Welcome to Donostia-San Sebastián, where the pintxos are delicious, the beaches are beautiful, and the surf is as essential as your morning coffee.
In this article, we’re your wave-catching sidekicks, set to uncover the best surf hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián.
Good to know: If you’re hopping around, we have other guides that could come in useful, like our Best Hostels in Spain guided, or city guides like the best hostels in Barcelona and Madrid.
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com, and others with 1 click.
Here’s your shortcut to the 4 best Surf Hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián:
Our Favorite Hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián put on a map + sights
We’ve put all of our best Donostia-San Sebastián surfing hostels on the map below to help you visualize them.
We also have another guide on the best hostels in San Sebastian.
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- Map with all the hostels
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- FAQ
- Flights
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 👩❤️👨 Couple Hostel: | A Room in the City Hostel |
| 👯 For Groups: | Koba Hostel |
| 🎒 for Backpacker: | Surf Camp San Sebastian |
| 👫 For Socializing: | Surf Camp San Sebastian |
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | A Room in the City Hostel |
| 🧘 Cozy Hostel: | Surfing Etxea |
Tips for Surfing in Donostia-San Sebastián
Riding the Waves:
- Playa de la Zurriola: The heart of San Sebastián’s surf scene. Zurriola Beach is where you want to be. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this beach offers waves for everyone.
- Rent a Soft Top: Don’t bother lugging your board from afar. Just rent a soft-topboard from one of the many surf shops near the beach. It’s the easiest way to catch those waves.
- Tide Timings: Timing is everything. Be sure to check the tide schedule; some spots work best at high tide, while others are ideal at low tide.
Eats and Treats:
- Pintxos Galore: After an exhilarating surf session, refuel with pintxos. These Basque tapas are a delight. Pair them with a local wine, or “txakoli,” for the ultimate post-surf treat.
- La Mejor Tortilla: You can’t visit Spain without trying the classic Spanish omelet, or “tortilla española.” Grab a slice at a local pintxos bar, and you’ll understand why it’s a national treasure.
- Café con Leche: Kickstart your day with a steaming cup of “café con leche.” This coffee with milk is the Spaniard’s secret to staying energized.
1. Surfing Etxea
Nestled atop San Sebastián, Surfing Etxea boasts a great location near La Zurriola Beach.
This social yet laid-back surf hostel is just a 2-minute stroll from both the beach and the city’s center. Offering surfboard rentals, wetsuits, lessons, and more, Surfing Etxea is undeniably one of Donostia-San Sebastián’s best surf hostels.
With friendly staff, comfy beds, and a family-oriented atmosphere, you’ll probably easily feel at home here.
And if you still have energy after surfing, this hostel is close to a lot of great local spots for hiking.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
2. Koba Hostel
Koba Hostel used to be a car workshop, but some people took it over and decided to open a hostel instead.
It’s located in the Gros District, which is super lively and just a short walk away from Zurriola Beach – yet another local surfing paradise.
This hostel seems to attract a more ‘serious’ surf crowd, if that makes sense, so you’ll see a lot of people who take surfing seriously and don’t necessarily want to party.
This super cozy surf hostel has awesome facilities (they also rent out surf boards), a very chill and tranquil vibe, and friendly staff.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
3. San Sebastian Surf Camp
Nestled in the charming town of Aia, this all-encompassing surf camp enchants travelers with unforgettable waves and awesome Basque experiences.
They provide surfboards and wetsuits, which is super convenient.
The hostel also has an amazing location, in the beautiful Pagoeta nature reserve.
Surf Camp San Sebastian is also close to the local nightlife, great mouthwatering restaurants, and obviously: great beach breaks.
This hostel used to be a farmhouse, and apart from surfing, you’ll find it super easy to socialize here and meet new people because the staff is always organizing events.
They also have occasional parties with unlimited drinks, which help a lot – make sure to try their delicious sangrias.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
4. A Room In The City Hostel
Tucked away in the heart of San Sebastian, A Room in the City Hostel is the perfect place to stay for wave riders.
This cozy hostel is part of Convent Garden, an urban cultural hub, so you’ll get to experience the local culture of the town up close.
Travelers can enjoy the on-site restaurant and bar, as well as the comfortable beds, handy lockers, and welcoming common areas.
Plus, it’s close to the beaches, shops, and yummy food spots. Rooms are super nicely decorated and the overall atmosphere is more high-end then in the other surf hostels in our list (there’s even a USB charging port by each bed).
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com
What about the cheapest hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Donostia-San Sebastián.
- Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián
- add your dates
- Order the listings by price
Simple as that.
Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.
Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
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How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Donostia-San Sebastián best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
Our Favorite Hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián put on a map + sights
Any questions about hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián? 🤔
Join our Facebook Group!
Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥
FAQs
Here we share with you the most asked question:
What are the best surf hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián?
The best surf hostels in Donostia-San Sebastián are:
Flights to Donostia-San Sebastián?
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
More handmade Guides for you
Alright, this is your answer to what are the best surf hostels in San Sebastian.
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And party hostels:
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You can find all our new and updated articles for Best Hostels here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list, and more.
Over to you
Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!
Your question will help us to improve this Donostia-San Sebastián guide.
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.
Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks
