Beaches in San Sebastian.

San Sebastián is a beautiful, charming city in the Basque province of Guipuzcoa, with a population of around 200,000 inhabitants. It is a very popular tourist destination and has some very pretty beaches. There are 3 city beaches and several other nice beaches in pretty villages just a short drive or bus journey from San Sebastián. Here is a description of the best beaches in and near San Sebastián. To see their exact location, see Map of the best beaches in San Sebastian or see a small version of the map at the end of this article.

• The Concha Beach. Located within the Concha bay, this is the largest and most central of San Sebastian’s 3 beaches. It has fine, golden sand and forms an arc covering about 2 kilometres. It is very good for swimming as it has calm water most of the time. It has lots of very good facilities like showers (indoor and outdoor), toilets, lockers, changing rooms and life guards. The blue and white sun shades which cover a large section of the beach during the holiday season can be hired daily, per week, per month or per season and form a typical feature of beaches in San Sebastian. There is also an area reserved for sports on the beach. See photos of Concha Beach.
• Ondarreta Beach is also situated in the Concha bay and is connected to the Concha beach by a narrow walkway which disappears at high tide. It is much smaller than the Concha beach but has the same facilities. In summer it has a childrens’ club with two swimming pools and canoes for hire. There is a large car park about 500 metres from the beach.
• Zurriola Beach went under extensive redevelopment in 1995 when it was enlargened considerably. It is located in front of the Moneo Cubes. This beach faces onto the open sea and attracts many surfers all year round. It has the same facilities as the Concha as well as a children’s club during the summer, a surfing school and surf boards for hire (all year round).
• Fuenterrabia Beach. This small beach has fine, golden sand and is located in Fuenterrabia, a fishing village about 20 kilometres from San Sebastian just on the border with France. It has good facilities such as showers, toilets and a large car park near the beach. You can see France on the other side of the bay from here. Some excellent places to eat, including Alameda Restaurant and Ramón Roteta .
• Hendaia Beach is located just inside France. It is opposite Fuenterrabia. It is wide, sandy beach several kilometres long. Popular with surfers.
• Zarautz beach is quite long with fine, golden sand. It faces onto the open sea and also attracts lots of surfers. It is about 20 kilometres from San Sebastian going towards Bilbao. One of Spain's most famous chefs has his restaurant here, see Karlos Arguiñano
• Getaria has two small, sandy beaches with lifeguards, showers and toilets. It is a small fishing village some world-class restaurants including Elkano Restaurant and Kaia y Asador Kaipe

Orio, Zumaia, Deba and Mutriko also have small sandy beaches and are located within Guipuzcoa dotted along the coastline going towards Bilbao.


See larger version of map

Beaches in Santander

Santander is one of Spain's most beautiful cities, and the coastline and beaches add to its overall charm and beauty. The contrast offered by the golden sand, green hills and rocky outlets is a feast for the eye.

Santander, capital city of the Region of Cantabria, is an extremely well-planned and clean city, and the beaches are no exception. They have plenty of facilities and are easily accessible on foot or by bus. On hot Summer days they can get quite crowded and are very popular with families and elderly people, but there is room for everyone and because the weather is somewhat unreliable, they never get as crowded as Mediterranean beaches. See below for a description of the best beaches in Santander. See also map of beaches in Santander to see their exact location, and visit Guide to Santander for more information about what this lovely city offers to visitors, Hotels in Santander for ideas about where to stay, and Guide to Cantabria for places of interest nearby.

Best beaches in Santander

1. Playa de la Concha: Small urban beach - just 250m long - with a promenade. Golden sand, moderate waves and very popular all year round. SOS, Red Cross and life guards, clean. There is a carpark nearby, and also a tourist info., public telephones, showers, public toilets and it is possible to hire sunshades and/or sunbeds. Near the Santander Marina.
2. Playa del Sardinero: Blue flag, this 1300m stretch of golden sand is Santander's longest - and most popular - beach. There is a park at one end, and a promenade just above the beach which continues along to the Magdalena. Lots of hotels, restaurants, fast food places and bars nearby. Moderate waves, sunshades and sunbeds to rent, showers, carparking facilities, lifeguards, toilets and access for handicapped people At the end nearest the Magdalena each Sunday morning locals meet to play "palas", a game played with wooden bats and a small ball in which couples hit the ball to each other in long rallies.
3. Playa El Camello: Blue flag, 200m. Small beach with showers and basic facilities, very popular during high season.
4. Playa Mataleñas: Beautiful bay on the outskirts of Santander. Overlooked by green fields and rocky cliffs. Golden sand, clean waters and a nice coastal walk, despite being quite isolated this is a very popular beach. Public toilets and showers but no other on-beach facilities.
5. Playa de la Magdalena: 900 mts., golden sand and some rocks, life guards, toilets, showers, public phones, access for handicapped visitors, mooring facilities and boat hire.
6. Playa de los Bikinis: Presumably Bikini Beach was where the more daring tourists used to go when the bikini started to be an acceptable item of beachware towards the end of Franco's regime. 250 m., golden sand, calm sea, toilets, showers, Red Cross emergency services and public telephones.
7. Playa los Peligros: Which translated means "Dangers Beach" . 200 m., very popular, golden sand and moderate waves. Emergency services, car park nearby, toilets and showers.
8. Playa Virgen del Mar, Playa La Maruca and Playa El Bocal are all small, uncrowded beaches just a short drive (or busride) from Santander. El Bocal is sandy, the other two are rocky beaches. None of them have any on-beach facilities.
9. Playa El Rostro: Small, quiet beach with golden sand and calm waters just opposite Santander. No on-beach facilities, ideal for people looking for a quiet day out away from the crowds.

See larger map of beaches in Santander