San Sebastian (Donostia) parking is among the toughest in northern Spain: every August during Semana Grande and Tamborrada nights see central garages fill within an hour of opening. Plan ahead – the OTA blue and orange zones cost 1.85 to 2.55 euros per hour, the Buen Pastor garage runs about 3 euros per hour with a 28 euros daily cap, and several free dirt lots ring Anoeta stadium. This 2026 guide pulls live rates from Donostia's Movilidad department, the Empark / Telpark operators, and Parclick.
Donostia uses the OTA system with three zones: blue (visitors), orange (mixed), and red (residents only). Enforcement runs Mon-Fri 09:30-13:30 and 16:00-20:00, plus Sat morning. Free Sundays except in August.
| Zone | Hours | Rate | Max stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue (Centro / Romantic) | Mon-Fri 09:30-20:00, Sat 09:30-14:00 | 1.85 euros / hour | 2 hours |
| Orange (mixed) | Same as blue | 1.55 euros / hour | 4 hours |
| Red (residents only) | 24/7 | Visitors not allowed | N/A |
| Loading zones | Mon-Sat 08:00-14:00 | Free 30 min | 30 min |
| Pay garage | 24/7 | 2.50-3 euros / hour, 25-30 euros / day | No limit |
The OTA system is enforced via licence plate cameras and roving inspectors. Street meters are pay-and-display; you can also pay via the official Donostia OTA app, easyPark, or Telpark.
Below are the city's most central paid garages, with current 2026 rates verified on Parclick and Telpark websites. Pre-booking through Parclick typically saves 30-50% versus drive-up rates, especially for stays over 4 hours.
Underground garage right under the cathedral, two minutes walk to Parte Vieja and Boulevard. The single best location for tourists. Card-only payment, security cameras, height limit 1.95 m. 4.3 stars on Google Maps from over 950 reviews.
Six-minute walk to La Concha beach and three to the Boulevard. Pre-booking on Telpark saves significant money – typically 14 euros for a full day instead of the 28 euros drive-up cap. Height limit 2.00 m.
Underneath the Boulevard, beside the bay. Closest paid option to La Concha beach. Height limit 1.85 m so taller SUVs do not fit. Heavy demand on summer weekends; pre-book at minimum 4 hours ahead.
Underneath the Renfe and Euskotren stations on Avenida de Francia. Best choice if you arrive by train and want to leave the car for a multi-day trip, or for visiting Gros / Zurriola surf beach. About 9 minutes walk to Parte Vieja over the Maria Cristina bridge.
Public underground in Gros neighbourhood, family-friendly, well-lit. Newest garage in the centre (renovated 2024). Five minutes walk to Zurriola surf beach and Tabakalera arts centre. Excellent EV charging (8 chargers, 0.42 euros / kWh).
Free parking near the centre is rare but exists. The trick is to leave the car at one of the outer-ring lots and use the city bus (Dbus) or a 15-25 minute walk into town. Three reliable free options below.
Around the Real Sociedad stadium, free street parking on Pio Baroja and Anoeta avenues. Capacity around 400 spaces. From here a 25-minute walk along the Urumea river or a 6-minute Dbus ride (line 28) to the centre. Avoid match days.
The far end of Ondarreta beach has free unrestricted street parking on Calle Tolosa Hiribidea past Pio Baroja. Capacity perhaps 80 spaces, very full in summer. Walk along the promenade 25 minutes to Parte Vieja.
Behind the Mendizorrotza sports complex – large free open-air lot. Bus 16 takes you to Boulevard in 12 minutes. Best for staying multiple days while exploring San Sebastian by foot or bus.
San Sebastian uses the official Donostia Movilidad app plus the universal easyPark and Telpark options. Coin meters still exist citywide, recently upgraded to take card.
The official municipal app, available on iOS and Android. Lets you start, extend or stop a session by license plate. No surcharge, no minimum time. Recommended over third-party apps because it integrates with the city's licence plate cameras.
Both work in OTA blue and orange zones. easyPark adds a 0.20 euros surcharge per session, Telpark adds 0.15 euros. Slightly more expensive but easier if you already use either elsewhere in Spain.
Updated parquimetres take coins (0.20 to 2 euros), cards, and contactless. Maximum 2-hour ticket in blue zones, 4 hours in orange. Always carry change in case the card reader fails.
| Violation | Fine 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Expired blue zone ticket | 9 euros if paid same day | Pay at parquimetre to cancel; no points |
| No ticket / wrong zone | 30 euros standard | Reduced to 18 euros if paid within 48 h |
| Red zone parking by visitor | 200 euros + tow | Cameras enforce automatically |
| Disabled bay misuse | 200 euros + tow | Strict enforcement year-round |
| Loading zone over 30 min | 90 euros | Mon-Sat 08:00-14:00 only |
| Bus lane (carril bus) | 120 euros | Camera enforced 24/7 |
Pedestrian-only inside the old town walls. Buen Pastor and La Concha garages are 5 minutes walk. Avoid driving in – the lanes are too narrow and bollards block most entries.
OTA blue zone everywhere. Use Buen Pastor or Okendo. Many hotels include valet parking – confirm at booking.
OTA orange zone. Txofre Aparkalekua is the local choice – cheaper than the centre garages and 5 minutes from the surf beach.
Mix of OTA and free. Far end of Ondarreta beach has free street parking; Anoeta stadium area is fully free outside match days.
Up the hill from the train station. OTA orange zone. Geltokia garage is the best paid option for this side of the river.
The Donostia council expanded the OTA blue zone by 220 spaces around Egia and Loiola for 2026, pushing tourist cars further from the centre. Txofre Aparkalekua opened 8 EV chargers in March. Buen Pastor garage raised hourly rate from 2.95 to 3.05 euros but kept the 28.40 euros daily cap stable. Semana Grande August surcharge confirmed: 2.55 euros / hour OTA blue with Sunday enforcement 14-20 August 2026.
Free parking exists at three outer lots: Anoeta stadium area, far end of Ondarreta beach, and Mendizorrotza behind the sports complex. All other in-town parking is paid via the OTA system Mon-Sat. Sundays are free except during August.
Underground Parking La Concha runs 2.95 euros per hour, 27.50 euros per day drive-up. Pre-booking on Parclick drops the daily rate to about 17 euros. OTA blue zone on adjacent streets is 1.85 euros per hour with 2-hour limit.
OTA zones become free 20:00 to 09:30 every day. Outer free lots at Anoeta and Mendizorrotza are unrestricted overnight. Most hotels include valet parking; verify at booking.
Txofre Aparkalekua in Gros at 19.50 euros per day drive-up, or 12 euros pre-booked on Parclick. It is a 7-minute walk over the Zurriola bridge to Parte Vieja.
Coin and card meters work, but the official Donostia OTA app is fastest. easyPark and Telpark also work. The app integrates with licence plate cameras, so it is the most reliable option.
No. Bollards block all non-resident entries. Park at Buen Pastor or La Concha garage and walk in. The Old Town is fully pedestrian inside the historic walls.
Disclosure: Auto Jardim earns a commission when readers book through Parclick at our linked rate. We never accept payment in exchange for a positive review of any operator.
Fact-checked: Rates and fine amounts verified 24 April 2026 against the Donostia Movilidad ordinance, Telpark and Empark websites, Parclick search results, and the 2026 Semana Grande surcharge schedule.
Primary sources: Donostia Movilidad department (donostia.eus), Telpark by Empark, Parclick, Google Maps reviews, on-site verification April 2026.
