Top Beaches on the Spanish North Coast

For most travelers, only the beaches of the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and the Costa del Sol come to mind when thinking of beach holiday destinations in Spain. However, many remain unaware of the hidden gems that lay on the Spanish north coast. With a gorgeous landscape that includes cliff-crashing waves and spellbinding views, the region is not only home to some of the best beaches in Spain but also to attractions ranging from culinary delights (like its fresh seafood and rich meat dishes) to a cultural offering that includes the famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and a host of quaint fishing villages.

The beauty of the north coast of Spain and its rugged mountains is simply beyond description. With many stunning beaches, amazing weather, and several fantastic hotels, the region is a great option for a relaxing beach vacation. Going through the cities of A Coruña, Gijón, Santander, San Sebastián, and Bilbao, this article will guide you through some of the best beaches in Northern Spain along with ideal accommodation options where to stay near them.

Playa de Riazor

Located next to the Atlantic Ocean in the Galicia region of northern Spain, the historic city of A Coruña is well-known for its ancient fishing and commercial port. It’s also filled with cultural attractions including a bustling culinary scene and mesmerizing sights like its collection of Romanesque streets, squares, and medieval churches. A Coruña is also home to the unmissable Tower of Hercules, a Roman lighthouse from the 2nd century that offers striking views of the coast. What’s more, having a long coastline, the city is also dotted with some of the most popular beaches on the Spanish north coast.

These are two of our favorite beaches in A Coruña:

Playa del Orzán

The beauty of the amazing Playa del Orzán immediately shines through in its crystal-clear blue waters and its white sand, which affords visitors with plenty of space for sunbathing. The beach also offers surveillance services, showers, access for people with disabilities, and parking (it can also be easily reached via the bus). It’s a great option if you’re looking for a place where to practice different kinds of beach sports like beach volleyball or, between the months of June to September, surfing. Playa del Orzán is around 700 meters long and has been awarded the blue flag, which attests to its cleanliness and its commitment to the environment.

Playa de Riazor

Playa de Riazor is a beautiful (and very popular) beach right in the heart of the city of A Coruña. It features a stunning promenade, which is a joy to walk or run along on. Playa de Riazor’s clean blue waters make it an ideal place where to go swimming with the entire family or even surfing. You can even collect seashells from the shiny sand of the beach’s gorgeous shore. The beach also counts with a vast range of services and amenities, including showers, surveillance services, sun loungers, first aid. and parking, as well as accessibility for people with reduced mobility.

There are many excellent hotels in A Coruña where you can stay close to these two spectacular beaches. One of them is the NH Collection A Coruña Finisterre, which is a five-star hotel right in the heart of the city and facing the sea. It’s located within a 7-minute drive of both Playa del Orzán and Playa de Riazor and has plenty of shops and bars nearby. Not only does it offer some of the best views in the city, but it’s also filled with fantastic amenities including a sports center with a gym, function rooms that can accommodate up to one thousand guests, and a hotel restaurant, Novo, with an exquisite display of fine Galician cuisine. Book a stay now with NH Hotels and enjoy an A Coruña beach holiday to remember.

Playa de Poniente

Situated on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea, in the region of Asturias, the city of Gijón brings a charming amalgamation of monumental heritage, maritime tradition, and modern urban planning to its outstanding seashore. It’s home to many memorable attractions—like the old fishermen’s quarter of Cimadevilla, museums like the Gijón Railway Museum, and the ancient Roman Baths—and enjoys comfortable temperatures year round. Gijón also has some of the best beaches in the north of Spain, ideal for sunbathing, surfing, and playing your choice of beach and water sports.

These are some of the top beaches in Gijón:

Playa de San Lorenzo

The beach of Playa de San Lorenzo, bordered by a high stone wall, has a charming three-kilometer-long promenade lined with beautiful shops and cafés. It’s a dream for water sports enthusiasts, as beach football and volleyball are often played there, it offers the opportunity to try windsurfing as well as kayaking, and there are numerous surfing schools alongside the beach. It’s one of Gijón’s most popular beaches and offers all manner of services, ranging from showers and deck chairs to security and first aid services.

