Playa de Sopelana
Playa de Sopelana
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Playa de Sopelana and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
178 within 3 miles
Attractions
63 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
240 reviews
Excellent
127
Very good
94
Average
13
Poor
6
Terrible
0
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Coastal25170436469
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Friends
The views would be beautiful if it weren't for the number of locals shouting and hitting balls.
There is graffiti even on the rocks, and no exaggeration. The trash was full and by the number of people on the beach was all around the container full of plastics.
He's got good waves to make sure, that's for sure. Almost the entire shore has rocks and you have to be careful to bathe, but surfers will have a very long time.
There is graffiti even on the rocks, and no exaggeration. The trash was full and by the number of people on the beach was all around the container full of plastics.
He's got good waves to make sure, that's for sure. Almost the entire shore has rocks and you have to be careful to bathe, but surfers will have a very long time.
Automatically translated
Written 25 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sugerglider
London, UK316 contributions
Mar 2020
Easily reached by the Metro from the centre of Bilbao. Get off at Larrabasterra and walk 15 minutes (bus available in summer).
There are interesting rock formations at the north end of the beach. The sand is very fine.
There are interesting rock formations at the north end of the beach. The sand is very fine.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andreapiertommaso
Florence, Italy100 contributions
Aug 2023
The beaches in the Flysch area are all beautiful, up to San Sebastian and beyond.
Some are not easily reachable, but all free, clean, and not very crowded.
The Basques, serious and correct people, know how to manage their territories well. Compliments
Some are not easily reachable, but all free, clean, and not very crowded.
The Basques, serious and correct people, know how to manage their territories well. Compliments
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paaluz
Oslo, Norway65 contributions
Mar 2012 • Friends
The small city of Sopelana, located some 30 minutes with metro outside Bilbao in the Basque country, offers two large beaches to its visitors. Unlike the beaches of southern Spain, the Sopelana beaches are large and very much preserved in touch with nature. This means little commercial activity on the beach itself (just a little bar) and no gigantic hotels right on the beach. The two main beaches of Sopelana, Barinatxe and Arrietara, have different kinds of visitors. Barinatxe is a partly nude beach (clothing optional) and frequented by a younger crowd. Arrietara is a family oriented beach, with lots of young families visiting all the week through. Both beaches, and also the beach of Meñakoz, are loved by surfers from all over the world for the year-round good surfing conditions.
Written 19 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Havers
Jersey, UK264 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
We wanted to get to the coast and found this as a highly recommended beach which is easy to get to on the metro. It took about 1/2 hour on a really safe and clean metro train which cost 3 euros return each. A 20 minute walk and you are at the Bay of Biscay. What a view and a friendly part of the world. We had a drink looking at the sea and the sunshine. Good for all members of the family.
Written 19 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Celine A
Lausanne, Switzerland10 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
Great place for beginner/intermediate surfers! Surf lessons for 30 € / 2 hours at the Pena Txuri surf school at the end of the beach. Or you can rent a board for 12 € / half day at the styling surf shop on the street above.
Written 21 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
poddy2015
Congleton, UK251 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
It's a beach with waves and sun and very clean.
Nearest metro is Sopela but most things tell you its Sopelana which seems to be the same.
We walked from the metro for 20 minutes but if you have kids or an easier desire get the bus as it seems to be arriving all the time while I'm sat at the bar.
Bit of an easy climb down but loads of sand ( nearly a mile and flat and wide) and showers at the entrance.
A great day trip from Bilboa city for just over €3 return + beer and Pintxos!
Sunset bar at the top is good resting for me.
Nearest metro is Sopela but most things tell you its Sopelana which seems to be the same.
We walked from the metro for 20 minutes but if you have kids or an easier desire get the bus as it seems to be arriving all the time while I'm sat at the bar.
Bit of an easy climb down but loads of sand ( nearly a mile and flat and wide) and showers at the entrance.
A great day trip from Bilboa city for just over €3 return + beer and Pintxos!
Sunset bar at the top is good resting for me.
