Whether you are looking for a sunny surf trip in Portugal or empty cold waves in Norway, here is a list of 10 European surfing destinations that will allow you to have the surf trip of a lifetime.
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Ericeira, Portugal
Read our complete surfing guide to Ericeira, Portugal
Located just half an hour away from Lisbon, Ericeira is one of the few “World’s Surfing Reserves”. With the quality and versatility of its waves, this popular surf town offers something special for any type of surfers.
Beginners will be able to enjoy some summer swells at beaches like São Julião, Foz do Lizandro or Ribeira D’Ilhas while advanced surfers will get their fix at Coxos, The Cave or Pedra Branca.
When to go: The best time to visit Ericeira is in summer (June-July-August) for beginners and in fall (September-October-November) for advanced surfers.
Book a surf camp in Ericeira, starting at US$211
Newquay, England
Read our complete Surfing Guide to Cornwall, England
While England is not primarily known for its surfing, the state of Cornwall has some decent waves and a very cool surfing culture. Newquay is the main hub of the region and becomes a true surf town a couple months per year.
Located on the southwestern part of England, Cornwall attracts many Brits and tourists every summer mostly because of its stunning beaches and pristine water. Many people also make it down there to perfect their surfing skills on some gentle waves.
Forming a peninsula, this region catches swell from many different angles and several surf spots are spread along the coast to make sure you will always find somewhere to get wet!
When to go: The best time to surf Cornwall, England is from May to September for warmer weather and smaller waves or from October to April for winter conditions.
Find a surf camp in Newquay, starting at US$259
Hossegor, France
Read our Surfing Guide to Hossegor, France
“Beach breaks don’t get much better than the ones in southern Landes. Hossegor is the heart of this surfing paradise and has been hosting the World Surf League every autumn for what became a very prestigious surfing event.
Waves here are very hollow and powerful especially in winter providing extremely challenging conditions even for the best surfers. Over the summer months though, Hossegor offers gentle peaks good for learning and practicing.
The town of Hossegor itself revolves around surfing which gives it a very nice vibe. Wide beaches, young crowd, good nightlife and pleasant weather are all good ingredients for a perfect surf trip.”
When to go: The best time to surf Hossegor, France is from June to August for beginners and September to November for advanced surfers.
San Sebastian, Spain
San Sebastian is considered as the best surf town in Spain, mostly due to its accessible surf spots and its incredibly relaxed vibe.
Waves in San Sebastian will suit any type of surfers. Zurriola Beach offers several differents peaks and surf spots that will change depending on the swell direction and allow advanced surfers or beginners to find the right peak for them.
When to go: The best time to surf San Sebastian, Spain is from June to November
Read our Surfing Guide to San Sebastian, Spain
Sagres, Portugal
Read our Surfing Guide to Algarve, Portugal
Sagres is a small surf town located in the Algarve region, on the southern part of Portugal. Being strategically positioned in a peninsula, Sagres is gifted with swells form all angles and offers many different surfing options depending on the wind direction.
Many surf schools and surf shops are to be found in Sagres which will help anyone making their first steps into surfing.
This part of Portugal is also known for having stunning beaches and beautiful weather all year long.
When to go: The best time to surf Sagres, Portugal is from June to August for beginners and September to November for advanced surfers.
Find a surf camp in Sagres, starting at US$270
Klitmøller, Denmark
Klitmøller, also called “Cold Hawaii” is a pretty exotic surfing destination in its own way. Located on the northern coast of Denmark, Klitmøller is a great place to avoid the crowds and experience a unique surf trip.
The surf is not very consistent but when the conditions are not right, it usually is a great time to go kite surfing or wind surfing.
When to go: The best time to surf Klitmøller, Denmark is from November to March. That is when swells are more consistent.
Read our Surfing Guide to Klitmøller, Denmark
Mundaka, Spain
Mundaka is known as one of the best left-hand waves on Earth and is a great place to go in order to score some amazing surf in Spain.
This small surf town is totally charming and will treat you with the surf trip of a lifetime. While being much smaller than San Sebastian, Mundaka is also a bit less versatile as far as surfing goes, but this point break is something to be seen.
When to go: The best time to surf Mundaka, Spain is from September to November.
Biarritz, France
Biarritz is another very popular French surf town. The surfing lifestyle, cafes and restaurants are all very unique and charming while the waves are some of the best in Europe.
Being located close to the the French-Spanish boarder, being in Biarritz also offers you the possibility to go on day trips to San Sebastian or Hossegor, two other amazing surf towns.
When to go: The best time to surf Biarritz, France is from June to August for beginners and from September onwards for Advanced surfers.
Lofoten, Norway
Norway is definitely not your typical surfing destination. However, it is extremely rewarding on so many fronts.
First of all, the crowds are almost non-existent throughout the year, mostly due to the cold water temperature. For some, it may be a downside, but for many, wearing a thicker wetsuit to be alone in the line-up is a big win!
Secondly, the landscapes in Lofoten, or in Norway in general, are some of the most beautiful in the whole world. The backdrop is just stunning and you won’t believe you are surfing while being surrounded by such beauty.
When to go: The best time to surf Lofoten, Norway is from November to April, although you can surf all year round.
Read our complete surfing guide to Norway
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are an absolute swell magnet located a few hundred miles off the Moroccan coastline.
Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the 4 major islands of the Canarias and they are all very unique in their own way.
Waves in the Canary Islands can be very punchy, hollow and powerful at times, which will appeal the most experienced surfers on the planet.
However, since there are surf spots all around the islands, you can also find some mellow and beginner friendly waves.
When to go: In the Canary Islands, you can surf any time of the year. However, the winter months offer bigger waves.
Read our Surfing Guide to the Canary Islands