Playa de Poniente

Created in the 90s, Playa de Poniente is a very popular artificial beach and a great choice to visit with the entire family. Children can bathe in its waters, and it also features a children’s playground with plenty of equipment. Playa de Poniente is known as an ideal beach for playing water sports, with beach volleyball being always a favorite. It stretches for a length of around 500 meters and is very accessible, including equipment to facilitate access to wheelchair users. The beach also hosts cultural events, such as music performances, particularly during the summer months.

The modern NH Gijón hotel is one of the hotels where to stay in the area. Located just a 9-minute walk from Playa de San Lorenzo and a 9-minute drive from Playa de Poniente, this four-star hotel features a rooftop seasonal pool where guests can go for a relaxing dip and enjoy the magnificent views and the free Wi-Fi available. The hotel also offers stylish rooms (many of which have views of the sea), a fine dining restaurant (the delightful Amares), and a first-class wellness area complete with a spa and a gym. It’s the perfect place where to stay while you discover some of the best beaches in Northern Spain.

Playa Sardinero

The city of Santander in northern Spain carries a unique charm, which can be appreciated in its white sand beaches that are surrounded by lovely green mountain landscapes. The city is also popular for its fishing district, where you can enjoy traditional local dishes, such as maganos encebollados (squid with onions), rabas (fried squid), or fisherman-style clams. The capital of Spain’s Cantabria region, Santander has plenty more attractions to offer its visitors, including several great museums (like the Cantabrian Maritime Museum) and striking architectural gems, like the Royal Palace of La Magdelena. It’s a very rewarding vacation destination.

Here's a selection of the recommended beaches in Santander:

Playa de los Peligros

This beautiful beach features tranquil crystal blue waters and pure golden fine sand, making it an ideal place for solo travelers or those simply looking for a relaxing getaway. Playa de los Peligros is located right in the city center, near the Cantabrian Maritime Museum. It has a length of around 200 meters, offers a convenient parking option, and is accessible for people with disabilities. All in all, it’s a great choice for going sunbathing or swimming. It’s no wonder it’s one of Santander’s most popular beaches.

Playa de los Bikinis

With a length of 250 meters and an average width of 35 meters, Playa de los Bikinis also offers plenty of space where visitors can enjoy an evening sunbathing. Thanks to its tranquil waters, it’s also a great place where to go swimming. Among its services the beach offers a surveillance team and showers. There’s parking available, if you’re thinking of driving, but the beach is also near a bus stop and is very easy to reach by foot. It’s also accessible for people with reduced mobility.

Playa del Sardienro

One of the most popular beaches in Northern Spain, the spectacular Playa del Sardinero is situated in the heart of the city of Santander and is very easy to access, including for people with reduced mobility. It offers a wide range of amenities and services, ranging from hammock and umbrella rental services to showers and surveillance equipment, and has been granted the blue flag, which rewards its cleanliness and commitment to the environment. Visit it and enjoy its golden sand, gorgeous blue waters, and its popular promenade.

The NH Ciudad de Santander is one of the nearest hotels to these beaches and a popular choice among tourists. Playa de los Peligros (1.1 kilometers away) can be reached with a 15-minute walk while Playa de los Bikinis and Playa del Sardinero are both within a 6-minute drive from the hotel. This modern hotel is located in a lively part of Santander, close to many fine restaurants and nightlife establishments, features all the convenient amenities, and provides its guests with a healthy Anti-Ox breakfast.

Playa Ondarreta

Situated in the north of the Basque Country, in the Spanish province of Gipuzkoa, San Sebastián is a gorgeous city surrounded by lush mountains, making it a very picturesque destination in the Spanish north coast. Popularly known as Spain’s summer capital, you must visit this city to appreciate its sun-kissed beaches and relaxing scenery. The breathtaking bays of San Sebastián set it apart from the mainstream beach resorts. Visitors also delight in the cobblestone lanes of the city’s Old Town and in its culinary scene, which features many modern restaurants of worldwide renown.

