Donostia is the sole capital in the autonomous community to witness a decrease in total tourist entries, with a 1.9% drop this month. Eustat's latest data indicates this trend contrasts with Bilbao, which has seen a 4% increase, and Vitoria-Gasteiz, with a 1% rise.
However, the figures for San Sebastián differ from those for the province of Gipuzkoa as a whole. The province recorded 170,696 entries in July, a 7.1% increase compared to July 2025, and 386,654 overnight stays, representing a 5.6% year-on-year growth.
Eustat data from hotels in the Basque Autonomous Community shows that foreign tourism is overcoming domestic tourism. Of the total entries in Euskadi, 58.8% were of foreign origin, and 59.9% of overnight stays.
In Gipuzkoa, the average stay for domestic tourists has significantly decreased compared to 2025. Last year, the average stay in July was 2.24 days, while this year it stood at 2.11 days. In contrast, the average stay for foreign tourists has risen from 2.33 days in 2025 to 2.35 in July 2026. This translates to 60,757 entries and 128,303 overnight stays from residents within the state, compared to 109,939 entries and 258,351 overnight stays from foreign tourists.
Regarding hotel occupancy, Gipuzkoa achieves 80% occupancy, surpassing Bizkaia (69.3%) and Araba (60.7%). Among the capitals, Donostia fills 84.9% of its capacity, Bilbao 76.8%, and Vitoria-Gasteiz 60.7%.
In terms of ADR (Average Daily Rate or revenue per occupied room) for hotels, Gipuzkoa is the most profitable with 221.7 euros. In Bizkaia, the ADR stands at 125.8 euros, and in Álava, at 102.6 euros. By capitals, San Sebastián leads with 285.1 euros, followed by Bilbao with 140.5 euros, and Vitoria-Gasteiz with 92.4 euros.
