Manchester United fans in San Sebastian, we've got you covered with our guide to the city, the club, and, more importantly, the food and drink.
Man United might have been hoping for slightly easier first fixtures in the knockout stage of the Europa League. Real Sociedad has tricky fixtures, but one the Red Devils should overcome.
As for fans visiting San Sebastian, it's part of the Basque region of Spain. Man United have met Real Sociedad six times, most recently in the 2022 Europa League group stage, where both sides beat the other in the respective away fixture.
For Man United fans in San Sebastian, here is our complete guide to the city of a matchday.
🏆 Our next #UEL opponents have been confirmed…
🆚 Real Sociedad 🇪🇸#MUFC pic.twitter.com/qx6jGHnNh4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 21, 2025
How many Man United fans are going to San Sabastian
Man United have been given 1,943 tickets in their away allocation for Real Sociedad. Though, as always with away games in Europe, the number of fans going to the city is likely to be closer to 3,000.
Where will Man United fans sit at the Reale Arena?
Man United fans will be located in the G section of the Reale Arena. Away fans can access their designated section in the Fondo Norte through Gate 9.
Full fans’ matchday guide for Real Sociedad vs Man United
Where to eat & drink for Man United fans in San Sebastian
Food:
The city is famed for its pintxos, small, flavourful bites typically enjoyed in bars. Embarking on a pintxo bar crawl, known locally as “txikiteo,” allows you to sample a variety of these delicacies across different establishments. If that doesn't sound like your sort of thing, then San Sebastian, in general, is a fine food and drink town. Much like most of Spain and the Basque region, the vibes are much more chilled than the UK, but it's something worth experiencing.
Food
- Alona Berri – Award-winning pintxos with a modern twist (Gros neighbourhood)
- La Vina – Famous for its burnt Basque cheesecake (Old Town)
- Bar Nestor – Legendary for its Txuleta (grilled T-bone steak) and tomato salad
- Gandarias – Classic Basque pintxos, including top-quality Iberian ham
- Borda Berri – Known for its melt-in-your-mouth slow-cooked beef cheeks
- Arzak – Three-Michelin-starred modern Basque cuisine
- Akelarre – Another three-Michelin-starred spot with stunning sea views
Drink
- Sybaris Cocteleria – High-end cocktails with expert craftsmanship
- Txakoli – Local lightly sparkling white wine, great with seafood
- Basque Cider (Sagardoa) – Dry, tart cider poured from height for aeration
- Local Bars (Parte Vieja area) – Ideal for a traditional txikiteo (pintxo bar crawl)
How to get to the Reale Arena: Guide for Man United fans in San Sebastian
The stadium can be reached using the GI-20, irrespective of coming in from the west or east directions. Exit 7 will take you to the San Sebastian area, where there are numerous signs for the Anoeta Stadium (Reale Arena). To make things even easier, you can input the following into your satnav:
Anoeta Pasealekua 1, 20014 San Sebastian
The lack of parking spaces for cars is one of the disadvantages of this Real Sociedad stadium. One of the best ways to overcome this issue is through street parking. For this reason, it is advisable to come to the game well ahead of schedule so as to avoid any last-minute hiccups. If you want to park in a car park, one good option is Parking Illumbe.
Located approximately a 10-minute walk from the stadium, offers ample spaces and is convenient for matchday parking. The Parking Txofre and Parking Boulevard are alternative options but require a 20 or 25-minute walk, respectively.
By train or metro
Euskotren Trena offers InterCity trains in the Basque region of Spain. The connectivity offered to watch Real Sociedad is excellent. For someone who is using the train, the Anoeta Station is the one to look out for. If heading through the Metro Donostialdea, this will be the closest station. The bus connectivity is also exceptional in the area. Look for buses 21, B9, and 43 to head to the ground.
FGG says: No time for siesta in San Sebastian
Man United have a game on their hands in Real Sociedad. While the recent record between the two has them in a draw, Man United will need to turn up for this match and return to Old Trafford with something to play for. While Real Sociedad are not setting La Liga alight, they are no pushover and have caused teams problems.
For Man United fans in San Sebastian, it will be a much calmer experience than the one they are used to in Manchester or London, but it is one well worth taking advantage of.