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Reviews of Downtown River Hostel

San Martin, 2, 20005 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

#79 of 81 hotels in Donostia-San Sebastián

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 248 hostel reviews

7.3

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.6

  • Comfort

    7.4

  • Location

    9.1

  • Facilities

    7.2

  • Staff

    8.7

  • Value for money

    7.1

  • Free WiFi

    8.4

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 5 September 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nowhere to wash clothes and dry them - important for camino walkers

    Stayed in September 2025

  • Reviewed: 4 September 2025

    7.0
    Comfortable for the start of the Camino!
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    All good

    All good

    Stayed in September 2025

  • Reviewed: 27 August 2025

    7.0
    I would recommend just for a night stop, not really to spend more days
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No common space, just a little kitchen and 2 bathrooms for all the rooms

    Pleasant area, friendly staff, very clean

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 20 August 2025

    8.0
    Basic, good value on a budget.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Slightly noisy outside, but in the context of the Big Week and open windows because of the heat this is perhaps not normal. The bunks are basic, but not uncomfortable.

    Friendly staff greeted at check-in and made a real effort. They fixed a problem with my locker. To cope with the heat, there were fans in each room and in each bunk. The hostel is in a great location just a few minutes from the railway station, great for an early-morning getaway. I only stayed one night but it was just what was needed.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 16 August 2025

    8.0
    One night on the Camino
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nowhere to handwash or dry clothes. Washing machine cost €20.

    Excellent location. Air conditioning was very welcome.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 16 August 2025

    8.0
    San Sebastian as a city is overvalued and overpriced. Just go somewhere ele
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Just like all tourist accomodation in San Sebastian this is very overpriced. I would advice to visit other cities instead.

    Great location in the city.. Receptionist spoke good English and explained everything patiently. Guests seem to have good vibes. Lots of electrical plugs in the rooms.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 13 August 2025

    7.0
    It was.okay
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very mixed clientele No common space

    Location and staff

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 9 August 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The beds were sunken and too soft. very little place to hang towels to dry. the amount of showers, toilets, and sinks is too low for the amount of people the hostel can take in.

    The receptionist Agustín is great, super nice and helpful. The bathrooms and the rooms were clean and (unlike many other hostels) the lockers were free, I didn't have to pay extra for a padlock.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: 29 July 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room in the basement, showers, too hot...noisy

    Location, near train and bus station.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 19 July 2025

    6.0
    Okay
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    A bit pricey, and there wasn’t always a person at the reception at all times. Special thanks to them because they did help me order a taxi though.

    Great location, good facilities, clean and comfortable

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 July 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The shared bathroom is limited, especially at peak times. Hot water ran out on my first day because I checked in much later at night. The bed was too soft (more like lumpy from too many slept on it) and the blanket felt damp. I usually fall asleep anytime, anywhere, but both nights here, I had trouble falling asleep.

    Location is absolutely superb. Most places of attraction were a short walk away. Facilities complete for backpackers / as a hostel should be. Hosts were nice and helpful.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 13 July 2025

    7.0
    Good enough
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The whole hostel is poorly designed and this makes it an inconvenient and unconfortable experience..The bunk beds dont feel strong / stable and the bed sheets and pillow doesn't feel clean but grotty. The showers run from hot to cold inconsistently. The lower floor bathroom sink is small and the mirror is far from the sink. The staff, while very helpful, do seem overworked or bored. The laundry cost 20 euros, which is prohibitive.. No place to wash or hang clothes. No common areas / desks to hang. Kitchen is spacious but not really a place to eat comfortably with low stainless steel table and high chairs. The hostel is just there for bare basics and has not considered the impact of its design on the hostel experience. It is fine if you need a place to sleep and good location.

    Room smelt nice. V clean bathroom kitchen and shower. Staff speak english and are helpful. Great location.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 5 July 2025

    6.0
    Great location and staff - room was below average due to lack of ventilation
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 6 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Our room was downstairs - unlike the pictures there were no curtains on the beds and lockers were outside of the room. Window was only out to street level so no ventilation and the room was constantly damp/smelly. Beds were very soft (not in a good way)

    Great location, full kitchen, regularly cleaned and very welcoming staff. We were able to keep our luggage there after checking out and use the showers post check out which was a big plus.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 July 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Bulk beds, a lot of people in the same room, if you open the window (because of the heat), the street is very noisy. Issues with hot water in peak time.

    Good price, good location, easy to access, the staff was available anytime I needed.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 June 2025

    7.0
    Okay but not a great value. One of the hosts was terrific.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Bathrooms didn’t have paper towels, not enough places to hang clothes to dry. (Tip: Take a string to fashion your own clothes line. ) co-ed bathrooms awkward. Host had no idea where Camino trail head was located.

    Great location

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 18 June 2025

    8.0
    Nice accommodation.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    None.

    Nice accommodation with small sized rooms! Good location to go to the centre and around in the city. Friendly and helpful staff! Recommended.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 16 June 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Loud, uncomfortable beds, top bunk had no privacy curtain or socket to charge anything. Also no shelf or anything to put key or phone on. I had a second booking in one of the downstairs rooms for my last night, that room smelt horrible.

    Great location, friendly staff

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 15 June 2025

    6.0
    It’s a very basic place
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    It’s a very basic hostel. The showers are behind the reception. There is no hangout place except the food table in the kitchen. Beds and pillows are not comfortable and were not smelling clean. It’s very loud you. You can’t leave the windows open for safety and if you do with the blinds it’s loud. One shower did not have hot water suddenly so I had to leave for another one in the middle of my shower. The lockers are to loud, whose idea was it to make them metal? If people use their lockers when you are sleeping you are definitely awake! You have to rent the towel it’s not free.

    The location is great, close to everything and 5 min from the bus station. Staff is friendly and kind. Some of the staff were continuously cleaning after everyone which is nice.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 12 June 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    friendly staff, good facilities

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 4 June 2025

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The staff is very helpful

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: 29 May 2025

    7.0
    First hostel trip, great location and nice staff.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    We would have preferred if there was a female only dorm option.

    Location was great, good facilities and lovely staff :)

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 24 May 2025

    8.0
    Would happily stay there again and recommend it!!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing!

    So easy to find - just over the bridge from the bus station (important for me this year). Plenty of facilities and extremely helpful staff!

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 23 May 2025

    7.0
    Good for a short stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Bed in 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Blankets were light. And not to warm.

    Central to bus station and the city.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: 16 May 2025

    8.0
    A place to rest/sleep for our one night in to San Sabastian
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Bed in 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The hot water from shower + washroom sink where I only encountered only very cold water coming out. This was when earlier all shower cubicles were fully occupied, or during "heavy traffic" at washroom. No issue when taking my shower the next early morning as hot water is available when there was "low traffic" inside washroom, LOL Would be good if there is also a small table inside each room.

    Location for me & my group couldnt be better as it is walking distance to the famous walking street where there are many foods choices, this place was recommendated by the staff during check-in when we ask where we can have foods choices for iur dinner + also walking distance to the waterfront + 8 mins walk away from Sebastian Metro train station. Also like each bund bed are provided with two power sockets. Individual lockers inside the room to store our reasonable size backpack.

    Stayed in May 2025

Showing 1 – 25

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