Marisol Murua · CC BY-SA 3.0Provincial capital
San Sebastián or Donostia, officially known by the bilingual name Donostia / San Sebastián (Basque:, Spanish), is a city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community in Spain. It lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, 20 km (12 miles) from the Spain–France border. The capital city of the province of Gipuzkoa, it has a population of 188,487 as of 2024, with its metropolitan area being 436,500 in 2010. Locals call themselves donostiarra (singular) in Basque, also using this term when speaking in Spanish. It is also a part of Basque Eurocity Bayonne-San Sebastián.
The economic activities in the city are dominated by the service sector, with an emphasis on commerce and tourism, as San Sebastián has long been well-known as a tourist destination. Despite the city's relatively small size, events such as the San Sebastián International Film Festival and the San Sebastian Jazz Festival have given it an international dimension. San Sebastián, along with Wrocław, Poland, was the European Capital of Culture in 2016.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
The essentials for getting around Donostia-San Sebastián without surprises: how to get there, municipal facts and when it's most worth coming.
Coordinates: 43.3207° N, 1.9844° O
By bus: check the regional bus timetables, they change by season. If you come without a car, confirm the last service back before you leave.
We only list verified numbers. The town hall itself will give you the number of the clinic or the pharmacy.
There are no events in Donostia-San Sebastián's calendar yet, so any month works. Ask us about the local festivals: almost every village has one.
Spring
Mild temperatures and the village still quiet.
Summer
Busy summers: book accommodation in advance.
Autumn
Water still warm, lower prices and calm.
Winter
Mild but quiet winter: some businesses slow down.
Keep exploring
