Paseo de la Concha (Concha Promenade), San Sebastian

There can be no walking tour of San Sebastian without a walk along the La Concha Promenade (Paseo de la Concha), the beachside promenade of the city. The beach has the shape of a conch shell, hence the name. La Concha Promenade is entirely pedestrian. It begins at the foot of Liberty Avenue (Avenida de la Libertad) and ends at the tunnel of El Antiguo.

The walkway is edged by a painted, wrought iron balustrade, emblematic of the city itself. It was designed in 1910 by municipal architect Juan Rafael Alday Lasarte. He also designed the roundabout of La Concha, with its famous obelisks and the monumental lampposts flanking the beach access.

There are incomparable views of the sea and Sant Clara Island in the bay. The busy promenade is lined with elegant buildings and monuments. The Hotel Londres, the English-style Miramar Palace, and La Perla thermal water thalassotherapy center bring back times when San Sebastian was a spa city.

The walkway is "book-ended" by Mount Igeldo and Mount Urgull. In the west, the Pico del Loro cliff separates Ondarreta Beach from Concha Beach. Staircases descend to the golden sands of Concha Beach. Many cafes facing the sea serve snacks and refreshments.