Written 17 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rearcardoor
Northampton, UK479 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
We wanted to go to the beach and didn't have a car and after having spoken to some locals, decided to try Sopelana. We took the L1 metro line from central Bilbao and got off at Larrabasterra, which was the last stop on that train and it didn't carry on to Sopela. That wasn't a problem. When you exit the train, get onto the main road and turn right. In 20 yards there is a bus stop and every 30 minutes a bus will take you to the beach. If you carry on another 50 yards you'll find a tourist information office and they can give you a map of the local area. On his advise, and because we had just missed a bus, we walked to the beach. It was a good 20-minute walk, maybe longer but not too bad. If you are carrying a lot of stuff, have very young kids or if it is really hot then wait for the bus. If you do decide to walk then you just carry on another 100 yards, cross the road and take the left turn along Arriatera Etorbidea - it is signposted for the beach too. Keep going straight and take the right fork when you get over the hill and are close to the beach. There is one bar at the beach that does serve food, but there isn't a lot of choice, There is also a shop near the tourist info place where you can buy bread, ham, cheese etc to make some basic sandwiches. At the beach, there are good facilities for free and include toilets, showers and bidet things to wash your feet. There is a surf school there. There are no umbrellas to hire or chairs so on a hot day take your own sun tent or umbrella. The sea is great and gradually gets deeper so great for the kids. There is a bit of seaweed but it's no problem. Heading back, with your back to the sea, take the right-hand exit from the beach and wait at the bottom of the hill, near the steps. The bus picks up here and takes you back to the station, By the way, if you had taken the left fork on the walk to the beach you would hit another beach which is a naturist beach.
Written 18 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nnmercman
Camberley, UK14,411 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
There’s a small car park at the top of the beach and at busy times it’s difficult to get a spot, which is why you’ll see a lot of cars parked along the street further up. Visited on a busy Saturday early March and the two cafes were overflowing so we didn’t stop for a drink. The beach itself is long and wide and so you’ll always be able to get a sheltered spot if there’s a breeze blowing. Nice views along the coast towards entrance to Bilbao harbour area and from the car park you can walk the cliff path.
Written 3 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JinWee T
London, UK99 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
Apparently this is the best beach in Bilbao, according to other reviews, but I can't attest to that, as it was the only beach I visited in Bilbao. Sopelana (or Sopela according to some signs) is the third from last stop on the Bilbao metro towards Plentzia. The beach is not that accessible from the station. It's possible to take a bus (ask around for the bus stop), but we walked. With 2 children it took about 25 minutes to get out of the residential area and to the beach. It's a tough walk if you're carrying things - you need to negotiate 2 hills, a bridge over a motorway, and steep steps down to the beach.
The beach itself was not crowded (we visited at 2 pm on a Monday afternoon), and the tide was out. The sand is fairly coarse but great for building sandcastles. There were a fair number of large rockpools for kids to play in. I wouldn't recommend venturing into the surf with children, as it was quite strong, and even as an adult I feared that the undertow would whisk me out to sea if I wasn't careful. The water was fairly cold and refreshing though.
It's best to pitch your picnic site farther away from the cliff faces, as some of them are quite crumbly and there's a risk of rock falls. Having said that, the life guard post is right underneath a rock face, and presumably they'd know if there was a risk.
After a couple of hours of messing around in the sand, the sea and the rockpools, we decided to clean up and head for home. There are open showers on the rock face above the beach (strong jets, little children be careful) and a changing room free for public use. The facilities are basic but adequate.
We ended up at a cerveceria above the beach to refresh ourselves, then took the bus back to the station. It's a nice walk but just a little too hot in the Spanish afternoon sunshine.
The beach itself was not crowded (we visited at 2 pm on a Monday afternoon), and the tide was out. The sand is fairly coarse but great for building sandcastles. There were a fair number of large rockpools for kids to play in. I wouldn't recommend venturing into the surf with children, as it was quite strong, and even as an adult I feared that the undertow would whisk me out to sea if I wasn't careful. The water was fairly cold and refreshing though.
It's best to pitch your picnic site farther away from the cliff faces, as some of them are quite crumbly and there's a risk of rock falls. Having said that, the life guard post is right underneath a rock face, and presumably they'd know if there was a risk.
After a couple of hours of messing around in the sand, the sea and the rockpools, we decided to clean up and head for home. There are open showers on the rock face above the beach (strong jets, little children be careful) and a changing room free for public use. The facilities are basic but adequate.
We ended up at a cerveceria above the beach to refresh ourselves, then took the bus back to the station. It's a nice walk but just a little too hot in the Spanish afternoon sunshine.
Written 11 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
condedracula16
Alcobendas, Spain
Hola quería ir con mi perro al Logroño cuatro días y quería saber si la playa de sopelana admiten o hay un horario si alguien me puede decir
Written 29 July 2018
Durante los meses de verano esta prohibido los perros en la playa
Written 30 July 2018
Do people know if parking is free at the beginning of September, or do they still count it as summer? Also, how
busy is it during this period? We've never really surfed before and were just gonna take our boards down and figure it out, but might not be the best idea if it's super crowded. Thanks!
Written 2 August 2017
Hi,
This parking runs only during the "Beach" season (1st june-30 sep)...Early september is still busy on sunny days as schools are still close...
Written 27 August 2017
Dear people,
can anyone tell me where I could rent a surfboard in Sopela? Thank you so much!
Written 1 August 2017
There are a few options close the beach.
Written 6 July 2019
Showing results 1-5 of 5
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing