Find out the best beaches in San Sebastian
Enjoying the beach in San Sebastián is truly incredible as there is nothing quite like relaxing on the sand and enjoying the atmosphere around you. Even though the water is cold, that won’t stop you going to the beaches in San Sebastián, as they have so much more to offer. In the Basque city of San Sebastián, you can choose between the city’s three very different beaches – you decide which one you prefer for that particular moment. Shall we have a look at each of these together?
Features and natural beauty
Take note of these three names as we take a look at each one:
La Concha beach
La Concha beach is not just the most famous and most popular, it is also a symbol of San Sebastián. Set in a bay with a striking curved outline which, when seen from above, depicts the shape of a shell, giving the beach its name in Spanish. It offers activities as unique as the gabarrones, floating platforms which have an interior pool, slide and springboard.
The water is often calm and there is usually some entertainment, such as the school beach football tournament, which is held in winter. What stands out most about La Concha beach in San Sebastián is its elegance, its exceptional nature and the enjoyment it offers.

Ondarreta beach

Out of all the beaches in San Sebastián, this beach is possibly the most homely and least well-known. This gives it a unique appeal: it is the least busy during the summer season, making it easier to ensure children are well monitored, and they also have more space to play. It also features a children’s playground in the sand, as well as unique blue and white tents, offering shade and style.
Ondarreta beach stands out for its provision of changing rooms and showers, the moderate swell of the sea, the crystal-clear water and the incredible neighbourhood that surrounds it. As such, one of the most popular activities to do after going to Ondarreta beach in San Sebastián is to visit the Ondarreta Gardens. They’re bound to win you over!
Out of all the beaches in San Sebastián, this beach is possibly the most homely and least well-known. This gives it a unique appeal: it is the least busy during the summer season, making it easier to ensure children are well monitored, and they also have more space to play. It also features a children’s playground in the sand, as well as unique blue and white tents, offering shade and style.
Ondarreta beach stands out for its provision of changing rooms and showers, the moderate swell of the sea, the crystal-clear water and the incredible neighbourhood that surrounds it. As such, one of the most popular activities to do after going to Ondarreta beach in San Sebastián is to visit the Ondarreta Gardens. They’re bound to win you over!
La playa de Ondarreta destaca por la dotación de vestuarios y duchas, el oleaje moderado, las aguas cristalinas y el fantástico barrio que la rodea. De este modo, una de las actividades más recurrentes después de visitar la playa de Ondarreta en San Sebastián es pasar por los Jardines de Ondarreta. ¡Seguro que te conquistarán!

Zurriola beach
This is one of San Sebastián’s beaches most commonly known for its youthful, surfer spirit. In fact, fans of this particular water activity choose this beach as their preferred destination for surfing. As it is completely open to the Cantabrian Sea, it usually has a strong, exciting swell for catching waves.
Since 1994, when it underwent an ambitious reform to expand the sandy area, it has become an important attraction in San Sebastián (known as Donostia in Basque). The tides make it dangerous, which is why visitors must pay attention to the flag signals and lifeguard instructions. The breakwater area is safer. This is certainly a San Sebastián beach for the young.
Desde 1994, cuando experimentó una ambiciosa reforma para aprovechar y ampliar el arenal, se ha convertido en un importante reclamo de Donosti. Las mareas la hacen peligrosa, por lo que es necesario atender a las señalizaciones de las banderas y a las indicaciones de los socorristas. En el entorno del espigón, la seguridad es mayor. Hablamos de la playa de San Sebastián joven por excelencia.

Activities and water sports on San Sebastián’s beaches
All of San Sebastián’s beaches include a good number of entertainment options for everyone. Passion for the water and excitement for sport are guaranteed –
so much so that it is a good idea to discover the city from the water. Renting a canoe or a paddle board will give you a unique perspective of San Sebastián’s beaches.
To summarise, although the list isn’t exhaustive, these are the sports options available on each of San Sebastián’s beaches:
- Zurriola beach. Surfing, bodyboarding, skateboarding and ball games in general.
- La Concha beach. Renting canoes, stand-up paddleboards, bodyboards, beach football, kayaking and snorkelling.
- Ondarreta beach. Tennis (as it is near San Sebastián’s Real Club de Tenis), windsurfing, surfing, kayaking, jet skiing, fishing (with a rod and underwater) and diving.
Places of interest near San Sebastián’s beaches
San Sebastián is a medium-sized city, which makes it very easy to enjoy its many charms.
From any of these three beaches, you will actually be close to the city’s most significant tourist destinations.
- Buen Pastor Cathedral.
- Old Town.
- New Promenade.
- Mount Urgull, with its impressive sculpture of the Sacred Heart and Mota Castle.
- Mount Igueldo, with an amazing theme park.
- El Peine del Viento (The Comb of the Wind), a work of art made by Eduardo Chillida that has been incorporated into the shore.
- Miramar Palace, between Ondarreta and La Concha.
- La Bretxa Market.

Eating after a day at the beach

San Sebastián has some incredible food to offer, and the best way to finish a day at the beach is going out for pintxos in the old town: an absolute must. Among the city’s legendary pintxos, you can’t leave without trying pintxos with Spanish omelette, anchovy, cod, chistorra (cured sausage) or txangurro (spider crab). Traditional bars such as Néstor, La Cuchara de San Telmo, Mendaru and Txepetxa are particularly popular, although there are endless options available.
San Sebastián food is also recognised worldwide. Unsurprisingly, there are several restaurants with Michelin stars available. Among the city’s most outstanding dishes are bacalao al pil pil (chilli and garlic cod), marmitako (tuna stew), txangurro or centollo (spider crab), tortilla de bacalao (cod omelette) and Basque cake.
Have a great time at the beach in San Sebastián
All of San Sebastián’s beaches are a fabulous destination for enjoying yourself, relaxing, switching off and having a great time with family, friends or alone. Don’t you think you should check it out?
Stay on a beach in San Sebastián and get the best holiday apartment at Alwayseasy. Take a satisfying dip in the sea and enjoy those memorable moments.