San Sebastian Surf Guide – Spain’s Best Surf City?
San Sebastian is almost certainly Spain’s most iconic surf city.
Okay, so the actual breaks in the town itself might not be the creme-de-la-creme of the Iberian Peninsula. But there is plenty of quality if you head to nearby nearby Zarautz, and there are days when the city beaches line up very nicely indeed.
There’s also an abundance of cool hostels and surf camps that we think do enough to elevate it to the top of the list for would-be holidaymakers on the hunt for waves.
Wedgy, powerful beach breaks are the name of the game in these parts. They pick up decent westerly and north-westerly swells running off the end of the Cantabrian Sea – it’s the same swell engine that powers western France and Galicia. More sheltered than the nearby French coast, they’re kinda’ spot on for learners and improving intermediates but do have moments when they show teeth.
They’re also real close to civilisation. No car rental needed if you base yourself in one of the surf hostels in the old city. It’s a hop and a skip to the breaks and the tapas joints. Nice.
Of course, venture out some and you can explore the amazing bays of the Basque Country, where the crowds dip and the surf quality skyrockets.
The fact that San Sebastian is a city joined with a wave spot is the main reason we say this one’s up there with the best destinations for surf holidays in Spain.
Come, enjoy the culture, drink the wine, party at night, and hit the swells in the daytime. Easssssy.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
>>This is just one chapter in our complete guide to surfing in Spain and surfing in Pais Vasco
San Sebastian surf at a glance
The good:
- We love all the new surf camps in San Sebastian
- Near some of Basque Country’s best waves
- City setting – you get tapas bars and nightlife too!
The bad:
- Flat summers
- Unreliable conditions at the urban breaks
- Some localism in nearby Basque spots
San Sebastian surf spots
San Sebastian has both urban breaks and spots just outside of town.
We’ll say this: The out-of-town ones are the best by a long shot. Zaruatz, for example, is one of the capitals of Basque Country surfing, and there’s a good chance that you’ll go there if you do an organized surf class or surf camp in San Seb anyhow.
That said, the city beaches can be very decent, especially Zurriola, though crowds are to be expected.
Zurriola Beach (also known as Playa de Gros)
Zurriola Beach is the most famous surf spot in San Sebastian.
The most reliable of the inner-city breaks by a long shot, it’s set in an open bay that’s exposed to the N swells.
The wave is a nice A-frame with quick lefts and longer rights that hits its best on wrap-around NW swells with a size of between four and six foot.
Summer is smaller and better for beginners. Winter conditions are better for intermediates. There’s only sand underfoot, so the local San Sebastian surf schools love it here.
A touch of localism but it’s really misplaced because this is arguably the most surfed and most international spot in the whole of the Basque Country.
La Concha
La Concha is the arc of golden sand that runs below the San Seb Old Town. There’s no doubt it’s the prettiest in the city, but the surf isn’t so good.
Well…I mean, it’s fine. It’s just a little unpredictable, what with a huge island chopping up some of the sets when the swell hits a certain NW angle that would be prime elsewhere in the Pais Vasco.
A sand bottom and good headland shelter mean it’s usually a beginner’s game. SUP and kayaking happen a lot too. Watch out for crowds.
Ondarreta
There’s a point break at the western end of Playa de Ondarreta that offers some good-quality lefts on swells of between 2 and 7 feet. Maxes out at 9 or 10.
When it’s working it’s a shapely wave so gets crowded with locals who won’t take kindly to sharing what they’ve been waiting for (waves aren’t like tapas in San Sebastian, sadly).
Orio
Orio is a little to the west of San Sebastian. It’s a small river town in truth, but access Antilla Beach on its north side.
It has the potential to be pretty lovely, but the best days we’ve seen are medium-sized winter swells in the 5-7 foot range with long periods, which will bend around the breakwater to create very long, cruisy lines. They’re mainly lefts and good for all levels, all boards.
Swells dip a lot in the summer since there’s a bit more sheleter here and the beach will get busy given how close it is to the city. Lots of bodyboarders and groms.
It’s one to think about if you’re driving west and its winter.
Zarautz
If you’re willing to head out of town for a day (and lots of the San Sebastian surf schools will do this), Zarautz is on the menu.
It’s a reliable and consistent beach break that’s all round better than the urban breaks in SS itself. A swell window extends north to west, but is best on direct NW swells in autumn and spring, when you’ll often get those neat offshores.
Waves hold up well on anything under 8 foot but will close out above that. The result is a mega spot for shortboard freeriders who love to rip it up on long and carvable shoulders. Classic Basque stuff.
As of 2024, Zarautz has established itself as arguably the most popualr Pais Vasco surf town of all. It’s got camps, surf schools, and a generally good vibe. Our 2 cents? If you’re coming to San Sebastian mainly for the surf, consider basing yourself here, not in the city.
Where to stay? Zarautz Surf House – a poshtel with affordable dorms a walk back from some of the best waves in northern Spain.
