Wrapped around a shell-shaped beach and backed by green hills, San Sebastian is an absolute stunner. Roughly 20 kilometres from the French border in lush northern Spain, after clapping eyes on San Sebastian you'll wonder why anyone bothers with the Costa del Sol for their beach vacation.

San Sebastian (known as Donostia in Basque) is the Basque region's crowning glory - a chic seaside town with a breezy, down-to-earth vibe, an idyllic island in the middle of the bay and a pedestrianized old town that crams in some of the best pintxos (Basque variation of tapas) bars and liveliest drinking holes in the country.

Hills rise up on either side of La Concha's sandy curve, offering a superb vantage for enviable holiday snaps. Monte Urgull is the most iconic of the hills, topped by a statue of an outstretched Christ; but save your best photographs for the panoramic vistas from the summit of Monte Igueldo.

Meanwhile, east of the old town, the surfing beach Playa de la Zurriola is the perfect place to chill with the locals, take a sandy siesta or a twilight stroll.