Straightforward dorms in a casual hostel offering bike rentals, a guest kitchen & free Wi-Fi.
Address: San Martin Kalea, 2, Donostia / San Sebastián
Phone: 943 56 34 66
Website: https://www.downtownriverhostel.com/
Turn this route data into a practical day plan with live maps, elevation profiles, and stay planning.
Hostile environment: neon lights, shutters locked at night, no windows in the kitchen, creepy bathroom entrance (behind the reception desk), terrible beds. If you are looking for a friendly place to get to experience Donostia and to meet people, don’t stay here. No place to chill, not a place to meet others, no comfort.
Definitely wouldn’t recommend this hostel. The airco isn’t working, after reading several comments they have never been working. You’ll be sleeping in the basement with a tiny window, it’s crazy hot in summer, smells bad and the air is not breathable - it’s very hard to sleep at all. Next to that the sheets had stains in different colors and the bathrooms were quite dirty and moldy too. As a young woman I also did not feel too comfortable in this environment. However, the staff was friendly. I highly recommend to spend a few more euros to avoid this place.
If I were you, I would do everything I can NOT to stay in this place. The only positive thing I have to say is that it is well located, which is the only plus side to its price. If you are a young woman traveling alone or with another girl, I would not stay here. It is full of grown men, one of which I walked into changing plainly outside of the bathroom stall. They all hang out in the middle of the hall talking late into the night and extremely early in the morning. The walls are thin, so you can hear everything from the reception area to the bedrooms. The male receptionist (all of them were male during my stay) walked into my room without warning while i was changing- I was literally in my underwear. it was 12pm. The beds are terribly uncomfortable, the bathrooms smell and are ABSOLUTELY FULL of mold. 3 stalls and 3 showers are shared with everyone else in the hostel. Unfortunately, you get what you paid for, which are poor living conditions, strange people, and strange atmospheres.
Greta staff but bed bugs, loud noise and acceptance of guest late in the night (up to 1:30 am) which disrupted others trying to sleep
Loved the location of this hostel as it was just a quick walk to most places. Staff are very friendly. I only stayed the night but the man from the morning shift and the woman from the afternoon shift were very helpful when I asked about luggage storage after check out. I do have to mention that I did find it irritating that the lights kept on turning off in the restroom but nothing that would keep me from coming back. Overall, I would definitely recommend this hostel for a short stay.
