On the beach
Right now
Live conditions from Open-Meteo, refreshed hourly.
7-day outlook
7-day marine forecast from Open-Meteo.
Sea temperature
Next 7 days, °C
Wave height
Next 7 days, metres
View as table
| Day | Sea temp (°C) | Wave height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 | 23.2 | 0.8 |
| Thu 3 | 22.9 | 0.6 |
| Fri 4 | 23.8 | 0.5 |
| Sat 5 | 23.3 | 1.1 |
| Sun 6 | 23.0 | 1.1 |
| Mon 7 | 23.4 | 0.9 |
| Tue 8 | 23.5 | 0.7 |
Water quality history
Official EEA classification, one rating per bathing season, 2015–2025 — real data reported by national authorities.
- 2015: Good2015
- 2016: Good2016
- 2017: Excellent2017
- 2018: Excellent2018
- 2019: Excellent2019
- 2020: Excellent2020
- 2021: Excellent2021
- 2022: Excellent2022
- 2023: Excellent2023
- 2024: Excellent2024
- 2025: Excellent2025
Excellent in the most recent season, and 11 of 11 classified years rated Excellent or Good.
- Excellent
- Good
- Sufficient
- Poor
- Not classified
View as table
| Year | Classification |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Good |
| 2016 | Good |
| 2017 | Excellent |
| 2018 | Excellent |
| 2019 | Excellent |
| 2020 | Excellent |
| 2021 | Excellent |
| 2022 | Excellent |
| 2023 | Excellent |
| 2024 | Excellent |
| 2025 | Excellent |
Typical sea temperature by month
Modeled estimatePlausible seasonal climatology derived from latitude, for illustration — not a measured average.
Monthly sea temperature
Typical range across the year, °C
View as table
| Month | Typical sea temp (°C) |
|---|---|
| Jan | 16 |
| Feb | 15 |
| Mar | 16 |
| Apr | 17 |
| May | 20 |
| Jun | 22 |
| Jul | 24 |
| Aug | 24 |
| Sep | 24 |
| Oct | 22 |
| Nov | 20 |
| Dec | 18 |
Location & nearby beaches
Nearby beaches
- Playa Ori?on967 mCantabria
- Playa Ostende7.3 kmCantabria
- Playa Brazomar8.8 kmCantabria
- Playa Salve8.9 kmCantabria
Distances calculated as straight-line (haversine) from official coordinates.
Getting there & around
- Easy by car — there's parking close to the beach.
- Bus stop: Camping Arenillas (Islares), about ~130 m away.
Food, stays & town
- Nearest town: Castro-Urdiales, about ~8.1 km away.
- 5 places to eat within 1 km Closest is Rompeolas, about ~70 m away.
- 2 places to stay mapped nearby Closest is Camping Playa Arenillas, about ~280 m away.
- 2 shops nearby, the closest about ~150 m away
What kind of beach is this?
This beach belongs to a small coastal village. It's usually calmer than a resort or town beach, though a popular village spot can still fill up on the best summer days.
Estimated from OpenStreetMap surroundings data (ODbL).
- Families
Is the water clean at Playa Arenillas?
Thinking of swimming at Playa Arenillas? The short answer: its official EU Bathing Water rating for 2025 is Excellent — the highest official classification under the EU bathing-water assessment. That rating is set once a year under the EU Bathing Water Directive, from a full season of testing for intestinal enterococci and E. coli reported to the European Environment Agency the following spring, so the 2025 season's grade appeared in spring 2026 and the 2026 season won't be graded until spring 2027. In addition to that yearly rating, some national authorities — for Croatia, the national environmental authority — publish individual water sample results during the season itself, ahead of the annual report. It's been a consistently reliable spot too — the rating has held at Excellent for 9 straight years. You can park about ~70 m away.
That rating has been consistent: every one of the 11 classified seasons on record has come back Excellent or Good. The most reliable swimming window here typically runs from July–September, with the sea usually at its warmest around August. Outside that window the water is cooler and often quieter. Castro-Urdiales — the closest town — sits about ~8.1 km from here.
Worth remembering: “Excellent” isn't a live reading, it's an annual grade — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — set once a year from that season's water samples and describing the average, not this afternoon's conditions. For what the sea is doing right now, check the “Right now” panel and 7-day outlook above. It sits in Cantabria. There are 5 places to eat within a kilometre — Rompeolas is the closest, about ~70 m away.
Frequently asked questions
Is Playa Arenillas a safe beach for swimming?
Generally, yes. Playa Arenillas's 2025 EU Bathing Water rating is Excellent — the highest tier — backed by 11 of 11 classified seasons rated Excellent or Good. It's also held steady at Excellent for 9 straight years.
Is the sea warm at Playa Arenillas today?
Right now, the sea at Playa Arenillas is measuring around 23°C; see the “Right now” panel above for the latest conditions. That's the reading right off Cantabria.
Which month has the warmest sea at Playa Arenillas?
July–September is typically the most reliable swimming window, with the sea usually warmest in the second half of summer. That applies to the water around Cantabria.
What does the water quality rating actually measure?
National authorities sample the water for intestinal enterococci and E. coli bacteria through the bathing season and report the full-season results to the European Environment Agency each spring for the season just finished, which assigns one of four annual classifications — Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor — under the EU Bathing Water Directive. Some national authorities, including Croatia's IZOR, also publish individual in-season sample results ahead of that annual report.
How do I get to Playa Arenillas without a car?
By car, it's easy — parking is right by the beach. By bus, the nearest stop is Camping Arenillas (Islares), about ~130 m away. The nearest town is Castro-Urdiales, about ~8.1 km away.