Playa de Ondarreta

Playa de Ondarreta is the western end of the La Concha bay in San Sebastian (Donostia), in the Basque Country of northern Spain. It lies in the Antiguo / Ondarreta district, about 2 km from the Parte Vieja, and sits directly below Monte Igueldo, whose funicular station stands at the western end of the beach. The sand is fine and golden, continuing the same crescent as Playa de la Concha, and the water is calm, clear and shallow near the shore because the bay is protected by Santa Clara island and the two headlands. The beach is shorter and noticeably quieter than the central stretch of La Concha, with a more local, residential and family feel. Surf is minimal, so the setting suits swimming, paddling and gentle water sports rather than surfing. Kayak and stand-up paddle rental is available at the beach through the Real Club de Tenis de San Sebastian (rctss.com), and the same route can be used to paddle out toward Santa Clara island. Amenities include lifeguards in the summer season, showers, public toilets and sun lounger hire in summer. A children's play area is located nearby in the Miramar gardens, which makes the beach practical for families. There is no large cluster of restaurants directly on the sand, but cafes and bars are found along the promenade and in the surrounding streets of Antiguo. Access is mainly on foot. The Paseo de la Concha leads west from the Alderdi Eder gardens, and the walk takes about 25 to 30 minutes at an easy pace, passing the full length of La Concha. Dbus city buses serve an Ondarreta stop (dbus.eus). Parking is limited in the surrounding streets in summer, so public transport or walking is usually more practical. As with the rest of the bay, the beach narrows at high tide and widens considerably at low tide. A well-known feature behind the beach is the Peine del Viento sculpture group, which sits at the far western end of the bay near the foot of Monte Igueldo, and the Igueldo funicular offers a route up the hill for views back over the bay.