Gros
Across the Urumea river, next to Zurriola surf beach. Young, lively and the most popular area with students.
Student housing
San Sebastián.
San Sebastián — Donostia in Basque — is one of Spain's most beautiful cities, built around the shell-shaped La Concha bay. It has more Michelin stars per inhabitant than almost anywhere on earth, a serious research and engineering cluster, and a small, walkable centre. It is also the most expensive city on this list.
Where to live
Best neighbourhoods for students
Amara
Residential and well connected, close to the Ibaeta campus bus routes. Better value than the centre.
Parte Vieja
The old town and the pintxos heartland. Spectacular to live in, tiny flats, and loud every weekend.
Ibaeta
Where the UPV/EHU campus and Tecnun actually are. Purpose-built student housing and the shortest commute.
Egia
Up the hill behind the train station. Local, quieter, some of the more affordable rents in the city.
Antiguo
West end near Ondarreta beach and walking distance to Ibaeta. Calm and residential.
Getting around
Transport
San Sebastián is compact and almost entirely walkable, with an excellent Dbus urban bus network filling the gaps and a well-used bike-lane network along the river and the bay. The Ibaeta campus is a short bus ride or a 25-minute walk from the centre. Euskotren connects the city with Bilbao and the rest of Gipuzkoa.
Living in San Sebastián
San Sebastián — Donostia in Basque — is one of Spain's most beautiful cities, built around the shell-shaped La Concha bay. It has more Michelin stars per inhabitant than almost anywhere on earth, a serious research and engineering cluster, and a small, walkable centre. It is also the most expensive city on this list.
