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Surfing San Sebastian Where spectacular surf meets spectacular city
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San Sebastian
Weather Conditions
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Surf conditions for Beginners:
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Surf conditions for Intermediates:
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Surf conditions for Advanced:
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Loading Graph
- Accommodation
- Area
- Getting There
- Waves
- Spain Blog
San Sebastian is one of Europe's most beautiful cities - its superb location provides incredible panoramic views.
Situated at the South of the Bay of Biscay the city sits majestically between two beaches La Concha and La Zurriola and is surrounded by two hills - Monte Ijeldo and Monte Urgull
San Sebastian, or Donostia as it is called by the locals, offers a delightful mix of Gothic and Baroque traditional architecture along with the modern Kursaal Centre at the start of Zuriolla beach. The city's streets and buildings provide a romantic air that will remind you of the streets in Paris.
The city has a great climate - the winter stays mild and the summer ranges between 23 and 30 degrees - very sunny but not too hot that you can't walk on the sand!
Food and Nightlife in San Sebastian
As well as a paradise for surfers it is also a paradise for food lovers - there are more Michelin Star restaurants in San Sebastian than in any other Spanish city. It is also famous for its tapas, called Pintxos, served by all of the town's bars. And if it's night life you're after the Old town is full of different bars - great fun to walk in and out of the different bars before heading to the clubs that stay open until light the next day!
Festivals also play a large part of cultural life in San Sebastian - especially throughout the summer and in September when the prestigious Film Festival takes place. The famous Jazz Festival in July is one of the city's most popular attractions.
If it's activity and unique experiences you are looking for after a day's surf then San Sebastian is a great option.
Surrounding Area
San Sebastian is 25kms from the border of France and is the capital of the Basque province of Guipuzcoa. It is the perfect starting place for trips to France and to the rest of the Basque country.
The surf town of Zarautz is 20kms west and Bilbao is 90kms west. The drive to Bilbao is quite spectacular, passing through mountains and along the coast and providing some incredible views in every direction. It takes one hour.
Situated at the South of the Bay of Biscay the city sits majestically between two beaches La Concha and La Zurriola and is surrounded by two hills - Monte Ijeldo and Monte Urgull
San Sebastian, or Donostia as it is called by the locals, offers a delightful mix of Gothic and Baroque traditional architecture along with the modern Kursaal Centre at the start of Zuriolla beach. The city's streets and buildings provide a romantic air that will remind you of the streets in Paris.
The city has a great climate - the winter stays mild and the summer ranges between 23 and 30 degrees - very sunny but not too hot that you can't walk on the sand!
Food and Nightlife in San Sebastian
As well as a paradise for surfers it is also a paradise for food lovers - there are more Michelin Star restaurants in San Sebastian than in any other Spanish city. It is also famous for its tapas, called Pintxos, served by all of the town's bars. And if it's night life you're after the Old town is full of different bars - great fun to walk in and out of the different bars before heading to the clubs that stay open until light the next day!
Festivals also play a large part of cultural life in San Sebastian - especially throughout the summer and in September when the prestigious Film Festival takes place. The famous Jazz Festival in July is one of the city's most popular attractions.
If it's activity and unique experiences you are looking for after a day's surf then San Sebastian is a great option.
Surrounding Area
San Sebastian is 25kms from the border of France and is the capital of the Basque province of Guipuzcoa. It is the perfect starting place for trips to France and to the rest of the Basque country.
The surf town of Zarautz is 20kms west and Bilbao is 90kms west. The drive to Bilbao is quite spectacular, passing through mountains and along the coast and providing some incredible views in every direction. It takes one hour.
San Sebastian has only a small airport for domestic flights from Barcelona and Madrid. So instead you will need to fly to Bilbao or Biarritz. Please note to check airports as new routes & airlines may begin operating at any time. www.wegolo.com tells you who flies where from different cities.
How to get to San Sebastian From Biarritz
Biarritz is a very convenient airport to get to San Sebastian - only 50kms away (30 minute drive) in South West France.
www.ryanair.com
www.easyjet.com
www.airfrance.com
Bus
Takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. www.pesa.net has a bus line from Biarritz to San Sebastian. Check that website. - depending on the time of year the bus may stop at Biarritz airport or may only stop in Biarritz centre. If in the centre the departure stop is next to the Local Tourist Office. Take a taxi or a bus (Line Number 6) from Biarritz Airport to the Local Tourist Office bus stop. It will take 15 minutes.
