Beach of La Concha — Attraction in San Sebastián

La Concha Beach (Playa de la Concha), located in San Sebastián, Spain, is renowned for its stunning beauty and cultural significance.

The name "La Concha," meaning "The Shell" in Spanish, aptly describes the beach's crescent shape, reminiscent of a seashell.

Situated in the Bay of La Concha, the beach stretches approximately 1,350 meters (about 0.84 miles) and is flanked by Mount Igeldo and Mount Urgull. The picturesque Santa Clara Island sits at the center of the bay, enhancing the scenic landscape.

La Concha Beach gained prominence during the Belle Époque era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when European royalty, including Queen Isabel II of Spain, chose San Sebastián as a summer retreat. This royal patronage transformed the city into a fashionable seaside resort, a legacy that continues to influence its charm today.

The beach plays a central role in many of San Sebastián's festivities. Events like the San Sebastián International Film Festival and Semana Grande (Aste Nagusia in Basque) attract thousands of visitors each year, turning the beach into a hub of cultural and social activity.

Beyond sunbathing and swimming, La Concha offers opportunities for various sports, such as surfing, windsurfing, volleyball, and beach football. The surrounding mountains provide natural protection from strong winds, making it a family-friendly destination.

La Concha Beach has received numerous accolades over the years. In 2024, TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards ranked it as the third-best beach in the world, highlighting its enduring appeal among visitors worldwide.

La Concha Beach remains a symbol of San Sebastián's elegance and natural beauty, offering visitors a blend of historical charm and modern leisure...

One of the most spectacular beach atmosphere in Europe can be found in La Concha Beach or Kontxa in Basque. This beach is the most famous in San Sebastian and most certainly in the whole basque country, along with Ondarreta beach it covers the whole bay that goes from famous Chillida's "Peine del Viento" on the Ondarreta side to the city's port, both beaches are separated by a famous rock called by the locals "el pico del loro" given its shape resembling a parrot beak. A great promenade goes from finish to end, all of the city's energy concentrates here during the summer and even during winter most cold days one can see people getting into the water, it's temperature is a bit cold as expected from the cantabric sea, but water is calm thanks to the pintoresc island of Santa Clara and its beautiful lighthouse that can be seen all year around. The famous Kontxa regatta is the most prestigious one of the area and it gets together for 2 weekends in a row row ships from towns nearby that compete for the famous Kontxa flag, that they get the honor to hold for the whole year. On the promenade one can see from the most elegant people of the North of Spain to people in the middle of there days jog or bike. World famous Londres hotel marks the entry of Av. La Libertad. Line beach buildings overseeing la Kontxa are amongst the most expensive in Spain and during the summer many of the Spanish aristocracy spend their time at their beach homes...

Beautiful beach right in the middle of the city. Lovely sand, water warmer than expected. No big waves being in a somewhat sheltered cove. Lovely views around. Very busy but it is a large stretch and you will find plenty of space if you are willing to walk along the shore. Dont go too close as the tide comes in and out for about 10 meters in the afternoon. Cold fresh water shower spot available to wash off after. Didnt notice and public toilets but may be around. There is shaded areas under the walking promenade for some relief from the searing Sun. Keep an eye out for pickpockets and petty thieves, I felt like this is a popular spot for getting for belongins nicked. Plenty of police and security presence but there is so many people. Finally parking is a nightmare, few underground car parks but they were all full in the daytime. We had to park 20 minutes walk away on the street, pay and display. This was only for 2 hours max and we came back to a warden issuing a penalty. Luckily the penalty was only 7 euro and the kind warden helped us make the payment using the same pay and display ticket. We were then free to leave the car there for the rest of the evening so...