Where the waves are, how warm the water is and which spots light up, month by month, starting with the coast from the Channel to Galicia. Every spot links to its live cam and forecast.
The surf calendar
Surfing in January Storm season: big swells, cold water and Europe's famous winter waves January is the heart of the Atlantic storm season. Thick wetsuits in the north, warm water in the Canaries, and powerful swells that wake up Nazaré, Mundaka, Thurso East and the island reefs.
Surfing in February The coldest water, longer days and the chance of a dream run February has the coldest water of the year in the north, but the days are getting longer and a cold high-pressure spell can bring offshore winds and long-period swell. Hossegor's legendary 2021 run happened in February, and the islands to the south are in full season.
Surfing in March Spring swells, cold water and the coast to yourself March is one of the most underrated months: winter-sized swells start to calm down, the days get long, and the line-ups are still empty from Brittany to Scotland. The water, though, is as cold as it gets, unless you head for the islands.
Surfing in April Long evenings, spring swell and the Easter holidays April brings long, light evenings and steady spring swells to coasts that are only starting to wake up, from Cornwall and Ireland to Portugal and the Basque Country. The water is still cold, but the season of easy road trips has begun.
Surfing in May Warming water, softer swells and long, light days May is a sweet spot for intermediates and improvers: the water starts to warm, the swell is steady but rarely huge, and the summer crowds have not arrived yet, from Portugal and north Spain to Cornwall, Wales and Ireland.
Surfing in June The longest days, warm air and summer before the holidays June gives you summer weather and the longest days of the year before the school holidays begin. Swells are usually small, so think longboards, lessons and dawn patrols, or the exposed corners of Portugal, Cornwall and Ireland that catch what there is.
Surfing in July Holiday season: warm water, small waves and busy beaches July is peak holiday time across Europe. The water is warm in the south, the beaches are lively and the waves are usually small and friendly, which makes it a great month to learn, and a tricky one to find space.
Surfing in August The warmest water of the year and the first hints of autumn August has the warmest sea of the year almost everywhere in Europe, and the busiest beaches. Waves are mostly small, but late in the month the first autumn swells start to show, and Galicia hosts the Pantín Classic.
Surfing in September Warm water, empty car parks and the first real groundswells The holiday crowds leave, the sea is close to its warmest and autumn swells start to roll in, from Hossegor and Ericeira to Cornwall, Bundoran and Thurso: September is the month many locals wait for all year.
Surfing in October Prime time: autumn groundswell, offshore mornings and warm water October is many surfers' favourite month in Europe: real groundswell, water that still holds its summer warmth, and beaches that empty out after the holidays. The reefs of Portugal, Ireland and Scotland start their season too.
Surfing in November Bigger swells, emptier line-ups and the start of the cold November turns the dial towards winter across Europe: swells grow, the reefs and points light up from the Basque Country to Ericeira, Cornwall and Thurso, and the beaches belong to locals again. Pack a thicker suit, or head for the islands.
Surfing in December Short days, big storms and Christmas sessions December brings the shortest days and some of the year's biggest swells across Europe, from the Basque reefs to Nazaré, Thurso and the Cliffs of Moher. Chase the clean windows between storms, hide in the sheltered corners, or fly south to the islands.
Trips and themes
Basque coast road trip From Anglet to Sopela: two countries, one surf culture A road trip along both sides of the Basque coast, from the beaches of Anglet through the reefs of Guéthary and the city waves of San Sebastián to Mundaka and the cliffs of Sopela.
Asturias and Galicia road trip Green hills, empty beaches and the open Atlantic A road trip west along the Cantabrian coast, from the rivermouths of Asturias to Pantín, A Coruña and the start of the Costa da Morte. Fewer people, more space and waves for every level.
Best spots to learn to surf Gentle beaches and surf-school towns across Europe Where to take your first waves: forgiving sandy beaches with surf schools, from Biarritz and the Basque coast to Peniche, the Costa Vicentina and Lanzarote, and from Cornwall and Donegal to the North Sea.
