San Sebastian or Bilbao? And hotels...

[OrangeSunset]

We are camping in France in a few weeks, and would like to visit one of these places on the way back to the ferry.

Which would you choose?! Both look amazing, essentially I'm after a bit of luxury and really some very nice food as the pay-off for a couple of weeks camping!

And have obvs left it very late to book hotels....any hidden gems that I can check for availability?

San Sebastián is a lovely town.
We went for the day, driving from our campsite in Biarritz.
We had a wander, took the kids to the aquarium and ate a fab meal.
I'd love to return and stay there.

Not been to Bilbao so I can't pass comment.

If it's nice food you're after I'd strongly recommend San Sebastián - the food is insane and not just the Michelin star places.

We stayed in a hotel called Astoria 7. Not super luxury but quirky and comfortable.

I haven't spent much time in Bilbao but we loved San Sebastián and would go back in a heartbeat.

Of the two, San Sebastián is more relaxing id say. beautiful place. We stayed a bit out of town though so no recommendation to help

Thanks. Did you book somewhere to eat? Got caught out in Barcelona in the spring and hate to eat at somewhere disappointing

Just stayed in Bilbao for a week and went to San Sebastian for a day. If you only have time for one, I'd recommend San Sebastián, it's beautiful!

I'd book for proper restaurants but you don't need to book for pintxos bars.

For pintxos look at Bar Zeruko, La Cuchera de San Telmo and A Fuego Negra.

There's a nice restaurant on the sea front called Ni Neu which does an excellent fixed price lunch.

For places like Arzak you will definitely need to book.

If you like gin, we went to a gin bar called Gintoneria Donostiarra which was great (and I don't like gin)!

On the other hand the Guggenheim is Bilbao is stunning!

Thanks JW13. Would you take kids to the restaurants you mention (hoping I can book online as my language skills are poor outside France!)? They are pretty well-behaved and non-fussy.

I think children will be fine at pintxos bars, they're very relaxed and you just turn up and order food from the bar generally. It's nice to try lots of different things.

I'd think that most restaurants will be fine as well. We went there in the winter so it was very quiet but it seemed pretty child-friendly.

The Michelin star ones (Arzak etc) might be a bit full on for kids. We only went to one and it was v v expensive and pretty formal.

There's an aquarium which is worth a visit - it had some good child-friendly displays.

Also I agree with the PP who recommended the Guggenheim in Bilbao. If you can fit that in on your way to the ferry (we did it on the way to the airport) it's definitely worth a visit.

Fab, pintxos sounds perfect for us as they will enjoy trying different stuff. DH eats anything so they'll be no waste even if DC aren't keen. Aquarium sounds perfect too.

Ferry is midday so think we'll be too pushed for time for Bilbao too. Another time!

We went to both last year and much preferred Bilbao. In summer San Sebastian is really busy. It also has an insane one-way system and it's a city on the beach - I was expecting a nice little beach town. It is nice, it does have a lovely old town, and it does have a beach, but if its a nice day the beach is PACKED and there is no parking nearby.

The pintxos is equally good in either Bilbao or San Sebastian and the old town in both places is good. The one thing Bilbao doesn't have is a beach, but the Guggenheim is amazing (though not all kids love art ...). Mine loved the giant spider and puppy though (both outside the museum) and the playground next door. The pedestrianised walkway all along the river is great too.

We stayed in the Melia hotel in Bilbao - the one by the river and walking distance to the Guggenheim.

I went to San Sebastian and Bilbao in the same trip. Agree with pp that the pintxos is equally good at both places. I went in Spring though so beach was not a factor. Think I would I prefer Bilbao for a city break, and San Sebastian if you want to be near the sea.