I fell in love with this coastal Spanish city on a whim. Three trips later, my family’s agreed to visit every year.

• My husband and I spontaneously visited San Sebastián, Spain, without doing a ton of research.
• We fell in love with the city’s beaches, perfect weather, and relaxed culture.
• Now, we’ve been three times — most recently, with our baby son — and we hope to visit every year.

San Sebastián, Spain, is my favorite city in the world, and I fell in love with it on a whim.

A friend told me and my husband, “You know when your dentist says to close your eyes and go to your happy place? I picture San Sebastián, Spain.”

It sounded great to us, so we booked our tickets without doing much research.

Now, three trips later, I’d pitch San Sebastián as a city in Northern Spain with the perfect “bath water” temperature, dreamy French-inspired architecture, mouthwatering bakeries, and adorable dogs and babies seemingly everywhere you look.

We’ve visited during three life stages, and our most recent trip cemented the fact that this is a city we’ll return to, again and again.

The first time we visited, we were pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous weather and beaches

First, we were struck by the weather — it wasn’t too hot or too cold, and everyone around us just seemed comfortable. We spotted people in puffer jackets, stylish suits, bikinis, sweaters, and shorts … all within the same few blocks of each other.

We’ve been to San Sebastián in the spring, winter, and fall, and it’s always this picturesque, with swimmers and sailors in the ocean all year-round. From what locals have told us, the summers are just as temperate, too.

With monthly average temperatures that rarely dip under 55 degrees Fahrenheit and usually peak in the high 70s, the weather here always feels just right.

Of course, there’s nothing better than spending a beautiful day by the water. We immediately fell in love with La Concha, San Sebastián’s most famous beach. It’s not just a beach, either: La Concha is a true gathering place, playground, and town hub all in one.

In the mornings, brisk walkers traverse the sands while sporty swimmers plunge into the crisp blue water. Later in the day, off-leash dogs frolic along the sand while kids dart in and out of the waves.

At all hours of the day, people stroll along the promenade.

The food is unforgettable, especially if you have a sweet tooth

San Sebastián is known for its delectable pintxos, or the region’s take on tapas. Each pintxo can be eaten in a bite or two and is often served atop a slice of bread, with a skewer through the center.

Bar-hopping is pretty much synonymous with pintxos, and these social snacks are the perfect complement to sidra, the tart, dry cider that’s local to the region.

Oh, and don’t get me started on the sweets here. Baked goods worldwide cannot compete with ones from San Sebastián bakeries.

In my opinion, the local bakery chain Aramendia Pasteleria has the best cheesecake, croissants, and espresso. When my husband and I visit, we go there every morning and always leave with a smile on our faces.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a special shoutout to Pastel Vasco, the Basque cake. The buttery exterior and the creamy, vanilla interior make this pastry pretty much everything you’d ever want in a morning snack.

I’ve searched for a comparable treat back home in the US, but haven’t found an American interpretation as good as the ones in San Sebastián.

Each of our trips here has coincided with a milestone in our family, which only solidifies how special this place is

The first time we visited San Sebastián, my husband and I realized we wanted to become parents, but with a very specific philosophy.

The parents we saw here seemed to prioritize leisure social time, and watching them at La Concha and out eating pintxos reminded us that we didn’t have to give up our favorite activities or places while raising a child.

On our second trip to San Sebastián, I was in my second trimester of pregnancy. Finally, on our third and most recent trip earlier this year, we brought our infant son along.

His immediate kinship to the city reinforced our belief that some places have a magic that’s unreplicable. He even enjoyed nibbling La Concha’s sand.

My definition of “home” is usually “wherever we are together,” but San Sebastián has taught me that there are certain places you just feel meant to be. Needless to say, we can’t wait for our fourth trip.

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