A DAY IN DONOSTIA

No matter who you ask, you’ll hear that San Sebastian is an alluring city that leaves a lasting impression. Donostia (as it’s known in Basque) is famous for its rugged character, its architecture, and its cuisine...and it’s one of the Naguisa team’s favorite destinations for a getaway.

Whether we come for the surf, the art, or the “pinchos” (Basque tapas), we’re always captivated by the city’s spirit of adventure and stately distinction.

Today we’re taking a tour of some of our favorite places in this guide to 12 hours in San Sebastian.

We’re up early with plenty of energy, ready to begin with an architectural tour.

We start at Tabakalera, an old tobacco factory that was reopened in 2015 as a contemporary cultural center. The huge six-story complex houses an ever-changing mix of exhibitions and events, from film screenings to artists’ talks.

We continue on toward the sea, walking along the banks of the Urumea river as we admire exquisite daffodils, decorative wrought iron, and brownstones from the Belle Époque.

As fans of contemporary architecture, we’ve marked three works by Rafael Moneo on Google Maps, so we continue on until we find the Kursaal, a pair of futuristic cube-shaped glass structures overlooking the Zurriola beach.

After our walk, it's time to take a small break and recharge. Luckily, right in front of the Kursaal is The Loaf, a bakery and coffee shop that’s well worth a stop.

After our breakfast, we head off for some shopping in Gros, a cute neighborhood full of tree-lined plazas and shops teeming with local creativity.

There, we find a special shop called Mihise, whose owner Nerea was one of the very first to carry Naguisa.

At lunchtime, we cross the river in search of a good bite. In this city, there are plenty of places to eat (and plenty of pinchos to try!) but on this particular occasion we choose Arenales. It’s an amazing little place to enjoy honest, home-cooked food made with local ingredients.

In the afternoon, after a nice stroll around the city, we visit Maria R. Laspiur at Posidonia. Her lovely studio-boutique is where she creates her jewelry and exhibits artwork and products made by local designers.

Before returning to the station, we stopped by to say hello to Karmele and take a look at some of the beauties she has in her store. PAS SI SIMPLE

With a well-filled stomach and suitcase, we return to our studio and mark the new places we have discovered, with the intention of not leaving anything without seeing or trying it on our next visit to Donostia.