Beaches of the Basque Coast

With autumn setting in and winter on its way, I’ve been feeling nostalgic for the beaches of the Basque Coast – from the flysch-carved cove of Zumaia’s Playa de Itzurun to the white sands of San Sebastián’s iconic Playa de la Concha and the bustling energy of Biarritz’s La Grande Plage. Fed by the Atlantic waters of the Cantabrian Sea, the beaches of the Basque Coast span the shores of northeastern Spain and southwestern France. The vibe is more relaxed than the Côte d’Azur or the Costa del Sol, but the vistas are equally as breathtaking and the gastronomy is world-renowned. The one thing I’ll always remember about the region’s playas and plages were the colors. In the midst of summer holiday, the coast swarmed by beach-goers looked like a canvas of neon sprinkles. I witnessed this spectacular sight at every beach I visited, and each time it brought a big smile to my face.

(Last visited in August, 2016)

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