Santa Clara Island is one of the most unique places in San Sebastián. Located in the heart of La Concha Bay, opposite one of the city’s most iconic beaches, this small island combines nature, history and privileged views of the San Sebastián coastline. In summer, it also becomes a favourite destination for those looking to take a swim, enjoy the scenery or discover the bay from a different perspective.

A symbol of the city

Covering just 5.1 hectares and reaching a maximum height of 48 metres, Santa Clara Island occupies a privileged position in the centre of the bay. Although it is now completely surrounded by the sea, it was once connected to the mainland, when the area now occupied by the seafront promenade formed part of its connection with the city.

The island is home to several features that form part of its identity, including a jetty, a lighthouse, a bar and a small beach offering magnificent views of the bay, Mount Urgull and Mount Igeldo. It also has an unusual natural seawater pool, formed by the effect of the tides.

The small Santa Clara Beach is particularly worth visiting at low tide, when a larger stretch of sand is exposed and it is easier to enjoy this corner of the island. During the summer season, it also offers lifeguard services, showers and a bar.

An island with more than 400 years of history

The history of the island is closely linked to that of the city of San Sebastián. One of its best-known episodes took place in 1597, when a plague epidemic devastated the city and the island was used as an isolation area for those who had been infected. The chapel that once stood on Santa Clara was one of the places used to accommodate the sick.

Over the centuries, various projects were proposed to connect the island to the mainland. From 1821 onwards, several attempts were made to build a walkway that would allow people to reach the island without using boats, although none of them was ever completed.

By the 20th century, the island began to take on its character as a recreational area. From 1956, the association Amigos de la Isla de Santa Clara promoted a number of improvements, including the installation of drinking water, tables, bars, showers and parasols. In 1968, Santa Clara became municipal property after the Spanish State transferred ownership to San Sebastián City Council and, in 1974, it was declared a Historic Centre of National Interest.

The natural environment of Santa Clara Island

Despite its small size, Santa Clara is home to an interesting variety of plant and animal species. Its location in the middle of the bay and its exposure to the wind and salinity of the Cantabrian Sea have encouraged the presence of species adapted to these conditions, such as holm oak, sea fennel and tamarisk.

There are also species introduced by humans, including laurel, ash, fig and birch trees, as well as various ornamental species planted along the paths, such as privet, Japanese spindle and pittosporum. The island is also home to some invasive exotic species, including black locust.

Among the island’s fauna, the San Sebastián Iberian wall lizard (Podarcis hispanicus sebastiani) is particularly noteworthy, an endemic subspecies found only on Santa Clara Island and Mount Urgull. Yellow-legged gulls are also common, while European shags and common guillemots can occasionally be spotted.

Hondalea: art in the old lighthouse

One of Santa Clara’s main attractions can be found in the old lighthouse building. In 2021, Hondalea was inaugurated, an artwork by Cristina Iglesias that transforms the interior of the former lighthouse keeper’s house into an artistic space inspired by the landscape and nature of the Basque coast.

The installation features a sculpture in which water flows in rhythm with the tides, creating a dialogue between the interior of the lighthouse and the island’s maritime surroundings. The name of the work, Hondalea, means “abyss in the sea” in Basque.

The installation was conceived with the geology and ecology of the Basque coast in mind and can be visited by prior appointment, offering a different way to discover Santa Clara beyond its beaches and landscapes.

How to get to Santa Clara Island

One of the best ways to visit Santa Clara Island is by boat. During the summer months, a regular ferry service connects the port of San Sebastián with the island, making it easy to reach in just a few minutes.

It is also possible to get to Santa Clara by other means, such as kayak or paddleboard, and even by swimming. In fact, its proximity to the beaches around the bay makes it possible to swim across throughout the year.

For those who want to swim to the island, Ondarreta Beach is one of the usual starting points. From there, it is approximately half a kilometre to the island, and along the way there are floating platforms with diving boards and slides where swimmers can stop for a break.

Book your stay in San Sebastián

Santa Clara Island is just one of the many places you can discover during a getaway to San Sebastián. If you would like to stay in the city centre, with La Concha Bay and its main attractions within easy reach, Intelier Hotels & Suites offers two hotels right in the heart of San Sebastián.

Hotel Intelier Victoria, located close to La Concha Beach, and Hotel Intelier Villa Katalina, next to the Buen Pastor Cathedral, are two ideal options for combining a visit to Santa Clara with a stroll through the city, its beaches and surrounding hills.

Cross the bay, discover Santa Clara Island and enjoy San Sebastián from the sea!