>>Check our complete guide to Zarautz surf right here
The best surf camps in San Sebastian
San Sebastian is the best place in the Basque Country to do a surf camp. A vibrant, historic city with oodles of charm, it’s sprouted camps like mushrooms ready for a tapas place in the last couple of years.
More specifically, San Seb has become a hub for surf camps that include an element of Spanish language learning. Fancy that? Here are your options:
- Lacunza International House – Combine surfing on the bays of San Sebastian city with an intensive Spanish language course. There are daily wave sessions and 20 hours’ of vocab and grammar learning. You’ll finish with more than one new skill! Accomodaiton is either with local people or in a flat with fellow students. They promise that it’s never more than 30 mins from the language class.
- Good People Surf – These guys run a super fun, super sociable surf camp out of a glamping site on the fields overlooking Zarautz bay. You can upgrade to a big belltent for a hint of outdoor living luxury. Package includes five surf lessons of 1.5 hours each and the evenings promise to be very fun – think jam sessions, BBQs, hangouts and bonfires.
If you’re serious about doing a surf camp in these parts, you’ll want to read our guides to the top surf camps in San Sebastian and the top surf camps in Zarautz. There’s a lot of crossover between the two because they are so close and most camps surf in either the city or Zarautz.
For even more inspo – check our complete guide to the best surf camps in Spain for 2023/24.
Best hotels for surfers in San Sebastian
Surfing Etxea/HostelWorldSan Sebastian is awash with lovely hotels. We’ve gone and listed some of the ones that are perfectly located for getting to the surf of Zurriola Beach, which is the most reliable in the town.
- Surfing Etxea – Right on the doorstep of Zurriola Beach (the most consistent surf spot in San Sebastian), Surfing Etxea is a seriously fun place to base your trip to the Basque Country waves. It’s easy on the budget but also a bit of a posh-tel (that’s a posh hostel). Expect pod-style beds with curtains in the dorms and a really cool common are filled with plants and polished concrete.
- Zurriola The Rentals Collection – Literally across the street from Zurriola Beach, this apartment is super-highly-rated (like 10/10 on Booking at the time of writing), has the best location for surfers, and a balcony overlooking the sea. A very good pick.
- Zarautz Surf House – This one’s NOT IN San Sebastian itself, but rather in the nearby town of Zarautz. I think that’s a good play if surfing is the main reason you’re visiting the Basque Country – the waves are just better. The Zarautz Surf House itself is a sweet hostel with pod beds, a great on-site cafe, and board rentals on offer.
Of course, there are TONS more options. To be honest, anywhere you like the look of within walking distance of either Zurriola Beach or Zarautz (the surf town to the west of San Sebastian) is going to be a solid choice. Use Booking.com’s handy map to take a look.
When to surf in San Sebastian?
San Sebastian follows much the same pattern as the surfing in Spain generally. Winters are big. Summers can be flat. That’s the overall rule, but we prefer to take it season by season..
Summer (June-August)
Wear: 2mm or 3/2
Summer is a lovely time to be holidaying in San Sebastian. The cerveza bars are in full flow and the tapas joints are spilling onto the streets. Sadly, the surf is nowhere near consistent at this time of year. The north-facing orientation of spots like Zurriola Beach mean you need some rare NW swells to kick through to get things properly going. Offshores are rare because winds often go NE through France and that kills anything that might happen. There are some days, but expect to surf around 20% of the time.
Autumn (September & October)
Wear: 4/3
Autumn is the perfect time to plan surf holidays to Spain if you ask us. It’s when the stronger NW swells off the Atlantic begin in earnest as storms rumble around Iceland. That fires up the main swell channels in the Bay of Biscay, bringing pretty gnarly wedges to the French Landes coast and some more sheltered sets into San Sebastian. Zurriola Beach enjoys more consistency at this time of year, and you might even get some good days in Conch.
Winter (November-March)
Wear: 4/3 and boots with a hood
Winter sees the biggest and the most consistent swells pass through the Atlantic into the Bay of Biscay. They crank up the surf forecast for the Basque Country so that around 60-80% of the days are surfable overall. For beginners it’s good news in San Sebastian, because Concha is a really protected bay that offers some nice waves even when it’s overhead. Zurriola Beach will be heavier and Zarautz heavier again. Still, it’s a very good time to plan that surf holiday if you want reliable sessions and lots of time in the water.
Spring (April & May)
Wear: 4/3 and boots with hood
Spring has good reliability (we’d say about 50-60% of the days are worthy of a paddle out in San Sebastian). It will mainly be focused on Zarautz and Zurriola Beach, when there are westerlies big enough to wrap aaround the bay. Summer onshores haven’t really kicked in yet, so there’s a chance for glassy conditions. Water is still cold, so you’ll need those gloves, boots and even a hood for when the gusts pick up.
Surf shops in San Sebastian
Because it’s the de facto surf capital of the Pais Vasco, San Sebastian actually has a fairly good whack of surf shops.
You’ll also find more over in Zarautz, a half hour’s drive away.
- Pukas Surf Shop San Sebastian – The Pukas Surf Shop San Sebastian is one of the main outlets of Basque’s own Pukas make. They’re now a pretty well-known shaper within Europe that I reckon they craft some lovely stuff.
