San Sebastián

Donostia / San Sebastián
Donostia (Basque)
San Sebastián (Spanish)
Nicknames: 
Sanse, Donosti, San Seb, la bella Easo
Motto: 
Ganadas por fidelidad, Nobleza y lealtad
(Spanish for "Earned for Fidelity, Nobility and Loyalty")
Donostia / San Sebastián
Location of Donostia / San Sebastián within the Basque Autonomous Community
Donostia / San Sebastián
Donostia / San Sebastián (Spain)
Coordinates: 43°19′17″N 1°59′8″W / 43.32139°N 1.98556°W / 43.32139; -1.98556
Country Spain
Autonomous communityBasque Country
ProvinceGipuzkoa
EskualdeaDonostialdea
Neighbourhoods21
Founded1180
Government
 • MayorJon Insausti (EAJ-PNV)
Area
60.89 km2 (23.51 sq mi)
Elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Population
 (2024)
188,487
 • Rank35th in Spain
 • Density3,096/km2 (8,017/sq mi)
 • Metro
436,500
DemonymsDonostiarra, -s
donostiar, -rak (Bas.)
donostiarra, -s (Sp.)
GDP
 • Metro€21.797 billion (2020)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codes
20001–20018
Area code+34 943 (Gipuzkoa)
WebsiteCity Council

San Sebastián, officially known by the bilingual name Donostia / San Sebastián (Basque: [doˈnos̺ti.a], Spanish: [san seβasˈtjan] ), 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 France–Spain 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. The city is known for its gastronomy, particularly its pintxo culture and high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as for its beaches and Belle Époque architecture, rooted in its historical development as a royal and elite resort. 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.