Surfing San Sebastian Where spectacular surf meets spectacular city

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San Sebastian

San Sebastian, or Donostia as it is called locally, is without doubt one of Europe's most interesting cities. Beautiful beaches, stunning mountains, spectacular architecture, delicious restaurants & lively night life all make surfing San Sebastian a great holiday option. The main focal point is the old historic town.

It lies between two spectacular beaches - and one of them, La Zurriola, is one of Spain's most consistent surf beach breaks, the other, La Concha is a great picturesque sun bathing beach!

It is a city steeped in history and culture; a mix of Basque & Spanish and without all the tourist trapping usually associated which a beach city.

San Sebastian is a fantastic place to learn how to surf. La Zurriola surf beach is surrounded by mountains on either side making for spectacular views when sitting out on your surf board waiting for the last wave of the evening. The Ocean water stays warm throughout the summer thanks to the flow of the Bay of Biscay, so any San Sebastian surf lessons you take will be in a light wetsuit or even shorts.

Weather Conditions

J/F M/A M/J J/A S/O N/D
Air Temp (°C)
12°
18°
22°
28°
22°
18°
Wetsuits
Rain

Surf conditions for Beginners:

Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JAN for BEG level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon FEB for BEG level
F
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon MAR for BEG level
M
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon APR for BEG level
A
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon MAY for BEG level
M
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JUN for BEG level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JUL for BEG level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon AUG for BEG level
A
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon SEP for BEG level
S
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon OCT for BEG level
O
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon NOV for BEG level
N
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon DEC for BEG level
D

Surf conditions for Intermediates:

Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JAN for INT level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon FEB for INT level
F
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon MAR for INT level
M
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon APR for INT level
A
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon MAY for INT level
M
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JUN for INT level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JUL for INT level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon AUG for INT level
A
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon SEP for INT level
S
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon OCT for INT level
O
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon NOV for INT level
N
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon DEC for INT level
D

Surf conditions for Advanced:

Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JAN for ADV level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon FEB for ADV level
F
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon MAR for ADV level
M
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon APR for ADV level
A
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon MAY for ADV level
M
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JUN for ADV level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon JUL for ADV level
J
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon AUG for ADV level
A
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon SEP for ADV level
S
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon OCT for ADV level
O
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon NOV for ADV level
N
Surf Conditions in San Sebastianon DEC for ADV level
D

Rain

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Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv
Surf Lessons / Guide available on site
Suitable for: Beg/Int/Adv

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Private Lessons from

$91

Reviews (38)

     

5 out of 5

Pukas Surf School
  • Surf School
  • Spain
  • San Sebastian
  • Main Surf Beach: La Zurriola
  • Meet on the beach
  • Surf lessons available in Pukas Surf School Lessons: Private Surf
  • Children & Adult surf lessons
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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.
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.
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…

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