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San Sebastián has three city beaches and all three have some level of accessibility, but they are nowhere near equivalent. One of them lets you get into the water with professional support and the other two do not, and that shapes how you organise the day.
This guide goes beach by beach with the specifics: what service there is, on what dates, at what times, and how to get there from Gros, which is where we are. Accessibility is the reason our apartment exists in the form it does, so you will not find generalities here.
One useful warning from the start: assisted bathing services are seasonal and places are limited. They are booked by phone and they run out. Call as soon as you know your travel dates.
La Concha: the best equipped beach
La Concha is the one to choose if you need support to get into the water. It is the only one of the three with a full assisted bathing service and the one with the best support facilities.
Red Cross amphibious chair service
- Dates: 15 June to 15 September, every day.
- Hours: 11:00 to 19:30.
- What it includes: two amphibious chairs, a transfer hoist and trained volunteers who go into the water with you.
- Price: free.
- Booking: by phone, on 662 387 008. You cannot book more than seven days ahead, or more than three hours per week.
- Where it is: in the central part of the beach, next to the clocks and the lifeguard post.
A second assisted bathing service
The Hegalak Foundation runs a second service, usually active from 1 July to 31 August, with physiotherapists, amphibious crutches, walking frames and a mobility exercise area. You book it at the Hegalak sports centre, on 943 433 680.
Facilities
Ramps from the promenade, wooden walkways down to the sand, adapted showers and toilets, and accessible changing rooms. It is the only beach where the walkway goes far enough to get close to the water without crossing soft sand.
Parking
The underground La Concha car park, beneath the promenade, has 18 bays reserved for people with reduced mobility, distributed beside the lifts at the three pedestrian entrances. With the European parking card you can also park free of charge in the reserved on-street bays nearby.
Ondarreta: easy access, no assisted bathing
Ondarreta is to the west, at the foot of Monte Igueldo and next to the Miramar palace. It is more sheltered and quieter than La Concha, with water just as calm, and it does well on access.
What it has: adapted ramps from the promenade, public toilets, paid showers (around 1.60 euros, open 9:00 to 20:30 in July and August), sunshade and lounger hire, and lifeguards in season.
What it does not have: amphibious chairs or an assisted bathing service. The walkways do not reach the shoreline either, so the last stretch is sand.
If you need help getting into the water, go to La Concha: they are both on the same bay and there are ten minutes of flat promenade between them.
Zurriola: the Gros beach
Zurriola is our beach, the neighbourhood one, on the far side of the Kursaal. It is exposed, it faces the open sea and it has swell almost all year: it is the surf beach. That also means swimming here takes more strength than at La Concha.
Facilities: ramps from the seafront promenade, 24 hot showers of which one is adapted for wheelchair users, four public toilets with one adapted, partial walkways that do not reach the shoreline, and reserved on-street bays near the beach.
There are no amphibious chairs and no assisted bathing. For sunbathing, walking the promenade and watching the surf it is perfect; for getting into the water with support, it is not.
Summary table
| Service | La Concha | Ondarreta | Zurriola |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access ramps | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Walkways to the sand | Yes | Partial | Partial |
| Amphibious chair | Yes (2) | No | No |
| Assisted bathing | Yes, free | No | No |
| Adapted shower | Yes | Yes | Yes (1) |
| Adapted toilet | Yes | Yes | Yes (1) |
| Reserved bays nearby | Kontxa car park | On-street | Kursaal and on-street |
| Swell | Gentle | Gentle | Strong |
Getting there from Gros
Zurriola you walk to: from Paseo de Francia it is about five minutes on flat pavement, crossing beside the Kursaal, and there is not a single step on the way.
La Concha is about twenty minutes on foot along the Boulevard and the promenade, also flat. By city bus, the whole Dbus fleet has a ramp and a low floor; the lines linking Gros with the beach area stop a few metres from the accesses, and the driver deploys the ramp if you ask as you board.
If you are travelling with your own chair, bear in mind that dry sand is impassable without wide wheels. The real difference between the beaches is how far the walkway goes, not the entrance ramp.
Practical tips
- Book assisted bathing early. There are few places and in August they go fast. Call as soon as you have dates.
- Go first thing. Between 11:00 and 12:00 there are fewer people and the volunteers have more time for each person.
- Check the day's tide. At low tide the walk to the water is longer, but the slope is gentler and getting in is easier.
- What to bring: swimwear, a towel, high-factor sun cream and footwear you can get wet, because the sand burns in August. If you use a chair, a waterproof bag for your phone and documents.
- Days with a southerly wind. They are the hottest of the year here and Zurriola goes flat: a good day to swim on our beach.
Beyond the sand, the guide to accessible San Sebastián covers transport, museums and the rest of the city.
An accessible apartment five minutes from the beach
Beduria A is on Paseo de Francia, less than five minutes on foot from Zurriola. It is a genuinely adapted apartment: barrier-free access, a lift, two adapted bathrooms and room to manoeuvre. If you have questions about a specific measurement before booking, ask us and we will confirm it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most accessible beach in San Sebastián?
La Concha, without question. It is the only one with amphibious chairs, assisted bathing and walkways that reach close to the water.
Does the amphibious chair service cost anything?
No. The Red Cross service at La Concha is free. You only have to book it by phone in advance.
Is there assisted bathing outside the summer?
No. The services run during the beach season, roughly from mid-June to mid-September. Outside those dates what remains is the ramps, the showers and the adapted toilets.
Can you get to the beaches by bus in a wheelchair?
Yes. The city buses are low-floor and carry a ramp, and the stops in the beach area are on level ground.
Is Zurriola any good for swimming with reduced mobility?
For sunbathing and walking, yes. For swimming, the swell makes it demanding and there is no assisted support: La Concha is the better choice.
