Living in San Sebastian: What You Need to Know in 2025 and Beyond

If you’re here, you’ve probably already started to formulate a new dream: living in the stunning San Sebastián. Whether you fell in love with the city on holiday, during your Erasmus, or are considering a move from another part of the Basque Country or Spain, doing your research is key to understanding both the challenges and considerable rewards of living in this wonderful city.

The objective of this blog will be to do just that: provide realistic insights into life in San Sebastián — and to an extent, the greater Basque region — that will help newcomers come to the right decision both for themselves and their families. This information will be key to making informed choices and understanding what to expect before taking life-changing and potentially costly decisions.

The motivation behind this blog is neither to encourage nor discourage moving to San Sebastián. Rather, it will aim to be a source of truth to help people take the plunge and live in San Sebastián or understand that the Basque region may not be the best option for them.

So, with no further ado, let’s have a quick look at why San Sebastián — AKA Donostia — could be a great long- or short-term option for you and your family.

The port area is one of the most charming areas of the city. Head here for the finest and freshest fish and seafood.

San Sebastián at a Glance

San Sebastián is a modestly sized city with a population of around 183,000. It’s the capital of the province of Gipuzkoa (Spanish spelling Guipuzcoa) and one of the main cities in the autonomous region of the Basque Country. The city is known for its excellent cuisine, stunning beaches, beautiful architecture, and its unique mix of traditional culture and modern elegance. 

Its north-coast location makes life in the city a very different prospect to life on the Costas. It’s estimated to rain 185 days of the year (!) with grey skies and rain a mainstay in the city for much of the year. Though summer days are stunning, be aware that the summer months are no guarantee of hot or dry weather. The climate is changeable and often unpredictable, making the lifestyle very different from the guaranteed blue skies on the east coast and south of the country.

The cost of living is also a key factor to take into account. San Sebastián is generally regarded to be the most expensive city in Spain to buy property in. This makes many people’s dream of a home next to the beach or owning a home with a garden or even land a high-cost proposition. Be prepared to live in relatively small flats and look for homes away from the most popular spots to get the best value for money.

Though the price is a downer, potential newcomers must understand that the prices reflect the high demand for properties in the city. Remember, Donosti is a relatively small city surrounded by mountains, making significant expansion almost impossible. The demand also comes down to a simple factor: many people want to live in this gorgeous city we call our own!

At the end of the day, choosing to live in San Sebastián (like anywhere else!) comes down to whether you’re willing to take the bad with the good. 

The Famous Beaches

San Sebastián is a stunning city and one of the few Spanish cities that boasts both beach and mountain within the city limits. The jewel in the crown of the city is without doubt the beach; the famous La Concha beach plus Ondarreta beach and La Zurriola beach offer stunning, clean beaches for catching rays in summer and peaceful strolls in winter. Though we often associate Spain with its beaches, a city with three beaches within walking distance from anywhere in the city is a relative rarity. 

The beaches here boast soft sand, little seaweed, and generally clean waters. They’re dog-friendly during the off-season (October- June) and offer some (not extensive) refreshment options. Unlike on other beaches around the country, you’re unlikely to be bothered by people selling their wares as you try to relax.

Gastronomy in San Sebastián

San Sebastián has more Michelin stars per square kilometre than anywhere else in the world. While this will appeal to foodies, the best restaurants will only represent a (very occasional) treat for most people around the city. 

But that doesn’t mean that we have to miss out! Every single barrio in the city is simply brimming with small bars and restaurants to try the city’s famous pintxos, a larger plate (a ración) or enjoy a sit-down meal. Check out our guides to each barrio to find the best eats in each neighbourhood.

The Great Outdoors

For me, one of the best things about the city is the chance to escape it! Luckily for us Donostiarras, you don’t even need a car to get out into the great outdoors and enjoy some gorgeous, scenic mountain walks within the city borders. 

Head up into Igeldo and enjoy a leisurely walk to Orio, or enjoy the coastal walk in Ulia on your way to Pasaia. For less adventurous or mobile people, Urgull also offers some shaded paths and beautiful views of the city.

Surfing in San Sebastián

Donosti is a great option for surfing, especially on Zurriola beach in the barrio of Gros. You’ll find the best waves here. Newcomers to the sport will find a range of surf schools and places to rent and store your board. 

