San Sebastian Gift Guide: 6 Foodie Gifts Everyone Will Love

We might be biased, but San Sebastian is one of the most unique cities in Spain. Great souvenirs can be as unique as the city, and that’s why we’ve prepared this San Sebastian gift guide. 

Unfortunately, all vacations must come to an end, but you can take some unforgettable memories back home. Whether you’re traveling during the holiday season (or any other time of the year), this San Sebastian gift guide is your answer.

Read along to find the perfect delicious foodie gift for everyone on your list.

cheeses, wines, and beers being sold in a shop
So many foodie souvenirs, so little time. Photo credit: Mary Kresge

Txakoli

Perfect for the wine lover on your list, txakoli (cha-ko-lee) is a white semi-sparkling wine produced exclusively in the Basque Country. If you want to dive deeper, read everything you need to know about Basque Country’s iconic wine.

It’s hard to find anywhere else, which makes it a one-of-a-kind addition to our San Sebastian gift guide. Luckily, here in San Sebastian, you can find it just about everywhere—from grocery stores to gourmet specialty shops. 

Insider’s Tip: One high quality brand to look out for is Txomin Etxaniz.

bottles of wine and cans of preserved food on shelves in a shop
Txakoli is a crisp, slightly sparkling white wine and a great option to pick up a souvenir. Photo credit: Javier Lastras

Idiazabal cheese

Spain loves its cheeses, and San Sebastian is home to some of the best cheese the peninsula. 

Take Idiazabal cheese, for example. It’s aged to perfection for several months and takes on a delicious nutty, buttery flavor. It’s the perfect addition to any cheese plate…and to our San Sebastian gift guide.

wall with cheese
Idiazabal cheese is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Photo credit: Javier Lastras 

Cider

Northern Spain produces some of the best cider in the world, and no place does it quite like the Basque Country. 

All throughout San Sebastian locals pack into cider houses to drink the region’s most famous alcohol with good friends. If you want to try it properly and make sure you know it very well before taking it back home, we recommend you do our Ultimate Pintxos and Wine Tour.

By the end of the tour, you’ll be a connoisseur. 

Bring the spirit of a San Sebastian cider house home with a bottle of high quality local cider—and be sure to show your friends how to pour it the traditional way.

map with types of cider represented by apples
The San Sebastian Gift Guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning cider…and there’s lots to choose from! Photo credit: Andy Roberts

Txistorra

You’ve heard of chorizo, now it’s time to discover its Basque cousin.

Txistorra is a local sausage similar to the more popular chorizo, but with a bit of a kick. 

You can find it all over town on December 21, for St. Thomas’s Day, but be sure to pick some up for the foodie in your life back home. It pairs great with some crisp local cider and Idiazabal cheese.

Txistorra
Another souvenir for the foodies? Txistorra. Photo credit: Tamorlan

Guindillas

Add some heat to your next cooking adventure with a memorable Basque flavor that can improve any dish. 

Guindillas, also known as piparras, are the Basque Country’s answer to chili peppers. 

Although they’re more on the mild side, they still give a spicy-sweet kick to any dish. They’ll also transport you back to those delicious meals around San Sebastian.

olives and jars and bottles of things being sold in a market
Guindillas are another classic foodie gift to bring back from the north of Spain. Photo credit: Mary Kresge

Food tour gift certificate

If you’re anything like us, you probably keep lots of fellow foodies and travelers in your circle—and they’re all likely drooling over the pictures you’ve been posting of your trip to San Sebastian. 

Share the love and give them a Devour Tours gift certificate so they can experience Europe’s top gastro destination for themselves (and leave you living vicariously through their social media snapshots—it’s only fair!).

people eating cheesecake
Everything tastes better when you’ve got your foodie squad to share the deliciousness with.

Update Notice: This post was updated on January 16, 2024.

2 Comment

  1. Joyce says
    February 15, 2018 at 2:56 pm

    Love all of those gifts! If you can, go one step further with the gift of cider and visit a sagardotegia. I’ve made cider converts out of everyone who came to visit me in San Sebastián!

    1. Katie says
      February 19, 2018 at 5:01 pm

      Oh, what a lovely idea!!

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