Hotels
Beach hotels in San Sebastián: stay with La Concha outside
Three city beaches, three different moods. These are the hotels where you can walk straight onto the sand, from the La Concha promenade to the surf beach in Gros.
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In short: beach hotels in San Sebastián
The best beach hotels stand on the La Concha promenade, a minute from the sand. Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra is our first choice, while Hotel Niza gives you the same view for less. Families find a calmer beach at Ondarreta, and surfers are best off in Gros by Zurriola.
First choice: Check availability and prices at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
At eight on a July morning the tide is out, and La Concha is wider than it was the night before. A man rakes the sand below the promenade, and the first swimmers are already heading for the raft in the middle of the bay. From the promenade above you can watch the whole scene from your balcony.
San Sebastián has three city beaches within half an hour’s walk. Which one to stay by depends on what you want from your days. Read more about each in our guide to San Sebastián’s beaches.
Beach life on La Concha
In summer the bay fills early. Santa Clara sits in the middle and keeps the waves away. Photo: Adrian Leversby / Picolo.com
La Concha: the classic in the middle of town
The shell-shaped bay is the city’s living room. The water is calm because Santa Clara island breaks the waves, and the old town is five minutes away.
Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
The white facade on the promenade is the first thing many people see of San Sebastián. Bay-facing rooms look out to Santa Clara and the bathing rafts, and the sand is just across the road.
Best for: a first visit and waking up with the beach in view.
Good to know: Sea-facing rooms are the ones everyone wants. Book them early in summer.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
Hotel Niza
A smaller hotel right on the promenade, with Restaurante Biarritz in the building. You get the same beach and almost the same view as the neighbours, at a lower price.
Best for: a beach break without a grand hotel budget.
Good to know: The rooms are simpler than at the big hotels.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Niza
Hotel Villa Favorita
The villa stands by the promenade where La Concha nears Miramar Palace. It is adults-only, and evenings here are about the sunset over the bay.
Best for: couples who want the beach and the quiet.
Good to know: The hotel does not accept children.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Villa Favorita
Catalonia Donosti
Three minutes from the sand, with a pool that opens in season. It is a good alternative when the front row on the promenade is full.
Best for: families who want to switch between pool and beach.
Good to know: The hotel is a block back from the promenade, so the view is of the city.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Catalonia Donosti
The promenade at dusk
When the lights come on around the bay, people move from the sand to the promenade. Photo: Adrian Leversby / Picolo.com
Ondarreta: a calm family beach
West of Miramar Palace the beach changes its name to Ondarreta. There are fewer people and a shorter walk to the Comb of the Wind and Monte Igueldo.
Hotel Ezeiza
The hotel is two minutes from Ondarreta, at the end of the promenade. From the door you walk to Eduardo Chillida’s iron sculptures on the rocks and to the funicular up Monte Igueldo.
Best for: families and anyone who wants the beach almost to themselves in the morning.
Good to know: The old town is half an hour’s walk along the water.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Ezeiza
Barceló Costa Vasca
A large hotel with an outdoor pool and a garden, nine minutes from Ondarreta. Children can swim in the pool when it is windy on the beach.
Best for: families who need space.
Good to know: The hotel is in a residential area, some way from the restaurants in the centre.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Barceló Costa Vasca
Zurriola: the surf beach in Gros
East of the river lies Zurriola, where the waves from the Bay of Biscay roll straight in. Here people carry surfboards under their arms on the way to work.
Hotel Arrizul Congress
Five minutes from Zurriola and three from the Kursaal, with surfing and kayaking close by. After a session in the waves, the pintxos bars of Gros are a few blocks away.
Best for: surfers and anyone who wants a lively beach scene.
Good to know: During the September film festival the hotel fills early.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Arrizul Congress
Abba San Sebastián Hotel
A modern hotel eight minutes from Zurriola, with a roof terrace and a bar. The old town is a quarter of an hour away over the Kursaal bridge.
Best for: anyone who wants the surf beach close and the city within reach.
Good to know: The rooms do not have sea views.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Abba San Sebastián Hotel
Okako Hotel
A small, affordable hotel six minutes from Zurriola. It works when you plan to spend the day in the water and just need a place to sleep.
Best for: young surfers on a budget.
Good to know: The hotel has few facilities.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Okako Hotel
Good to know before you book
Ask for a sea view: sea-facing rooms are few and go first. Say so in your booking, and check that the room type really has the view.
High season: July and August are busiest on the beaches. June and September often bring swimming weather and more space on the sand.
Tides: at high tide La Concha becomes narrow. Your towel is safest a little way up towards the promenade.
Tourist tax from 2027: from 1 January 2027 a tourist tax is charged per person per night for up to six nights. The rate depends on the type of accommodation. Last checked: October 2026.
Our first pick for a beach hotel
Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra
If you want the beach as the view from your bed, this is the address. Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra sits on the promenade a minute from the sand, on the calm stretch of La Concha. The water is still because Santa Clara breaks the waves from the Bay of Biscay, so the morning swim is as pleasant as it looks from the balcony. You need neither car nor bus: the old town and Miramar Palace are both within walking distance. After a day in the sun, the bar and Bistró de Londres are right downstairs. The bay-facing rooms are the first to go in summer, so book early.
Frequently asked questions about beach hotels in San Sebastián
Which hotel is closest to the beach in San Sebastián?
Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, Hotel Niza and Hotel Villa Favorita all stand on the La Concha promenade, about a minute from the sand. At Ondarreta, Hotel Ezeiza is two minutes from the beach. If you want the Zurriola surf beach, Hotel Arrizul Congress in Gros is the closest of the hotels we recommend.
Which beach in San Sebastián is best for children?
Ondarreta is usually best for families, because it is calmer and less crowded than La Concha. The waves are small, and it is a short way to the funicular and the funfair on Monte Igueldo. La Concha also has calm water, but it is far busier in summer.
When is the swimming season in San Sebastián?
The swimming season runs roughly from June to September, with July and August the warmest and busiest months. June and September often bring good swimming weather with more space. The Atlantic is fresher than the Mediterranean, so the water feels cooler than on the Costa del Sol.
Can you surf in San Sebastián?
Yes, Zurriola in Gros is the city’s surf beach, with waves for much of the year. There are surf schools and board hire along the beach. La Concha and Ondarreta are sheltered by Santa Clara island, so they are too calm for surfing but good for an ordinary swim.