Can anyone out there provide a bit of guidance on dressing for weather, temperature, and activities in the Basque regions of Spain (San Sebastian) and France? I will be there soon; early July. Do you recommend anything as heavy/warm as fleece? Dress for warm sun? Evening temps?
Jeanne
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CA, USA
333 posts
We based in San Sebastian and had absolutely perfect weather in May which everyone assured us was a rarity. Make sure you do bring a light waterproof jacket in case it does rain. It is a beach resort town so it's casual during the day however the locals usually dress up at night for their strolls. Young adults were all dressed in surfing/skater clothes 24/7, tourists in shorts and sandals. Nice jeans and a collared shirt were fine for pintxos bar hopping. Bilbao was similar although more business oriented, St-Jean-de-Luz was very informal.
San Sebastian was a great town for strolling and eating. We really enjoyed the climbs up Monte Urgall and the funicular ride up Monte Igueldo. There's a small carnival/children's park on the top of Monte Igueldo that we thought was absolutely brilliant with the rides dating back to the 1940s. The pintxos bars in the Parte Vieja are outstanding although a little intimidating at first. Just ask for a plate from the barman and point out what you'd like to try. The markets are superb if you like and have a place to cook. The harbor is a nice place to spend some time and watch the fisherman come in.
St-Jean-De-Luz is a great town for a day trip with a nice beach plus a lot of high end shops. Some great beachside cafes and the chapel is very interesting.
We also drove to Pamplona for a day and stayed a night in Bilbao. Both places did not disappoint