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Christmas & Festive Tours

Christmas in San Sebastian Tour

Experience the festive celebrations of the Basque Country where, as well as enjoying a unique Christmas experience, you can submerge yourself in the rich history and vibrant culture of this beautiful region. 

Based in the foodie capital of San Sebastián, the itinerary includes guided tours in Bilbao, plus entrance to the Guggenheim, Pamplona, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Biarritz with plenty of free time to soak up the local atmosphere.

From

£2,199

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts and three dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Seven nights’ accommodation at the four-star Hotel Zinema 7, San Sebastián based on shared occupancy of a twin room. 
  • Discover the Authentic San Sebastián
    From the rugged coastline and mountainous interior to historic cities with a distinctly Franco-Spanish flavour, world-class modern art at the Guggenheim, and a delicious regional cuisine, the Basque Country offers a culture and character entirely its own.
  • Your Tour Manager
    Tour manager throughout.
  • Transport & Travel
    Transfers and full coach touring itinerary conducted by tour manager. 
  • Flights from the UK
    Return economy flights London Gatwick to Bilbao.
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Bilbao 

Fly from London Gatwick to Bilbao and transfer by coach to San Sebastian.  Welcome dinner at the hotel this evening. 

Day 2: Morning guided walking tour of San Sebastián with the rest of the day at leisure

Enjoy a morning guided walking tour of San Sebastián with the rest of the day at leisure.

A picturesque resort city, San Sebastián sits on the calm La Concha Bay backed by low, rolling hills. The city is best known for its beaches but it is so much more, with a lively, buzzing atmosphere that fills the streets all day and well into the night. The charming Parte Vieja (old town) nestles at the foot of the green Monte Urgull, whilst Centro, the shopping and commercial district has some lovely 19th century architecture. The city is also known for its food; it is claimed to be Spain’s gastronomic capital, with a brace of Michelin-star restaurants and plenty of fantastic local pintxos (tapas) to try. 

Day 3: Full Day Tour to Pamplona with a Guided Walking Tour

Best known for its legendary festival of Sanfermines, Pamplona is a wealthy and self-possessed city. Built as a fortress to protect routes into Spain from the Pyrenees before becoming the capital of the fiercely independent state of Navarra the compact Casco Antiguo (old town) is stuffed with quaint stone lanes leading to lovely churches and a magnificent citadel.

Day 4: Full Day Tour to the French Basque Country – Biarritz, Bayonne and Saint-Jean-de- Luz

Biarritz is a stylish coastal town, a playground of the French glitterati. Today the resort is a haven for surfers, its seafront lined with grand old buildings, including the gorgeous 1930s Casino Municipal. Being the capital of France’s Pays Basque, Bayonne has a palpable Basque flavour.

This attractive small city is best explored with a stroll through the narrow streets of the old town where you’ll find half-timbered houses painted in traditional Basque colours. Visit the excellent Musée Basque to delve deeper into the culture. Saint- Jean-de-Luz, with its sheltered and sandy beaches and magnificent old town complete with half-timbered mansions, is one of the most popular and attractive resorts on France’s Atlantic coast.

This evening the group will enjoy a Festive Christmas Eve dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant.

Day 5: Free Day to relax 

Explore at your leisure with Christmas Day dinner in the evening at the hotel or local restaurant.

Day 6: Full Day Tour to Vitoria-Gasteiz

A flourishing medieval wool and iron trade created the elegant and undiscovered city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, filling it with Renaissance palaces, beautiful churches and grey-gold stone mansions. The medieval core of the city is arranged over a small hill and is a wonderful place to wander and discover plazas, palacios and excellent Basque restaurants.

Day 7: Full Day Tour to Bilbao & Museo Guggenheim

A modern and prosperous city, Bilbao nestles in a narrow valley, the surrounding mountain slopes peeking through the high-rise buildings of the city centre.

The arrival of the Museo Guggenheim (entrance included) in 1997 transformed the city into a tourist hotspot and although not as pretty as its near neighbours there is plenty to do here: the attractive Casco Viejo is a charming place to explore.

Day 8: Return Flight to London Gatwick

Transfer by coach to Bilbao airport for the return flight to London Gatwick.

our guests say

Recent reviews

“Sandra our tour manager went above and beyond in taking care of all of the guests to ensure they had a great holiday.”
Scales, December 2024

“A most enjoyable Christmas. Sandra is a very engaged and well-informed tour manager, who made sure it was an interesting and worry-free holiday.”
Fisk, December 2024

Availability

Choose Your Departure

Date
Departing From
Price From
Availability
21/12/2026
London Gatwick
£2,199
Book Now
Solo Traveller Supplement From: £499
Destination
Departure Date
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Hotel Zinema 7, San Sebastián
Housed in the historic Astoria Cinema by the River Urumea the Zinema 7 is a design hotel that plays on its cinematic roots with a décor that pays tribute to movie stars. Just a 15 minute walk from San Sebástian’s main sights, rooms are individually decorated and offer private bathrooms, air-conditioning, TV, minibar, hairdryer and wi-fi. The hotel’s facilities include a fitness room, snack bar and restaurant. 

Hotel Zinema 7 Website

Our View on the Hotel
Don’t be put off by the themed nature of the hotel, it is very comfortable and offers excellent service. 

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
 
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
 
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing.
 
If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note: no reminder for balance payments is sent to you and are not receipted unless requested. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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Founded in 1994 offering unique cultural tours beyond typical high street itineraries.

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Industry-leading guides, some since day one, who speak local languages and have detailed knowledge.

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