Zarautz

Zarautz has the longest beach in the Basque Country, a broad sweep of sand backed by a promenade and a wave that has drawn surfers since the sport first reached Spain in the 1960s. It sits between San Sebastián and the fishing town of Getaria on Gipuzkoa's green coast.

The wave is a long beach break with peaks spread along the sandbars, offering lefts and rights and a manageable, rolling character on average days that suits beginners and improvers. When a stronger north-west swell arrives, the banks can sharpen into faster, hollower walls, and the sheer length of the beach spreads the crowd on busy weekends.

Autumn and winter bring the most consistent Bay of Biscay groundswell, cleaned by offshore southerly winds, while summer is smaller and better for learning. The town has hosted professional contests for decades, a reflection of how dependable the beach can be.

Zarautz is also a genuine seaside town, with a medieval old quarter, Txakoli vineyards on the surrounding hills and a lively pintxos scene. It is easy to reach by road or the regional Euskotren line, board rental and schools line the promenade, and the flat, paved seafront gives straightforward access to the sand, making it a comfortable base for exploring the wider Basque coast.