San Sebastian in January
 

Have any of you Fodorites been to Biarritz and San Sebastian in January? It appears that the weather puts the average temperature at 50 degrees, same as Bordeaux where we will be travelling south from. January? you say. Yes, because we are spending Christmas in Paris and New Years in Bordeaux. We were to have taken a cruise revisiting Bordeaux and down to San Sebastian as well as Bilbao but Covid intervened. So this Christmas it is! Due to ridiculous airfares, husband says, why not extend our trip down Basque country in January. We live in Metro NYC and realize it will not be beach weather, no problem, we are more interested in the culture of the areas. I have a book that I never finished on the history of Basque, but it seems grabbing a train from Bordeaux seems the way to go, and perhaps a car or driver to get down to San Sebastian. And while I wanted to see the Guggenheim in Bilbao, it's a bit far west to include at this time. We have the Gugg in NYC anyway although the architecture is not comparable.

San Sebastián is an easy 3 hour drive from Bordeaux but a one way car rental would be very expensive. Bilbao is about an hour from
San Sebastián and the airport has many more flights than the airport near San Sebastián.

Do not miss the 'Tamborrada' festival held in San Sebastian every 20th January
https://www.sansebastianturismoa.eus...da-drum-parade

https://danborrada.donostiakultura.e...s/flag-raising
https://danborrada.donostiakultura.e...n-s-tamborrada
https://danborrada.donostiakultura.e.../lowering-flag

I could be mistaken, but I think you can take a train all the way from Bordeaux to Donostia / San Sebastian. A bus might be even faster. And as mjs has noted, Bilbao is only about an hour further away. Easily reached by public transportation, Bilbao has far more to offer than "just" its Guggenheim.

Enjoy!

Beach weather is not an option in January, as it´s not during most of the year (as a side note, from June 1 to Aug 2 there´s been just 6 sunny days in Donostia-San Sebastian). D-SS is not a beach resort as weather tends to be rainy, this is not the Mediterranean but the Atlantic coast. Bilbao, just one hour drive from D-SS, offers beautiful architecture (not only the Guggenheim), a stylish city, a beautiful old quarter, a funicular train, the Hanging Bridge, Azkuna Zentroa...and it deserves a visit.

Every January 20th marks the start of the cider season, one of the most iconic events in the Basque Country and a sign of the passion that its people have for their gastronomy and tradition. The “cider season” refers to the moment when the “sagardotegis” (cider makers in Basque) expose the ciders they have been producing during the year to the market and the whole Basque community goes out into the streets to taste them to the sound of “txotx”. This custom extends from January to April and the first “txotx” takes place in the renowned Sagardoaren Lurraldea (cider territory), which is made up of the municipalities of Astigarraga, Hernani and Usurbil (all three near San Sebastian).
https://www.gipuzkoasansebastian.eus...tual-del-txotx

Good info, Revulgo, thank you. The date of the start of cider season (which is not like the cider in the USA, it´s not carbonated and has no added sugar) is not the same every year, but it´s around that date (2024 was on Jan 16).

Other festivals in San Sebastian at the beginning of February:

The Caldereros festival:
https://www.sansebastian.travel/en/caldereros/

The Iñudes and Artzaiak festival
https://www.sansebastian.travel/en/inudes-and-artzaiak/

I'd go in January....I've not been in that month but certainly would go as longs you know there is no swimming.
To my mind, among the best cities in the world.

I'd go in January....I've not been in that month but certainly would go as longs you know there is no swimming.
To my mind, among the best cities in the world.

no direct trains between Bordeaux and San Sebastian. You need to take a TGV to Hendaye and connect there to the Topo (local train). I guess it would take something like 4 hours. There are buses from Bordeaux to San Sebastian and Bilbao but not sure in January.
how is Basque country in January? Quiet I would say. The big bet, like for any season, is the weather. for sure, it will be mild but it could also be very wet. If you are lucky enough not to face days of continuous rain, I would say it is a pleasant time to visit. All these cities are year round (obviously, several businesses will be closed in Biarritz but many are still operating).

@ rouelan: Thanks for clarifying! I should have noted the need to change trains.

Thanks all, it'll have to be January, and we cannot stay to enjoy the 1/20 festival. We'll play it by ear, will not rent a car, we strongly prefer train travel, and will just have to investigate best return options, hopefully not having to return to CDG for non-stop to EWR. We use Booking.com always with the option to cancel without penalty just a few days ahead of stays so will check out forecasts from Bordeaux keeping it flexible.

I went to San Sebastian in the third week of December last year. The weather was perfectly pleasant, about 15 Celsius and great for walks along the beach. The hills aren't green anymore but San Sebastian is still beautiful and lively. There are people kayaking and even swimming in the ocean!

Just back from Donostia-San Sebastian. The hills are greener than ever, it´s been raining quite a lot recently, funny they weren´t as green in December, this is a very "forested" area.

If you happen to be in Donostia-San Sebastian by January 6th, it´s the day when we celebrate the arrival of the Three Magic Kings loaded with presents for everyone (we do not have Santa Claus here). There´s a lovely atmosphere all over town and a beautiful parade. We also get presents from the Olentzero ("bearer of good news") in the Basque Country and Navarre, the coalmaker that descends from the mountains on Dec 25.

Oh thank you, yes, likely to be there on January 6, the Epiphany as we know it.

Ok, finally decided on this trip extension: From Bordeaux we will take the 2-hr train to Biarritz for a couple nights, rent a car and drive the 30 miles down to Donostia-San Sebastian for couple nights. Return car back in Biarritz, take 2 hr train back to Bordeaux and lastly TGV back to Paris. We should be in D-SS for January 6 for sure before we head back to Paris. Any way to shortcut transfers? We have return flights to States from CDG so not changing that.

Unless you have a very specific interest in staying in Biarritz, I rather prefer Bayonne-Baiona, much more interesting. Biarritz is "cute"...but that´s it. Pity you are not visiting Bilbao this time...lots to offer and with a beautiful old town, too (it´s not only the Guggenheim, this was the last one to arrive!)

You have convinced me, we are now staying in Bayonne. Thank you, much more reasonable and lots to do.