Culture and Language in San Sebastián

You’ll likely know by now that Spain and the Basque Country are different concepts. While they overlap in many historical, cultural, and linguistic factors, the Basque Country has its own culture, language, and strong sense of identity. These are topics we’ll explore more about in this blog, as making sweeping generalisations won’t give you a good picture of the complexities of the dynamics at play. 

However, be aware that many don’t consider the Basque Country to be part of Spain. Speak to local people and try to understand this and see their perspective. This will help you understand the people around you and (crucially!) help you avoid putting your foot in it!

Many people who come to San Sebastián aren’t aware of how much the Basque language and culture permeate life in the city. The reality is that they play a hugely important role in how the city works. They are also hugely important factors to take into account when coming here to find a job or if you have school-age children.

I can’t underline this enough: your children will be exposed to Basque if they go to school in San Sebastián. The extent will depend on the school you choose or (more likely) you’re assigned. Putting your children into the school system here will require them to do classes in Basque. This is possibly the most important thing to know when considering moving your family here. Basque is an extremely complex language, and older children will have a tough time being thrown in at the deep end. Check out our posts on education to find out more about the schooling system in Donosti.

Career Prospects in San Sebastián 

If you’re contemplating a new life in San Sebastián, knowing how you’re going to support yourself is absolutely key. Don’t leave this factor to chance. The cost of living is high, and you’ll quickly burn through your savings if you don’t know where your next paycheck is coming from.

The most important thing to emphasise is that you must come with language skills to get a job here. The huge exception to this rule is English teaching. However, only coming with your native language generally isn’t a recipe for success here. Naturally, there are always exceptions, but I’d warn against coming here on a whim and expecting to find a job to support yourself without excellent language skills and a great CV.

Education in San Sebastián

I will go into how the education system works and how to navigate it in other blog posts. As I’ve already mentioned, keep in mind that your child will invariably need to learn Basque, at least to a certain extent. Another thing to bear in mind is that you’re very unlikely to get into either of the two English schools in the city simply because you’re foreigners. Schools are assigned to each student mostly on the basis of proximity to the school. Don’t take for granted that you’ll get into these types of schools and make contingencies for if you don’t!

“Expat” Culture in San Sebastián

This is the one and only time you’ll see the word “expat” on this blog. It just doesn’t sit right with me. However, for the purposes of this brief introduction, it’s worth evaluating what you’ll find as a newcomer to San Sebastián. So is there a strong “expat” community?

The answer to this is no. One of the biggest draws to places like the Costas is the sense of community you can build there; a home away from home. Being surrounded by people who speak your language and understand your background is comforting when you’re on new shores. However, this support network isn’t as developed in San Sebastián as it is in other major cities or coastal areas.

There are certainly typical haunts where you’re bound to find other foreigners but you won’t find the same number of Irish (or English) pubs. The city just isn’t big on this kind of thing. That doesn’t mean that finding other like-minded people is impossible or that you won’t rub shoulders with people from your part of the world. However, you won’t find the streets lined with foreign pubs and shops. 

Many will agree that this is a positive thing for the city. Maintaining the culture and atmosphere is so important for the locals, as we as newcomers should try our best to adapt to our new city, meet local people, and learn what we can about our adopted home.

Key Takeaways

San Sebastián is a truly wonderful place to live, offering a unique mix of culture, gastronomy, beach, and outdoor life. It’s no coincidence that this place is booming: everyone who visits invariably falls in love and can envisage making it their forever home. 

Like any other big life decision, deciding to move to San Sebastián should be carefully researched before you dive in head first. Donosti (and other places in the Basque Country) present unique challenges that should be considered before upheaving your life, job, and family.

Remember the following when considering a move:

• Learning Spanish is a must for finding jobs and integrating well into your new community. 

• Most schools do class in Basque. This makes a smooth transition into the Basque education system a lot more difficult for older children. 

• The cost of living is significantly higher in San Sebastián than in many other places around the country. Both renting and purchasing property is expensive and highly competitive.

• Donosti lacks a widespread “expat” community that some look for. Be prepared to learn the language and meet the locals to widen your social circle!

Watch this space to find out about these topics and many more!