Donostia – Zurriola

Donostia / San Sebastián · Gipuzkoa · Spain

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Zurriola, also called Gros, is San Sebastián's surf beach: about 800 m of sand between the Urumea river mouth and Mount Ulia, below the glass cubes of the Kursaal. It is the most open of the city's three beaches, and shifting sandbars give peaks in both directions at all stages of the tide. It picks up even small north-west swells, so there is usually something to ride. Surf schools and clubs work here all year, and the beach hosts surf, bodyboard and skate events.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Packed
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
Any board: foamies and longboards on small days, shortboards when the banks line up.

When it works

✓ A north to north-west swell of one to two metres with light south to south-east wind, at almost any tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Strong north-west or north wind, which blows straight onshore and turns the peaks to mush, or a very big swell that closes out.

Watch out for

  • crowds
  • rips

Best months

January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December

Local tips

Expect a busy line-up, from school groups on the inside to locals on the best banks, so pick a peak that matches your level. Autumn to early spring brings the most consistent and powerful waves, while summer is smaller and suits learners. If it is too big here, the city's sheltered beaches, Ondarreta and La Concha, can start to break.

Getting there

The beach sits in the Gros district, a short walk from the old town. There is a paid underground car park beneath the Kursaal and metered street parking nearby, and city buses stop close by.

History

Until works in 1994 the beach was rough and little used. A new groyne lengthened it and made it safer, and since then it has replaced Ondarreta as the city's surf beach.

Travel notes

How often it works
Wannasurf rates it regular. It works from small waves up to about 2 m.
Crowd and vibe
It is crowded every day, and packed by midday. Go early in the morning for more space. When it is small, locals take the right-hand corner, so don't drop in there.
Facilities
There are toilets, showers, bars and a kiosk, surf schools, and lifeguards from 10:00 to 20:00 in season. The paid car park under the Kursaal is safe. Wannasurf users report thefts on the beach, so keep your keys on you.
Water quality
The Basque Government's 2026 rating is excellent for all three zones. The provincial beach page shows no Blue Flag, and we found no official note on run-off after rain.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–N best, W–NNE works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3 m
Period
7 s minimum, best from 11 s
Wind
Offshore SE–SSW; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
NNW (346°)

Live cams

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

In the guides

Nearby spots

All spots in Gipuzkoa · All spots

Sources