A Guide To Surfing In San Sebastian: From Beginners To Pros

A quick guide to surfing the best waves for you in San Sebastian.

Besides being a gastronomic paradise, San Sebastian is known by many for its fantastic beaches, especially for surfing. So if you are looking to catch a wave or simply catch a small drift for you beginners out there, Donostia is the place to be.

San Sebastian has two main beaches about 10 minutes from the city center. The close proximity of these beaches to the center of city life makes it a top-notch destination for surfers worldwide. It also makes this Spanish city a perfect place for beginner surfers of any age who want to learn how to catch a wave just like anyone else. The two beaches — La Concha and Zurriola — are on opposite sides of the Kursaal bridge that connects San Sebastian’s two main sides over the river Urumea that runs out to the Cantabrian Sea on the Bay of Biscay. One other beach, Ondarreta beach, is closer to La Concha beach but more challenging to reach. For surfers, however, Zurriola is the place to be due to its constant waves, a characteristic unique to this beach at the west end of the city.

So, how does one learn to surf at one of the best surfing locations in the world? How do you get the resources to surf if you’re already a pro? Here is a complete guide to surfing on Zurriola beach for your next gnarly visit.

Do not be intimidated by the large waves and pro-surfers around you.

Zurriola, or ‘Zurri’ as the locals call it, is a beach for all. The crescent-shaped beach has different portions of its water dedicated to different kinds of surfers. It varies daily, but the local lifeguards keep a close eye on managing the beginner and advanced zones for those who are just starting and those who want waves of 2 feet or higher. Beginners tend to use longboards, while more experienced visitors can bring shortboards, funboards, fish, longboards, or bodyboards.

Come surf in the summer or in the winter if you are more of an intermediate surfer.

The good news about the surf spot in San Sebastian is that surfing is available to travelers and locals all year round. Furthermore, this beach has a very reliable inner-city wave break, making it a popular spot for local surf schools to safely teach beginners, children, and adults alike. Once arriving at Zurriola, you will encounter at least 4 surf schools with their students out in the water.

Do not be afraid to book a class from the local surf schools.

One of the best perks about Zurriola is that there is no shortage of surf schools eager to teach you the ways of the waves. Surf schools like Pukas, Bera Bera, and Zurriola surf eskola have private, kids, teenage, and adult classes. These surf schools also allow seasoned surfers to rent boards and wetsuits all day long for reasonable prices. At Pukas, you may rent a board and wetsuit for the week, the day, or even just for the hour. Many of these local surf schools are also linked with local Spanish schools that teach travelers Spanish while allowing for surf time during their academic breaks.

Zurriola is home to many international surf competitions.

Suppose you are not interested in learning how to surf or even watching these beginner surfers completely wipe out. In that case, you can admire the international surfing competitions at this beach every year. In 2021 San Sebastian hosted the Sportjam Surftest, and the city is expected to host many more international surf competitions soon as well as the 2022 Surftest.

You can also surf in a specific portion of Ondarreta beach.

On the beach’s western end, there is a break with 2 to 7-foot waves depending on the time of year. This spot is very popular with local surfers, so prepare for the locals not to be very welcoming to foreigners as they have been waiting for these waves for a while.

The beach is only a short walk from central Donostia’s drinking, food, and hotel scene.

You do not need a car to access one of the world’s best surfing spots which makes Zurriola a perfect addition to the already enticing city of San Sebastian. Better yet, if you are only interested in the city’s surfing part, you can stay at Surfing Etxea – Surf Hostel, right on the shore of the Basque country’s waters. It is perfect for those on a budget or those wanting to watch wipeouts all day long.

Zurriola isn’t just for surfing!

Zurriola beach offers much more than waves. On a summer afternoon, you can expect thousands of locals tanning — many topless— on the warm sands of this beach. In addition, there are constant volleyball, soccer, and football games ongoing. A large portion of the water is also reserved for casual recreation, where visitors can let waves crash on them for fun or ride them with bodyboards. This beach is crowded just as La Concha but feels much more local.

No matter what you want to do at Zurriola and the surrounding beaches in San Sebastian, there is sure to be something to satisfy your needs. Just remember that San Sebastian might be one of the best, safest places to learn how to surf in the world; imagine being able to go home and say you stood on top of a Basque wave!

Paloma Vigil

A Miami native, Paloma is an avid traveler eager to put pen to paper and describe all of her adventures. Her favorite way to experience new places is with a fork in hand. Whether it is a tapas snack in Spanish bars or freshly caught raw fish delicacies in Japan, she is always ready for the next bite. Her dual Cuban-American identity drives her to explore how cultural differences can bring people across the world together in unexpected ways. She is always seeking to find innovative ways on approaching global interconnectedness through travel.