- El Bunker Surf Shop – One of the best in town. Second hand boards and new boards on the rail. Wetsuits, leashes, eco-friendly neoprense – it’s the go-to for us when we need something sorting in the Basque.
- Surfing San Sebastián – Simply named Surfing San Sebastián is a small little surf boutique with its own style. You’ll find it in a white-painted shop just south of the old town district, offering tees and shorts and other surf apparel. It’s the sort of stuff you won’t find elsewhere and that’s why we like it.
San Sebastian travel essentials
Where is San Sebastian?
San Sebastian is less than 10 miles from the Spanish-French border. That puts it on the far north coast of Spain, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay.
It’s pretty much the first city you get in the Spanish Basque Country. To the west is Cantabria, another rugged region with great surf on open beaches.
To the east and north is the French Basque coast, home to Biarritz.
How to get to San Sebastian?
If possible, you want to look for flights into San Sebastian Airport (EAS). It’s right on the edge of the Spain-France border about 30 minutes’ transfer from the town itself – hence why lots of people use it to access the surf towns of the French Basque Country too.
These days, there’s a decent selection of low-cost fligths and flag carrying airlines heading in. They include a BA link to London City and internal connections to Madrid with Iberia, which is great for linking up with long hauls out of the Spanish capital (especially for US travelers).
There are also airports in nearby Biarritz (in France), Bilbao, and Santander. They’ll take longer to get in from but it’s still not too hard.
If you do end up flying into one of the other regional airports, or want to come overland from Madrid or elsewhere in Europe, then the trains are your best bet.
There are high-speed links in both Spain and France that combo up with regional trains to make the trip doable from just about anywhere. Omio is now the leading train search engine on the continent. Search there to buy combo tickets on trains and buses.
Try RailEurope for ticket bookings. It’s an easy interface and makes what can be quite complicated train booking systems relatively easy to navigate!
Should I rent a car to surf in San Sebastian?
That’s totally up to you.
Really, it depends what sort of surf trip you want here.
We don’t think it’s neccessary if you’re doing a planned surf camp or just want to surf the city breaks in San Seb itself. Those are easy to access by foot or public transport.
Where a car will help is if you’re a more advanced surfer who likes to seek out secret breaks or surf multiple spots throughout your week or two-week holiday. The roads in the Basque Country link up to famous beaches and point breaks to the west and they can be great fun. France is also nearby, but be aware that most car hire firms don’t allow you to cross international borders.
If you do decide to rent a car, then check out the offering on RentalCars.com. We use them largely because most bookings are cancellable like 24 hours before pick-up…
Where to eat in San Sebastian?
One of the best things about surfing in San Sebastian is that you can enjoy all the delights of the city while still hitting the Pais Vasco waves. That means cracking tapas, or, as the locals here call it, pintxos, along with coffee shops galore…
- Old Town Coffee – Old Town Coffee is one of the top spots for an early morning brew in SS. We love it because there’s something of an obsession with the beans here – try the aeropress to really make the most of them. Toned down interior with polished concrete means you can meditate and chill before your session in the water.
- Bar Ipotx – We choose Bar Ipotx as one of the top pintxos places in San Sebastian mainly because it’s located just behind Zurriola Beach, so really close to the best waves in the city. It’s also an authentic Pais Vasco place, with hamburgers, sandwiches and all manner of tasty small plates to get through with your cerveza in hand.
- Juantxo Taberna – A traditional Basque Country sandwich house. Casual and close to the surf breaks of La Concha beach, they offer filling breads with Spanish meats and local veggies to quell those rumbles after a surf session with the San Seb schools.
- DO A FOOD TOUR – To be honest, there are WAYYY too many amazing pinxto places to sample in San Seb. If you don’t know where you’re going it can be a case of too much choice. That’s why we usually reccomend first-time visitors do this super-highly rated food tour, which packs in all the local tapas in one fell swoop. It’s really good fun.
Things to do (when you’re not surfing) in San Sebastian
The San Sebastian surf doesn’t pump all the time. But that’s okay because you have one of Spain’s most awesome cities to get stuck into if the waves are off the menu. And that’s not even mentioning the abundance of adventure in the surrounding region.
- Food and wine – You might have noticed by how lyrical we waxed about all the places to eat In San Seb that this is a bit of a culinary hotspot. We’re actually not sure if we get excited about the fine wines and tapas more than the surf these days. Did we mention we ADORE this food tour.
- Monte Igueldo – Scale this high hill on the far western end of town and you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of La Concha bay and Zurriola Beach in the distance. There’s a funicular up there, but we prefer the path. Access to the lookout point costs a couple of euros per person.
- Go hiking in the Peñas de Aya – Surfers like to hike, usually – at least we do. Cue the Peñas de Aya. They’re the remote northern foothills of the Pyrenees, found straddling the Basque Country border a little to the south of San Sebastian. You’ll need a car to get there but it’s worth it for the seclusion and the wild meadows and peaks.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
