Trip guide

Summer family surf trip

Easy waves, warm water and beaches with space for everyone

Summer is the season of small waves and warm water, which makes it the perfect time to bring the whole family to the beach. The trick is to choose places where the waves are gentle, the beach is supervised, and there is enough room to spread out, rather than the most famous names.

The beaches in this guide are rated beginner-friendly in the SurfCams catalogue, and many have surf schools that teach children. They range from the long sandy coast of south-west France and the bays of Portugal to the family beaches of Cornwall and Ireland, and the warm water of the Azores, Gran Canaria and the Aegean. Check the live cams on the map each morning to see how big it is before heading out.

At a glance

🌡️ Water: 14.5 °C Norway – 25 °C Aegean
In July and August the sea averages about 14.5–16 °C at Stavanger, 15.5–16 °C at Galway, 16.5–17 °C off the Isles of Scilly and 16–17.5 °C at Le Havre and Brest. It is 18–19 °C at A Coruña, 20–20.5 °C at Lisbon, 21–22 °C at Biarritz and on the Algarve, 22–23.5 °C in the Azores and around Gran Canaria, and 24–25 °C in Crete.
🧥 Wetsuit: Shorty or 3/2 · 4/3 north
A shorty or 3/2 mm is enough in the south and in the Mediterranean; children feel the cold faster, so a 3/2 mm is a safe choice in Brittany, Galicia and Portugal. In Britain and Ireland a 4/3 mm keeps children warm for longer, and Norway calls for a 4/3 or 5/4 mm.
🌊 Swell: Small and friendly
Summer is the smallest season on the Atlantic, according to travel guides, which is exactly what children and beginners need. South swells reach the south coasts of the Azores and Gran Canaria, and the summer meltemi builds small waves on north-facing Greek beaches.
👥 Crowds: Peak season; book early
French summer holidays start on 3 July 2027. The most popular resorts are packed, so book accommodation and lessons well in advance, or choose smaller towns. Learner beaches elsewhere, like Baleal, Arrifana and Polzeath, are at their busiest too.

Safety first

On the long sandy beaches of Gironde, the Landes and the Basque Country, rip currents called baïnes form between the sandbanks, and authorities issue warnings every summer. Rips form on sandy beaches across Europe. Always swim and surf in the supervised zones between the flags.

If someone is caught in a current, they should not fight it: let it carry them out, then swim parallel to the beach before coming back in. Teach children to raise an arm and call for help.

Choosing a beach

Look for beaches sheltered by jetties, headlands, islands or bays: Capbreton's groyne beaches, Hendaye's long bay, Loredo at the quiet end of Somo, Baleal's Cantinho behind its island in Portugal, Rossnowlagh deep in Donegal Bay, or Pópulo near Ponta Delgada in the Azores. They take the edge off the swell and are usually calmer than the open coast.

Smaller resorts like Contis, Mimizan or Carcans are much less crowded than Hossegor or Lacanau, while still having schools and lifeguards in summer. In Ireland, the long sand spits of Inch Strand and Rossbeigh have room for everyone.

The route

Landes

Endless sand, pine forests and family campsites, with smaller resorts such as Contis and Mimizan much quieter than the famous spots.

Pays Basque

Hendaye's sheltered bay and the gentle Côte des Basques in Biarritz are ideal for first waves.

Asturias

The regional tourism office calls summer the best season for learning; La Espasa and Rodiles beach are relaxed and easy.

Portugal Centro

Baleal's Cantinho, next to Peniche, is a safe, fun beach for learners, sheltered by the island from the summer north wind. Busy in July and ultra crowded in August.

Algarve

Arrifana and Amado on the Costa Vicentina are cliff-backed bays with schools on every beach and water around 21 °C.

Cornwall

Polzeath is one of Britain's classic family and learner beaches, and Sennen's harbour end is sheltered and suits beginners.

Ireland North West

Rossnowlagh's 3 km beach in Donegal Bay has gentle peaks and a relaxed, family mood, and it is rarely crowded.

Ireland South

Inch Strand and Rossbeigh, two long sand spits in Dingle Bay, have slow waves for learners and families in summer.

Azores

Pópulo, a sheltered black-sand beach a few minutes from Ponta Delgada, has small, gentle waves and water around 22–23.5 °C.

Eastern Mediterranean

The summer meltemi builds short, friendly waves on north-facing Greek beaches like Mesakti on Ikaria, in water around 24–25 °C.

22 spots

  1. Hendaye – Grande Plage

    Hendaye · Pays Basque · Beginner · Beach break · 2 live cams

    A three-kilometre bay sheltered from most swell and wind, with easy waves on bigger days. One of the best family surf beaches on the coast.

  2. Baleal – Cantinho da Baía

    Peniche · Portugal Centro · Beginner · Beach break

    A safe, fun corner of the Baleal bay, right in front of the beach bars, where the island shelters the water from the summer north wind. The busiest surf-school spot around Peniche; friendly, but ultra crowded in August.

