Bilbao vs San Sebastián

Bilbao and San Sebastián are level on the CIRA Index at 64. Bilbao grades better on 9 measures, San Sebastián on 8; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Bilbao 64, San Sebastián 64
• OECD: Bilbao 63, San Sebastián 61
• UN Tourism: Bilbao 63, San Sebastián 67
• UNDRR: Bilbao 57, San Sebastián 56

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Bilbao 71, San Sebastián 58
• Economy and jobs: Bilbao 75, San Sebastián 83
• Climate and hazards: Bilbao 65, San Sebastián 60
• Water and environment: Bilbao 63, San Sebastián 75
• Community and housing: Bilbao 69, San Sebastián 65
• Access and continuity: Bilbao 55, San Sebastián 53

Where Bilbao is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 47.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (Ayuntamiento de Bilbao / Bilbao Ekintza, 'Bilbao destino urbano internacional de referencia con turismo sostenible y equilibrado', Jan–Nov 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 16.9 % of international arrivals or nights (INE, foreign tourists by municipality and country of residence (mobile-phone positioning, table 52048), 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 6.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Tourism intensity: 7.8 visitor nights per resident per year (Ayuntamiento de Bilbao (Europa Press) & Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), 2025). Between 5 and 10: grade 3/4.
• Short-let density: 0.8 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (INE via Crónica Vasca / Dataestur, May 2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (ABAO-OLBE & Port of Bilbao (Bilbaoport), 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Rail traffic recovery: 92.7 % of 2019 long-distance rail passengers, latest year (Ministerio de Transportes, Observatorio del Ferrocarril en España 2024, passengers by city 2019 and 2024, 2024). Between 90 and 100: grade 2/4.
• Largest airline group share: 52.4 % of airport passengers carried by the largest airline group (Aena, detailed traffic statistics (passengers by airline, route and country), Sep 2025 – Aug 2026). Between 40 and 55: grade 1/4.

Where San Sebastián is stronger

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 74.3 % average annual occupancy (ADEGI / Eustat, Informe de Evolución del Turismo en establecimientos hoteleros de Gipuzkoa. Año 2024, 2024). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
• Unemployment rate: 6.3 % of the labour force (Fomento de San Sebastián / Eustat, Barómetro Económico 2024, 2024). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• 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.
• 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.
• Cruise pressure: 0 cruise passengers in the busiest month per resident (Puertos del Estado, monthly port traffic summaries ("Cuadros resumen", cruise passengers incl. home port and transit), 2025-06). At or below 0: 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.
• Rail share of intercity access: 34.1 % of intercity passengers travelling by long-distance rail (rail vs rail + airport) (Ministerio de Transportes, Observatorio del Ferrocarril en España 2024 (rail, by city) and Eurostat avia_paoa (airport), 2024). Between 20 and 35: grade 2/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Noticias de Gipuzkoa / Ayuntamiento de Donostia, 'Donostia empezará a cobrar el Impuesto Turístico desde el 1 de enero', 2026). Grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

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

Bilbao in full · San Sebastián in full

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