There is usually only one or two buses a day. Cost to San Sebastian is approx ?7 per person
How to get to San Sebastian From Bilbao
Bilbao airport is 100kms from San Sebastian.
www.aerlingus.com
www.airfrance.com
www.easyjet.com
www.airberlin.com
www.lufthansa.com
www.flysas.com
www.flytap.com
Bus
It is very easy to get from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastian. The below bus takes just over an hour and drops you in to the centre of San Sebastian:
Company PESA - www.pesa.net
Daily Departures from 6.45h to 22.45h.
Tel: +34 902 10 12 10+34 902 10 12 10
One Way Ticket Price: 15?
Transfers
Shared transfers - Share a taxi or mini bus with our shuttle bus partner here
Car Hire - We have a discount car hire section on our website where you can rent a car.
Roads and Parking
The road infrastructure in Spain is one of the best in Europe - each city is linked by a 3/4 lane motorway that will take you to your destination very quickly. There are toll roads - make sure you go through and pay instead of going in the free lane and getting caught! The France/Spain boarder crossing is a simple toll.
Parking in San Sebastian can be expensive so a car (approx. ?20 per day) - the city is so compact and the surf so close by that you will not necessarily need a car.
How to get to San Sebastian From Biarritz
Biarritz is a very convenient airport to get to San Sebastian - only 50kms away (30 minute drive) in South West France.
www.ryanair.com
www.easyjet.com
www.airfrance.com
Bus
Takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. www.pesa.net has a bus line from Biarritz to San Sebastian. Check that website. - depending on the time of year the bus may stop at Biarritz airport or may only stop in Biarritz centre. If in the centre the departure stop is next to the Local Tourist Office. Take a taxi or a bus (Line Number 6) from Biarritz Airport to the Local Tourist Office bus stop. It will take 15 minutes.
There is usually only one or two buses a day. Cost to San Sebastian is approx ?7 per person
How to get to San Sebastian From Bilbao
Bilbao airport is 100kms from San Sebastian.
www.aerlingus.com
www.airfrance.com
www.easyjet.com
www.airberlin.com
www.lufthansa.com
www.flysas.com
www.flytap.com
Bus
It is very easy to get from Bilbao Airport to San Sebastian. The below bus takes just over an hour and drops you in to the centre of San Sebastian:
Company PESA - www.pesa.net
Daily Departures from 6.45h to 22.45h.
Tel: +34 902 10 12 10+34 902 10 12 10
One Way Ticket Price: 15?
Transfers
Shared transfers - Share a taxi or mini bus with our shuttle bus partner here
Car Hire - We have a discount car hire section on our website where you can rent a car.
Roads and Parking
The road infrastructure in Spain is one of the best in Europe - each city is linked by a 3/4 lane motorway that will take you to your destination very quickly. There are toll roads - make sure you go through and pay instead of going in the free lane and getting caught! The France/Spain boarder crossing is a simple toll.
Parking in San Sebastian can be expensive so a car (approx. ?20 per day) - the city is so compact and the surf so close by that you will not necessarily need a car.
San Sebastian is home to one of the most consistent beach breaks in Spain...La Zurriola. Located on the east side of this beautiful city, La Zurriola runs for 800 metres. San Sebastian surf lessons usually take place here. It's a perfect beginners spot and a great place to relax and chill out after a surf. The beach has great facilities including showers, volley ball, restaurants and cafés. It is surrounded by the stunning Monte Ijeldo and Monte Urgull mountains. The beach can pick up a lot of swell and is great for the more advanced also.
The town's other beach La Concha lies on the West side of the city. It's a sun bathing beach but next to it is Onderatta beach, there is a nice mellow beachbreak here.
East and west of the city you will find beach after beach to explore and surf - the water stays warm until the end of September thanks to the weather that the Bay of Biscay receives. San Sebastian is only a 30 minute drive from Biarritz, a direct bus will take you there in just over an hour - another great destination to surf and explore.
Spain's main surf town, Zarautz, is only 20kms West of San Sebastian, an easy train ride away...another great place with a 2.5km surf beach.
The Basque area offers a huge array of surf breaks waiting to be explored.
Come Surf San Sebastian with us?
The town's other beach La Concha lies on the West side of the city. It's a sun bathing beach but next to it is Onderatta beach, there is a nice mellow beachbreak here.
East and west of the city you will find beach after beach to explore and surf - the water stays warm until the end of September thanks to the weather that the Bay of Biscay receives. San Sebastian is only a 30 minute drive from Biarritz, a direct bus will take you there in just over an hour - another great destination to surf and explore.
Spain's main surf town, Zarautz, is only 20kms West of San Sebastian, an easy train ride away...another great place with a 2.5km surf beach.
The Basque area offers a huge array of surf breaks waiting to be explored.
Come Surf San Sebastian with us?
From our blog:
