San Sebastian (Pop. 182,930), or Donostia as it is known in Basque, is located just 20 kilometers from the French border. It was founded in 1180 as a small fishing village and has been an important vacation destination since the late 1800s when it was adopted as the summer home for Madrid’s royalty.

The city was first brought into the international spotlight in The Sun Also Rises with several of the book’s characters staying in the Hotel Londres, an important landmark along the Playa de la Concha.

In addition to the Playa de la Concha San Sebastian is situated around two other beaches; La Zurriola and Ondarreta. La Zurriola is known in the area as a good place to surf while the Ondarreta is the least populated of the three.

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