If you go

THE BEST WAY TO SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN

From LAX, connecting service is offered on American, Virgin America, Air France, British, KLM, Lufthansa, Delta and US Airways, with at least two stops for changes of plane. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $972, not including taxes and fees.

TELEPHONES

To call the number below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 34 (country code for Spain) and the number.

TOURS

Tenedor, https://www.tenedortours.com, offers culinary and cultural tours of the Basque Country, including a visit to a txoko and cooking classes.

Casa Abril, (212) 945-8689 (in New York), https://www.casaabril.com, offers custom tours of San Sebastián and the Basque Country, including a cooking class at a txoko.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Niza, 56 Calle Zubieta, 943-426-663, https://www.hotelniza.com. Elegant 40-room hotel overlooking Bay of Biscay. Doubles start at $175.

Pension Bellas Artes, 64 Urbieta, 943-474-905, https://www.pension-bellasartes.com. Simple, clean rooms in good location, run by charming mother-daughter duo. Doubles start at $108.

Pension Aida, 9 Calle Iztueta, 943-327-800, https://www.pensionesconencanto.com. Charming pension near old town. Most rooms have balconies. Doubles from $71.

WHERE TO EAT

Arzak, 273 Avenida Alcalde Jose Elosegui, 943-278-465, https://www.arzak.info/ing/home.asp. Juan Mari Arzak and his daughter Elena are known for their technical wizardry and imaginative interpretations of traditional Basque dishes, but the price is hard to swallow. The average dinner is $225, not including drinks and tax.

Bar La Cepa, 7-9 Calle 31 Agosto, 943-426-394, https://www.barlacepa.com. One of many superb pintxos bars in the old town, Cepa excels at hongos a la plancha — mushrooms grilled in olive oil and garlic. Pintxos cost $2-$3 a piece, and a glass of txakoli, the local white wine, costs about $4.