Summer family surf trip Easy waves, warm water and beaches with space for everyone A guide to family surf holidays in July and August: sheltered, sandy beaches with gentle waves, lifeguards and schools, from the Landes and the Basque Country to Portugal's sheltered bays, Cornwall and Ireland, and on to the Azores, the Canaries and the Greek islands.
Uncrowded winter waves Quiet corners for cold-water sessions without the pack Winter brings the best swells of the year, but the famous spots get crowded whenever they break. These are quieter beaches and breaks across Europe: Scotland's north coast and islands, the west of Ireland, Portugal's Alentejo, the Azores, Norway and Denmark, plus empty corners of Normandy, the Médoc and north Spain.
Big waves and expert spots Nazaré, Mullaghmore, Belharra, Mundaka and the heavy end of Europe The waves that make Europe famous among experienced surfers: Nazaré's giants, the big-wave reefs of Ireland, the Basque Country and Madeira, world-class rivermouths and points, and the heaviest beach breaks and slabs. For watching from the cliffs, or for surfing only if you truly have the skills.
Portugal road trip From Viana do Castelo to the Algarve, one Atlantic coast A road trip down the whole Portuguese coast, from the beaches of Viana and Porto past Nazaré, Peniche and Ericeira to Lisbon, the Costa Vicentina and the two coasts of the Algarve.
Canary Islands surf trip Winter sun, warm water and volcanic reefs An island-hopping winter trip from the reefs of Tenerife and the city waves of Las Palmas to Fuerteventura's North Shore, the long right at Lobos and the lava reefs of La Santa and Famara on Lanzarote. Mild water all winter, but many of the best waves are for experienced surfers.
Azores and Madeira surf trip Remote Atlantic islands, rock reefs and a few gentle beaches A trip to Portugal's Atlantic islands: the black-sand beaches and points of São Miguel, the slabs and rock points of Terceira, a quiet beach on Faial, then Madeira's north coast and its famous boulder points. Changeable weather, few people and many waves for experienced surfers.
Andalusia surf trip From the Doñana beaches to Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz A winter road trip down Andalusia's Atlantic coast, from the wild Huelva beaches by Doñana past Cádiz, Conil and El Palmar to the reefs of Caños de Meca and the windy Strait at Tarifa. Mild water and sun, but the waves need a proper Atlantic storm.
West of Ireland road trip The Wild Atlantic Way, from Kinsale to Bundoran, in a thick wetsuit A cold-water road trip up the Wild Atlantic Way, from the Cork coast and the Kerry peninsulas through Lahinch, Mayo and the Sligo reefs to Bundoran. Bays face every direction, so there is often a clean wave somewhere, and the famous slabs are for watching.
Cornwall, Devon and Wales surf trip Two coasts, big tides and the best beaches of Britain's south-west A road trip from the reefs near Land's End up Cornwall's north coast to Newquay and Bude, through North Devon's surfing reserve and across the Severn to Gower and Pembrokeshire. Read the wind to choose the coast and the tide to choose the hour.
Scotland and North East England surf trip Flagstone reefs, castle beaches and the cold North Sea A cold-water road trip from the far north of Scotland, past Thurso East and the reefs of Caithness, down the North Sea coast through Fraserburgh and East Lothian to Tynemouth, Saltburn and the bays of Yorkshire.
Mediterranean storm surf Short windows, wind swell and the day the storm moves on A guide to surfing the Mediterranean from Spain to Greece: which wind wakes up which coast, from Málaga and Barcelona through Provence, Liguria and Sardinia's Capo Mannu to Malta and the Aegean. The waves come and go with the storms, so this is about being in the right place at the right time.
North Sea and Baltic surf trip From Ostend to Lofoten: piers, wind swell and Cold Hawaii An honest cold-water route from the harbour walls of Belgium and Holland, past Sylt and a Baltic detour, to Denmark's Cold Hawaii, Sweden's Varberg and the open coasts of Norway, ending in Lofoten above the Arctic Circle.
Winter sun surf trip Cádiz, the Algarve, Madeira and the Canaries, from November to March Where to surf in Europe's winter without a hood: the storm-swell beaches of Cádiz, the two coasts of the Algarve, the rock and boulder waves of Madeira and the volcanic reefs of the Canary Islands.