Spain’s Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol may be popular with sunbathers and beachgoers, but most surfers would much prefer the waves off the country’s northern coastline. The stretch of shore between Bilbao and San Sebastian offer the best surfing opportunities in the region and thanks to great offers on Spain holiday deals 2013, you can now enjoy excellent surfing while you satisfy your satisfy your craving for Spanish art and culture.
San Sebastian is a beautiful seaside city featuring two large crescent-shaped beaches. However, unlike a lot of typical beach towns, it’s definitely not short on culture. In fact, San Sebastian is one of the most prominent cities in the Basque country and is sometimes referred to as the gastronomical capital of Spain. Pintxos are the Basque take on tapas and are prominently featured in San Sebastian. Incorporating local ingredients, bars and restaurants all throughout the city craft delicious bite-sized treats like stuffed peppers, croquettes and the like to the delight of travelling foodies. The best part is that visitors to San Sebastian also have the perfect opportunity to work off all the extra calories they’ve accumulated by heading out into the surf.
San Sebastian and its neighbour, Zarautz possess high quality waves that are easily accessible from popular tourist resorts and hotels. Surf conditions vary depending on the tides and are suitable for beginners through to expert surfers. Stable conditions allow surf schools to operate and tourists can try their hand at riding their first waves. The surfing around San Sebastian and Zarautz is so good that professional surfing events are held in the area between August and October of each year.
Bilbao is the cultural heart of northern Spain and is also located near to the nation’s third surfing hotspot, Mundaka. Surfing is Mandaka’s claim to fame and its enormous breaks attract amateur and professional surfers from all around the world. The town hosts an annual professional surfing competition each autumn, and is a must-visit destination for surfing enthusiasts. Manaka also benefits from it proximity to Bilbao, which is best known for its cultural offerings and stunning architecture. The futuristic Bilbao Guggenheim Museum is the city’s most popular attraction and is home to two of Spain’s best art museums, in addition to being a live performance venue. In stark contrast to the modern Guggenheim is Bilbao’s 14th-century Gothic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago. The cathedral stands as a reminder of northern Spain’s rich history with art and architecture and you’ll be hard pressed to find any other surfing destinations that offer so many additional points of interest.
Together, San Sebastian, Zarautz and Mundaka make up three of the best surfing destination is Spain and indeed Europe, but at the same time greatly appeals to the culture lover in all of us.
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