A consistent, shifting urban beach break right in the heart of Donostia-San Sebastián, one of the best-known city waves in Europe. It regularly hosts professional and junior surfing events, including ASP/WSL Pro Junior contests, and is a hub for the Basque Country's strong surf culture and surf schools. Works for all levels depending on size, with its best shape on NW swells and light south-southeast offshore winds.
🌡️ ~19.6°C now · a 2mm spring suit / shorty
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Playa de la Zurriola. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Playa de la Zurriola's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 12 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 14° | 13° | 13° | 14° | 17° | 21° | 23° | 23° | 22° | 20° | 17° | 15° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 4.9 ft (1.5 m), with offshore winds around 15 km/h from the S. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.6 ft (1.4 m), with offshore winds around 13 km/h from the S. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.2 ft (1.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 14 km/h from the S. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.3 ft (1.0 m), with cross-onshore winds around 13 km/h from the SW. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 2.9 ft (0.9 m), with cross-onshore winds around 11 km/h from the W. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 2.4 ft (0.7 m), with onshore winds around 9 km/h from the NW. Water is ~21°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 2.8 ft (0.8 m), with onshore winds around 9 km/h from the NW. Water is ~23°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.2 ft (1.0 m), with onshore winds around 9 km/h from the NW. Water is ~23°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.5 ft (1.1 m), with cross-offshore winds around 10 km/h from the SW. Water is ~22°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.7 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 12 km/h from the S. Water is ~20°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.4 ft (1.4 m), with cross-offshore winds around 15 km/h from the S. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.4 ft (1.6 m), with cross-offshore winds around 14 km/h from the S. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
For intermediates: Apr–Oct. For advanced surfers: Sep–Mar. The biggest waves come in December, averaging 5.4 ft (1.6 m), and the smallest in June, at 2.4 ft (0.7 m).
It ranges from ~13°C in March to ~23°C in August, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In March (~13°C): a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. In August (~23°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty.
Not really: Playa de la Zurriola is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is EAS (limited connections), and the nearest town is Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain. Many surfers fly into Bilbao (BIO) instead, about 100 km or 1.3 hours' drive away.
