Beyond La Concha: Discovering San Sebastian's Hidden Beach Paradises

Let's address the elephant in the room right off the bat—La Concha Beach is famous for darn good reasons. That perfect crescent of golden sand hugging the Bay of Biscay looks like it was designed by someone with an eye for postcards.

When the wife and I first strolled onto La Concha at 8 AM (jet lag has its perks!), we had the place nearly to ourselves. The morning light hitting Santa Clara Island made me wish I'd brought my camera instead of just relying on my smartphone. Rookie mistake, eh?

By noon, though, it was a different story. The beach transforms into what I like to call a 'human mosaic'—beautiful from a distance, but a bit cramped when you're part of the pattern! That said, the facilities here are top-notch. Clean washrooms, attentive lifeguards, and those fancy wooden walkways that keep the sand out of your, well, everything.

For families, La Concha offers the safest swimming in San Sebastian. The bay's protected position means waves are gentle enough for the little ones, and the gradual slope into the water is perfect for nervous swimmers. My wife, who swims like a rock (bless her), felt completely comfortable wading out quite far.

The beachfront promenade, with its white railings and Belle Époque vibe, makes for a gorgeous evening stroll. We found ourselves walking it almost every night after dinner, ice cream in hand, watching the sun set behind Monte Igueldo. Pure magic, I tell ya.

If La Concha is the popular kid everyone knows, Ondarreta is her slightly more refined cousin who studied abroad. Located at the western end of the bay, Ondarreta feels like a continuation of La Concha but with its own distinct personality—and notably fewer tourists.

Maureen and I stumbled upon Ondarreta almost by accident. We were walking the full length of the promenade and just kept going past where most tourists turn back. The reward? A gorgeous stretch of sand with about half the crowd density.

What makes Ondarreta special for families is the infrastructure. The playground right on the beach was a stroke of genius—I watched parents relaxing with a glass of txakoli (that's the local white wine, and boy is it refreshing) while keeping an eye on the kiddos. The facilities here are just as good as La Concha, but everything feels a touch more upscale.

The beachfront restaurants along Ondarreta serve some seriously good food without the tourist markup you'll find closer to the old town. We had a memorable lunch at Restaurante Ni Neu, where the seafood paella had me contemplating a permanent move to Spain.

One afternoon, we rented a couple of stand-up paddleboards and paddled along the coastline—an experience I highly recommend for families with teens. The water here is calm enough for beginners, and the views back toward the city are worth every muscle ache the next day.

Now, if your family includes teenagers who roll their eyes at 'boring' beaches, point them toward Zurriola. Located in the Gros neighborhood across the Urumea River, this is San Sebastian's surfer paradise and home to a distinctly younger, hipper vibe.

I'll be straight with you—Zurriola isn't for families with tiny tots. The Atlantic shows its true colors here with bigger waves and stronger currents. But for families with teens? Absolute gold.

My first morning at Zurriola, I watched a local surf school getting a group of kids up on boards within an hour. The instructors were patient, professional, and spoke enough English to make everyone comfortable. If your kids are interested in catching waves, book lessons with Pukas Surf School—these folks know their stuff and have equipment for all ages and sizes.

The beachfront at Zurriola has a more casual, laid-back atmosphere than its fancier siblings across the river. Food trucks and casual pintxo bars replace the white-tablecloth restaurants. Prices are more reasonable too, which is always a bonus when feeding hungry teenagers.

One of our best days in San Sebastian was spent here with a beach tent as our base camp, watching the surf competitions that happened to be running during our visit. Even if you're not into surfing, the athleticism on display is impressive, and the festival atmosphere is contagious.

The promenade behind Zurriola is lined with cool shops and ice cream stands. We noticed lots of families setting up for the day with proper picnics—something that seemed less common on the more touristy beaches.

Here's where I'm going to let you in on what I consider San Sebastian's best-kept secret: Santa Clara Island. Sitting pretty in the middle of La Concha Bay, this little slice of paradise is overlooked by about 90% of tourists—and that's their loss, let me tell you.

Getting there is half the fun. Small boats ferry passengers from the harbor near the Aquarium every 30 minutes during summer. The trip takes about 10 minutes and offers spectacular views of the city from the water. Pro tip: buy your return ticket when you purchase the outbound one—they can sell out on busy days.

The island's beach is small but perfectly formed, with crystal-clear water and fascinating rock pools that will keep kids entertained for hours. Bring along a snorkel set to explore the underwater world—we spotted dozens of fish species just a few meters from shore.

What makes Santa Clara ideal for families seeking a luxury experience is the exclusivity factor. The limited boat capacity means the beach never gets crowded, even in peak season. There's a small café serving drinks and simple meals, but we packed a gourmet picnic from the Gros market—think fresh baguettes, local cheeses, Iberian ham, and chilled txakoli wine.

The island has well-maintained facilities, including washrooms and changing areas. There's also a lifeguard on duty during the summer months, which gave us peace of mind while the younger members of nearby families explored.

One afternoon, we hiked to the island's small lighthouse for panoramic views of the entire bay. The path is well-marked and manageable for anyone with reasonable fitness. From the top, you can see all three main beaches and truly appreciate San Sebastian's perfect natural harbor setting.

Let's talk about elevating your beach experience from great to absolutely magnificent. San Sebastian might not have the flashy beach club scene of Ibiza or Marbella, but what it offers instead is understated luxury with that unique Basque touch.

La Perla Spa, situated right on La Concha Beach, is the crown jewel of San Sebastian's luxury beach experiences. This isn't just a spa—it's a historic institution dating back to 1912 when European royalty would visit for the therapeutic sea baths. Maureen and I splurged on their 'Day of Wellness' package, which included private cabana access on their exclusive terrace section of the beach, a thalassotherapy circuit, and a massage using local marine products. At about €200 per person, it's not cheap, but the experience of soaking in heated seawater pools while gazing out at La Concha Bay? Priceless.

For families looking for luxury with less formality, the Club Náutico offers day passes that include access to their pristine facilities, including a beautiful pool overlooking the bay, changing rooms that feel more like a five-star hotel, and attentive service that makes everyone feel special. The kids' sailing programs are excellent if you're staying for more than a few days.

One of our favorite discoveries was the beach butler service offered by several high-end hotels, including the Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra. Even if you're not staying there, you can arrange for their beach service, which includes reserved premium locations on La Concha, comfortable loungers, towel service, and—this is the genius part—food and drink service direct to your sun lounger from their excellent restaurant.

To truly feel like royalty, we rented a private yacht for a half-day coastal tour with Basque Country Sailing. Seeing the beaches from the water offers a completely different perspective, and the captain took us to small coves only accessible by boat. Pack your waterproof camera for this excursion—the coastline views are spectacular and you'll want to capture every moment.