As much as I love the thrill of exploring a new place on my own – ambling the streets and stumbling upon historic treasures is usually how trips go – I’ve also come to enjoy the added context and local insight that a tour guide can provide. With only a passing knowledge of San Sebastian prior to our trip and barraged by gushing praise from friends and acquaintances who know the city well, I knew we needed to dig beneath the surface. I investigated walking tours and quickly found myself entrenched in the diverse offering at the award-winning San Sebastian Food.
While we were intrigued by their Iberian ham-carving master class, the Pintxo-focused tour and the Spanish wine course, we wanted a foundation. We opted for a 2 hour stroll with a fantastic guide who regaled us with stories of Basque history (did you know that the city has been devastated by fire at least 6 times in its history?), architectural and landscape inspiration (France!) and tales of local culinary prowess (the city boasts 16 Michelin stars, the most per square meter in the world). We learned that 40% of Basque people speak the language and nearly all of them…
