Spanish city similar to Barcelona has fewer crowds with stunning beaches and old town

Located in the northern part of Spain, San Sebastián has beautiful sandy beaches and a picturesque old town.

By Chloe Dobinson, Lifestyle Reporter

San Sebastián de La Gomera: Aerial views show Canary Island town

When you think of a quick city break a suggestion that always comes to mind is Barcelona.

While the Spanish city has plenty to offer in terms of things to do and places to eat, have you thought of an alternative destination and somewhere without the crowds?

Well, the lesser-known Basque town of San Sebastián could be soon added to your travel list.

Located in the northern part of Spain, San Sebastián has beautiful sandy beaches and an old town.

However, the city is often overlooked when it comes to other Spanish cities like Madrid, Alicante or Valencia.

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Locals Enjoying Pintxos (Pincho or Tapas) in San Sebastián,Basque,Spain

San Sebastian has plenty of food to choose from (Image: Getty)

Let's not forget that it is only an hour from Bilbao, which has a considerably larger population of around 350,000.

What is there to do in San Sebastián?

Of course, there are plenty of beaches you can go to including Ondarreta Beach, La Concha Beach and Zurriola Beach just to name a few.

If you're looking to get a culture fix then you can head on walking tours where you can immerse yourself in the history of the city.

Aerial view of Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Aerial view of Barcelona Eixample residential area and Sagrada Familia Basili

The Spanish city is less crowded than places like Barcelona (Image: Getty)

San Sebastián has an array of bars and restaurants you can go to as well. Popular dishes include hake koxkera, baked spider crab and hake cheeks in green sauce.

Flying to San Sebastián?

Despite the city not having its own airport you can fly into Bilbao.

Direct flights from London only take two hours with airlines including Vueling, Norweigan, BA and EasyJet all going there.

From the airport, it only takes an hour's car drive or an hour and 11 minutes on the train.

The best time to visit San Sebastián?

Of course, who doesn't want some good weather when they are travelling abroad?

The best time to visit the city is in June when temperatures hit 21°C or if you're looking for slightly warmer sun then July and August is the answer when it can reach 23-24°C respectively.

Let's not forget some winter sun as in February and March temperatures can still reach on average of 13-14°C.

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