If you find yourself in San Sebastián with a hunger for proper football, there’s only one place you need to be—Reale Arena, home of Real Sociedad. This isn’t just a matchday—it’s an experience. An injection of Basque pride, footballing class, and a fan culture that gets under your skin in the best way possible.
While Athletic Bilbao might steal headlines with their unique transfer policy, Real Sociedad match them for intensity, technical brilliance, and heart. And let’s not forget Takefuso Kubo, the Japanese magician who’s turned Anoeta into a pilgrimage site for Japanese tourists.
Reale Arena (Anoeta): Basic Info
Name: Reale Arena (formerly Anoeta) Owned by: San Sebastián City Council Opened: 1993 (reborn after a stunning 2019 renovation) Capacity: Over 39,000 fans
Location & Getting There
Address: Anoeta Pasalekua, 1, 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Nearest Metro: Anoeta-Donostia Station (E2 and E5 lines)
Parking: Try Anoeta Aparkalekua – affordable at around €5 for 9 hours, though it fills up fast on matchdays.
Walkability: You can stroll from the city centre with ease. Follow the shirts, the chants, and the sea of blue and white—you won’t get lost.
A Stadium with Soul
This isn’t just a place to sit and watch 90 minutes of football. This is a home steeped in legacy.
Reale Arena is Real Sociedad’s third-ever stadium, following Ondarreta (1909–1913) and Atocha (1913–1993). On the concourse, a statue of Alberto Ormaetxea stands tall—an immortal nod to the manager who led the club to back-to-back titles in the early ‘80s. This place doesn’t forget its heroes.
And while it belongs to La Real, it’s opened its doors to others too. Athletic Bilbao even played their first game of the 2013–14 La Liga season here. Four of the unofficial Basque national team’s fixtures have taken place on this turf, proving this stadium’s wider cultural heartbeat.
Reale Arena has hosted rugby matches, political rallies, and even concerts—but football remains its lifeblood. It was here, after the stadium’s gorgeous 2019 transformation, that it picked up the World Prix Versailles award for the best sports venue design. Not just a fortress—an architectural masterpiece.
Matchday Magic
Real Sociedad fans demand excellence—and between 2019 and 2024, they got it. Top-six La Liga finishes became the norm. Even with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the mix, La Real stood tall. Things have dipped a little in 2025, but the fight is far from over. Just look at the posiciones de Real Sociedad and you’ll see a club still pushing for Europe.
Want to see Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid? Or maybe the high-stakes clash of Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona? Then get your tickets early—big games like these often skip general sale. For regular fixtures, head to the official club site. €50 will usually get you through the turnstile.
Food & Drink at the Ground
We won’t lie. If you’re expecting gourmet matchday grub, prepare to be disappointed.
Local fans don’t queue up for stadium food—they bring sandwiches. And for good reason. That “pizza” they sell? More like a limp tortilla with a splash of cheese and tomato.
There’s very little flavour, and even less value.
Beer? It’s 0.0% alcohol, in line with Spanish law. Perfect if you’re driving. Otherwise… bring snacks and fuel up before the match.
Pre-Match Atmosphere
To truly live it, you’ve got to soak up the buzz pre-game.
Head down to the small bars along Madrid Etorbidea or Balleneros Kalea. Look for Real Sociedad scarves in the windows and join locals over a couple of Kelers. The energy is infectious. You’ll hear stories, predictions, and the occasional passionate rant about the La Liga schedule. It’s where the match really begins.
Fun Facts and Extras
When Athletic Bilbao needed a temporary home in 2013, Reale Arena welcomed them in.
The record attendance? Not even a football match—but a French rugby union game. Proof that when the Basques host an event, they do it properly.
When Real Sociedad score, the whole stadium turns their backs and celebrates with the Poznań. Strange? Yes. But wildly fun? Absolutely.
Whether you’re there for Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid, scouting the Real Sociedad vs FC Barcelona lineups, or just catching a mid-table clash in the rain, Reale Arena (Anoeta) delivers.
It’s football how it should be: beautiful, flawed, noisy, proud. If you love the game, go. If you’re unsure, go anyway. You’ll leave converted.
Like this guide? Check out our others in the Stadium Guide section!
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