San Sebastián News Year Eve

Last November, we stayed at the Pension Edorta, recommended in Rick Steves' guidebook (www.pensionedorta.com), not on the water, but less than a 2-minute walk from the harbor in one direction and from Plaza de la Constitución in the other, and well-located for tapas crawling in the old town. Very helpful front desk staff.

Sorry, no personal recommendations for New Year's, although for New Year 2012>2013 on the coast in Sorrento, Italy, hundreds of people set off personal fireworks for about 20 minutes at midnight.

Maybe contacting the San Sebastian tourist office would yield some advice. sansebastiantourismo.com

You may/will find New Years Eve in Spain to be very different than the US. Not sure how Australians celebrate New Years Eve. We spent New Years eve in Seville a couple of years ago. It was absolutely dead. Most of the bars and restaurants closed late afternoon, early evening. We had a walking tour that afternoon with a local guide. She said most of the people spend NY eve with family in their homes. She advised us to visit a local grocery and lay in a supply of food and drink. Our New Years eve dinner was wine, cheese, and bread on the rooftop of our hotel. Around midnight everyone gathered in the plaza in front of the town hall and clock to eat 12 grapes and welcome the new year. But that was about it.

Hotel Niza is perfectly situated in San Sebastian. I have no suggestions for New Year's Eve, however.