Essentials
- City
- San Sebastián (Donostia), Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain
- Population
- 188,000
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available, average 150-300 Mbps; public WiFi 'Donostia Gaztea' available in parks
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include BBVA and Santander on Avenida de la Libertad
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and of very high quality (sourced from Artikutza)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Orange, Movistar, and Vodafone; stores located on Calle San Marcial. Pre-paid 20GB for approx €15
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut (widely accepted), N26, or local accounts at Kutxabank for residency needs
- Accommodation
- High demand; platforms used are Idealista, Fotocasa, and Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted everywhere from boutiques to small pintxo bars
- Short Term Rentals
- The Rentals Collection, FeelFree Rentals, and Airbnb (approx €1,800/month for 1-bed center)
- Budget Accommodation
- Koba Hostel (Gros) or Surfing Etxea; beds from €35/night depending on season
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Parte Vieja (Old Town) for pintxos or Centro for shopping and La Concha beach
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Gros (youthful, surf-friendly, trendy cafes) or Antiguo (quieter, residential, near Ondarreta)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Donostia (Tabakalera Building) - Day pass approx €20; monthly around €180
- Best Cafe for Work
- Old Town Coffee (Reyes Católicos) - Excellent specialty coffee and laptop-friendly laptop zones
- Networking Events
- Fomento San Sebastián events and 'Donostia tech' meetups held at Talent House
- Social Events for Expats
- San Sebastián Expats Facebook Group and weekly Language Exchange at Convent Garden
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Pidetaxi (Uber and Cabify have limited presence); taxi ranks at Avenida de la Libertad
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Dbizi (electric city bikes) - Annual subscription approx €35; or Sanse Bikes for daily rentals (€15/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Playa de la Concha (City Center) and Playa de Zurriola (Gros) for surfing
- Top Regional Airline
- Volotea (operating from San Sebastián Airport - EAS)
- Top International Airline
- Vueling and Iberia via EAS; Lufthansa and Air France via Biarritz (BIQ) or Bilbao (BIO)
- Highway Access
- AP-8 (Hugeto-Behobia) connecting to France and Bilbao; A-15 to Pamplona
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Estación del Norte (RENFE/AVE access) and Donostia Bus Station (underground next to train station)
- Public Transport Passes
- Mugi Card - Reduced fares for Dbus (city buses) and Euskotren (regional train)
- Regional Travel
- Euskotren (The 'Topo') to Hendaye (France) or Bilbao; Alsa bus to Pamplona (€10, 1 hour)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Universitario Donostia (Public) or Quirónsalud San Sebastián (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Punto de Fuga (Gros) or Yoga Shala (Centro) - Drop-in classes approx €15-€20
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Hegalak (overlooking La Concha) - Monthly pass approx €60; includes spa and pool
- Laundry Services
- Telelavo (Calle San Marcial) or self-service Speed Queen (Gros) - €5-€8 per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Just Eat are the primary operators
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Txuleta (aged beef steak) or Pintxo de Tortilla at Bar Nestor (Calle de Pescadería)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Garraxi (Egia) or Mapa Verde (Gros) - Menu del dia approx €15
- Best Dessert Spots
- La Viña (famous for Basque Cheesecake) - €5 per portion
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado de la Brecha or Mercado San Martin for local produce; Lidl for budget groceries
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es and El Corte Inglés online
- Grocery Delivery
- Mercadona or Eroski Online (delivery fee approx €7)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Parte Vieja for pintxo crawls; Reyes Católicos for late-night cocktails
- Local Brewery
- Basqueland Izakaia (Gros) or Mala Gissona Beer House (Zabaleta Kalea)
- Wine Bars
- Goñi Ardoteka (Old Town) - Selection of local Txakoli and Rioja wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Minimalist street food; try the 'Gilda' pintxo at almost any bar for €1.50-€2.50
- Popular International Cuisine
- Tedone (Organic/International Fusion) or Raviolina (Italian) in Gros
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Peine del Viento (Chillida sculptures) and Monte Igueldo Funicular
- Museums & Art Venues
- San Telmo Museum (Basque society) and Tabakalera (Contemporary culture)
- Historical Sites
- Castillo de la Mota on Monte Urgull and the Victoria Eugenia Theatre
- Religious Sites
- Buen Pastor Cathedral and Basilica of Santa Maria del Coro
- Annual Events
- San Sebastián International Film Festival (Zinemaldia) in September
- Cultural Districts
- Egia (The 'Soho' of Donostia) known for live music and alternative arts
- Theater Venues
- Victoria Eugenia Antzokia and Principal Theatre (Calle Mayor)
- Local Markets
- Mercado de San Martin (combination of traditional stalls and modern retail)
- Music Scene
- Dabadaba (Egia) for indie/electronic and Altxerri for Jazz
- Street Art
- Underpasses in Egia and mural works near the Tabakalera building
- Cooking Classes
- Mimo San Sebastián (located in the Maria Cristina Hotel) - Approx €150/session
- Art Galleries
- Arteko Galería (Calle Iparraguirre) and Ekain Arte Lanak
- Historic Buildings
- City Hall (former Casino) and the Miramar Palace (former Royal summer residence)
- Local Heritage
- The Basque language (Euskara) and the 'Aurresku' ceremonial dance
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Urgull for hiking and Santa Clara Island (accessible by boat in summer €4)
- National Parks Nearby
- Aiako Harria Natural Park (approx 30 mins drive) for rugged granite peaks
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Bidegorri (red bike paths) network; coastal walk from La Concha to El Antiguo
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Monte Igueldo viewpoint (entry €2.50) for the iconic crescent bay photo
- Birdwatching Locations
- Urdaibai Bird Center (approx 1 hour drive toward Bilbao)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Strictly regulated; only permitted during 'Noche de San Juan' (June 23rd) on city beaches
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos (Main office at Calle Urdaneta) and DHL Express points
- Tech Repair Services
- PC Box (Calle de Miracruz) for computer hardware and mobile repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Benta Berri Sports Center (Antiguo)
- Language Classes
- Lacunza IH (Spanish/Basque) - Intensive courses from €200/week
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Koldo Mitxelena Kulturunea (near the Cathedral) - Free entry and quiet zones
- Community Centers
- Kontadores (Bidebieta) for youth and creative workshops
- Gaming Lounges
- OhMyGame! (Bar and gaming venue) on Calle de Jose Maria Soroa
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Kursaal (Calle Mayor)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €7,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €300,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000 in Alza/Pasaia)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €408,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,200 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €252,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €6,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €496,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €304,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 24% (Basque Country has its own tax autonomy through 'Concierto Económico')
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 19% - 28% depending on amount
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (residing >183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 49% (Gipuzkoa specific rate for income over €175,000)
- VAT
- 21% (IVA)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict transparency rules applied by the Hacienda Foral de Gipuzkoa
- Property Tax
- IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) - Annual, approx 0.4% - 1.1% of cadastral value
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITP (Property Transfer Tax) at 7% for resale; 10% VAT + 1.5% Stamp Duty for new builds
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Spain's Digital Nomad Visa (Beckham Law potential) allows 24% flat rate on Spanish income up to €600k