  3. Contis Plage

    Saint-Julien-en-Born · Landes · Beginner · Beach break · 2 live cams

    A small resort with a long, undeveloped beach split by the Courant de Contis, peaks for all levels and room for plenty of people.

  4. Biarritz – Côte des Basques

    Biarritz · Pays Basque · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    Long, mellow waves at the birthplace of European surfing, ideal for longboards and first lessons.

  5. Arrifana – beach

    Aljezur · Algarve · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    A curved, cliff-backed bay south-west of Aljezur, sheltered from the north wind, with peaks at either end that suit learners. Full of surf schools; very busy in summer.

  6. Capbreton – Le Prévent

    Capbreton · Landes · Beginner · Beach break

    Boxed in by jetties, relatively sheltered and popular with families and surf schools; nearly always something to ride.

  7. Polzeath

    Cornwall · Beginner · Beach break

    A wide, flat beach on the Camel estuary and one of Cornwall's best-known learner beaches. The waves are usually gentle and it works on most tides; very busy in summer with families and schools.

  8. Rossnowlagh

    Ireland North West · Beginner · Beach break

    A 3 km beach deep in Donegal Bay, where the bay takes much of the power out of the swell. Easy peaks, room to spread out and a relaxed, family-friendly mood.

  9. Mimizan – Plage Nord

    Mimizan · Landes · Beginner · Beach break · 2 live cams

    A straightforward beach break that is usually fun rather than heavy, much less crowded than the spots further south.

  10. Praia do Amado

    Carrapateira · Algarve · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    A wide beach in a green valley on the Costa Vicentina, with cliffs on both sides and room for everyone. A favourite of surf schools in summer; the peaks can be fast, so stay in the whitewater at first.

  11. Loredo

    Ribamontán al Mar · Cantabria · Beginner · Beach break · 2 live cams

    The calm east end of Somo beach, with mellow peaks for learners and a relaxed feel.

  12. Sennen Cove

    Sennen · Cornwall · Beginner · Beach break

    England's westernmost surf beach, a wide bay of white sand near Land's End that often has waves when the rest of Cornwall is flat. The sheltered harbour end suits learners; busy with holidaymakers.

  13. Inch Strand

    Inch · Ireland South · Beginner · Beach break

    A long sand spit in Dingle Bay with mountains all around, where waves break gently and give you time to stand up. Families and surf schools fill the north end in summer.

  14. Carcans Plage

    Carcans · Gironde · Beginner · Beach break

    A small, low-key resort between the dunes, the forest and a lake, with easy peaks on most summer days.

  15. La Espasa

    Colunga · Asturias · Beginner · Beach break · 3 live cams

    An easy, open beach below the Sueve mountains, good for learning and relaxed sessions on small to medium swells.

  16. Pópulo

    Ponta Delgada · Azores · Beginner · Beach break

    A sheltered black-sand beach a few minutes east of Ponta Delgada, with small, gentle waves, usually under 1 m. Summer south-west swells bring its best days; busy at weekends.

  17. Corrubedo – Praia do Vilar

    Ribeira · Galicia Sur · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    A long beach backed by the dunes of a natural park, with easy peaks for all levels on small swells.

  18. Playa del Inglés

    San Bartolomé de Tirajana · Western Canaries · Beginner · Beach break

    Maspalomas' long resort beach in the south of Gran Canaria, where summer south swells give small, easy peaks for learners and bodyboarders. Crowded with swimmers, so keep to the surfing area.

  19. Fort-Bloqué (Pen er Malo)

    Guidel · Morbihan · Beginner · Beach break

    Nearly two kilometres of beach with gentler waves at Pen er Malo and the smallest on this coast at Lannénec.

  20. Hoddevik

    Stad · Norway · Beginner · Beach break

    A kilometre-long sandy bay on Norway's Stad peninsula, under high mountains and sheltered from the wind, with long, friendly walls for all levels. Busy by Norwegian standards in summer, with surf schools.

  21. Rodiles – beach

    Villaviciosa · Asturias · Beginner · Beach break · 2 live cams

    A mellow beach break backed by a eucalyptus wood, suited to learners, away from the famous rivermouth wave next door.

  22. Mesakti

    Ikaria · Eastern Mediterranean · Beginner · Beach break

    A sandy beach near Armenistis on Ikaria that is consistent in summer, when the meltemi builds north swell. Best in a lull in the wind; crowded in summer, with warm water.

Tips from the line-up

  1. Book lessons for children with a qualified school; they provide boards, wetsuits and a watchful eye.
  2. Choose sheltered or smaller beaches over the famous ones: easier waves and fewer people.
  3. Surf and swim only between the lifeguard flags.
  4. Go early: mornings are calmer, cooler and less crowded.
  5. Bring sun protection, water and shade; long days on the beach add up fast.
  6. Check the live cams together each morning: it is a fun way for kids to learn to read the sea.

Sources