Small and laid-back San Sebastian is a summer vacationer’s dream. This charming city in the north of Spain mixes architectural elegance with fine dining and some of the best urban beaches to be found anywhere in the world. As a result, those who visit tend to rank it up there with Spain’s other major tourist destinations, such as Barcelona and Seville.

San Sebastian is at its absolute best during the summer, when everything is lit up by the sun’s gorgeously warming rays. If you’re considering it for your summer vacation this year, take a look at the following suggestions to see how you can really make the most of a stay in this excellent Spanish city.

Hostels

For backpackers, San Sebastian is becoming increasingly accessible thanks to its burgeoning hostel scene. While this is known to be a somewhat pricey city, any one Hostel in San Sebastian will offer a comfortable place to stay at extremely convenient prices.

Hostal Olga is a good bet if you’re looking to meet up with likeminded travelers and party the days and nights away on the beach. Hospedaje Donosti@ B&B’s, meanwhile, is a quieter place, perfected for couples on a romantic getaway. Both places, it goes without saying, are more than reasonable in terms of money.

Beaches

San Sebastian boasts of two excellent urban beaches, plus numerous smaller stretches and coves in the surrounding area. Of the urban beaches, La Concha, located on the west side of the city, is great of days spent lounging around in the sun. Over on the east, meanwhile, La Zuriolla is a surfer’s hangout, blessed with great surf and many equipment rental shacks.

Both beaches are well endowed in terms of facilities, with changing rooms, showers, cafes, restaurants and bars never far away. There’s also a strong lifeguard presence, just to aid your safety of mind.

The Old Quarter

Standing at the foot of Mount Urgall and bordered by the mouth of the harbour, San Sebastian’s Old Quarter is truly a place to spend hours, if not days, exploring. Historically rich and wonderfully authentic, it’s a maze of alluring streets that herald a glut of museums, galleries, cafes and restaurants.

At the heart of the Old Quarter is the Plaza de la Constitution, which is effectively the beating heart of San Sebastian. Other sightseeing highlights nearby include the Basilica de Santa Maria del Coro, and the Convent of San Telmo (which is now an interesting museum).

Pinxtos

If there’s one thing San Sebastian is known for over all else, it is its gastronomic expertise. Pinxtos (which basically means tapas in the local dialect) is the specialty here, with almost every evening consisting of bar hoping form one tapas joint to the next. Along the way, you eat numerous small and delicious delicacies… and probably drink more than your body weight in wine too!

The Old Quarter is probably the place to start when it comes to sampling Pinxtos, although bear in mind it’s one of the more expensive parts of town. For something more down to earth, the Centro area is a good bet.

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Before settling down and becoming a copywriter for Hostelbookers, Jonny Cooper did a backpacking tour of Spain, he checked out a variety of the country's budget accommodation, including a number of most San Sebastian hostels