Athens vs San Sebastián

San Sebastián leads Athens by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 64 to 63. Athens grades better on 8 measures, San Sebastián on 12; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Athens 63, San Sebastián 64
• OECD: Athens 58, San Sebastián 61
• UN Tourism: Athens 62, San Sebastián 67
• UNDRR: Athens 60, San Sebastián 56

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Athens 67, San Sebastián 58
• Economy and jobs: Athens 56, San Sebastián 83
• Climate and hazards: Athens 40, San Sebastián 60
• Water and environment: Athens 50, San Sebastián 75
• Community and housing: Athens 63, San Sebastián 65
• Access and continuity: Athens 79, San Sebastián 53

Where Athens is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 13.8 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Bank of Greece / INSETE Intelligence, Annual Tourism Report, 2023). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 5.4 nights per visitor (region figure) (Bank of Greece, Developments in the balance of travel services: 2024, 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 77.1 % average annual occupancy (Athens-Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association (EXAAA) & GBR Consulting via GTP Headlines, 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Resident support for tourism: 82.4 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (country figure) (ETERON - Institute for Research and Social Change, 2024). At or above 70: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (Athens International Airport / Hellenic Train / Piraeus Port Authority / Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (UN Tourism (UNWTO) & European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), 2023). Grade 2/4.
• Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) / Greek Law 5073/2023 & Law 5162/2024, 2024-2026). Grade 3/4.

Where San Sebastián is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 33.1 % of annual nights (Donostia San Sebastián Turismoa / Eustat, 2025). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Domestic share of nights: 34 % of nights by residents of the same country (Donostia San Sebastián Turismoa, Observatorio Turístico - Balance 2025, 2025). Between 25 and 35: grade 2/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 7.1 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 6.3 % of the labour force (Fomento de San Sebastián / Eustat, Barómetro Económico 2024, 2024). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Income per head: 59,868 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 1.6 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 12.2 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (metro figure) (Mancomunidad de Aguas del Añarbe / Añarbeko Urak, 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: -4.8 % change in rents over the last 12 months (idealista, August 2025 – August 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 1.5 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Ayuntamiento de Donostia / San Sebastián - Open Data & Censo de viviendas INE 2021, 2023). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4.
• Government effectiveness: 83 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Greece: #21 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Athens in full · San Sebastián in full

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