. Unlike the small beach towns in the area, Bilbao has varied indoor attractions (not just the Guggenheim), as well as a larger and more interesting Old Town than San Sebastian. San Sebastian has a lovely beach, but that won't be a factor in December.
Posted by
Paris
7312 posts
I don't know how you say "dreary" in Basque, but that's what comes to mind. I mean, the region does get some sunny, warm days in winter, but it's highly unpredictable. Bilbao is a MUCH more robust choice, with the advantage of direct flights to Portugal.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12315 posts
I went in April. It was rainy and cold. It's a nice town but I think it needs to be enjoyed during nice weather. In December, unless there is something special going on, I'd expect you find a sleepy town with little to do and an ignored beach/ocean (except by the local fishing boats).
Posted by
London
254 posts
I went to San Sebastian once in October and it was dead even then; I can’t imagine it would be much more lively in December. As others have said, it is basically a beach town so it is at its most fun and atmospheric during warmer months. I’d imagine at that time of year you might face restaurant closures for the off season.
The one grain of salt I’ll add to my own comment is that my trip was back in 2009, and San Sebastian has gained popularity as a foodie destination since then, so it’s possible there is more going on in the off-season now than there used to be - I have no idea. All I can say is I would not go back outside of the warm months as doing so rather sells it short.