Here's a take on the city’s most popular beaches:

Playa de Ondarreta

The stunning beach of Ondarreta is located at the western end of the San Sebastián city center. Visit it to enjoy some spectacular views of the mountains and the boats at the bay against its crystal-clear blue waters. It has a length of around 600 meters and many different sports, including beach volleyball and football, are often played in its sand. The beach is also very popular amongst families, thanks to its moderate waters and the children’s playground located right at the beach. Among its services and facilities, you’ll be pleased to find beach bars, surveillance services, showers, changing rooms, and hammocks and umbrellas for rent.

Playa de la Concha

Known as a jewel in the crown of San Sebastián, Playa de la Concha is one of the best beaches on the Spanish north coast and even the whole of Europe. Its lovely promenade is a great place to go for coastal walk, regardless of the time of year. The beach is also always bustling with swimmers looking for a quick dip in the refreshing waters of the Cantabrian Sea. It has a length of around 1350 meters of fine golden sand and is shaped as a seashell, which gives it its name. Numerous sports are practiced at Playa de la Concha, including bodyboarding, beach volleyball, football, surfing, and windsurfing.

Located just a nine-minute walk from Playa de Ondarreta and an eight-minute drive from Playa de la Concha, the NH Collection San Sebastián Aránzazu hotel is one of the most popular accommodation options among tourists. It’s a modern and stylish four-star hotel with a fantastic restaurant where you can try some of the staples of Basque cuisine along with a café-bar that offers light meals and snacks. In total, the hotel features 180 rooms with a modern decoration style and lots of natural light.

Playa Sopelana

Surrounded by mountains, Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, is packed with cultural attractions that make it a very exciting tourist destination. It features the must-see Guggenheim Museum with its impressive art collection, a picturesque Old Town, and exceptional dining options that range from casual traditional bars to several Michelin-starred restaurants. Bilbao also delights visitors with its coastal charms, as it is home to some of the most accessible and beautiful beaches in the Spanish north coast.

These are some of our favorite beaches in Bilbao:

Plya de Arrigunaga

With delightful views that include both the Abra bay and the Aixerrota mill, Playa de Arrigunaga is an idyllic beach where to go sunbathing, strolling or swimming. Thanks to its moderate waves, it’s also a suitable beach for surfing or windsurfing and beach volleyball facilities are also available. The beach boasts of having been awarded the blue flag certification, which recognizes its environmental quality. Among the facilities and services that it offers we can highlight its beach bars and its facilities for children as well as its lifeguard and security services.

Playa Arrietara

Playa Arrietara is the area’s main spot for surfing, with multiple major competitions and events taking place here. Several surfing clubs and schools can also be found nearby. The beach, which has a length of 826 meters, features golden sand and gorgeous clear waters. It can be easily accessed either by foot or by car, with more than a hundred parking spots available. Playa Arrietara also offers plenty of other services like beach bars, showers, changing rooms, lifeguards, and a security service.

Playa de Sopelana

Playa de Sopelana is another beach that’s popular with surfers and also offers incredible views, including its gorgeous cliffs, making it an idyllic spot where to relax while enjoying the sunset. It features beautiful fine sand, and its clean waters prove wonderful for swimming in. Playa de Sopelana is as appealing for its immense beauty as for its sheer size, providing visitors with plenty of space where to lay down and sunbathe. The NH La Avanzada is a four-star hotel with a privileged location in Bilbao, within easy reach of both downtown Bilbao and these beaches. Playa de Arrigunaga, Playa Arrietara and Playa de Sopelana can all be reached in under 13 minutes by car from the hotel. NH La Avanzada also offers fantastic amenities, starting with its modern rooms (all of which feature plenty of natural light) and also including a fantastic hotel restaurant serving Basque specialties and a lovely terrace where you can host meetings and events.

Do not hesitate and book a stay in the Spanish north coast with NH Hotels now! With options in incredible cities like Gijón, A Coruña, and Bilbao, you’ll be able not only to discover some of our recommended beaches in Northern Spain but also to immerse yourself in the region’s rich culture.

Come to the north of Spain and enjoy its magnificent beaches and sights from a convenient and comfortable accommodation!