Month guide · August

Surfing in August

The warmest water of the year and the first hints of autumn

August is the warmest month in the water: on the Basque coast the sea averages over 20 °C, the Aegean reaches about 25 °C, and even Brittany, Cornwall and Ireland reach their yearly peak. It is the height of the holidays, so the beaches are full and the towns are buzzing late into the night.

For most of the month the surf is small and friendly, perfect for families, beginners and longboards. The exposed corners of Cornwall and Portugal catch what swell there is, and the meltemi keeps the Greek islands supplied with short wind swell. Then, as the month ends, the Atlantic begins to stir. The Pantín Classic contest in Galicia has been held in the last days of August, and the first autumn groundswells can arrive on the French coast before the September return to school.

At a glance

🌡️ Water: 12 °C Lofoten – 25 °C Aegean
The warmest month of the year in the sea: about 12 °C in Lofoten, 13.5 °C in Orkney, 16 °C at Galway, 17 °C off the Isles of Scilly and 17.5 °C at Brest. A Coruña is about 19 °C, Lisbon 20.5 °C, Biarritz 22 °C, the Azores 23.5 °C and Crete 25 °C.
🧥 Wetsuit: Shorty or 3/2 · 4/3 north
A shorty or 3/2 mm is enough in the south and in the Mediterranean; a 3/2 mm covers Brittany, Normandy, Galicia and Portugal. Britain and Ireland call for a 3/2 or 4/3 mm, and Norway a 5/4 mm.
🌊 Swell: Small, first autumn swells late
Summer remains the smallest season, with flat spells most common on the Basque coast. Late August can see the first stronger swells of the autumn, as the timing of Galicia's Pantín contest reflects. South swells still reach the south coasts of the Azores and Canaries, and the meltemi builds wind swell in the Aegean.
🌬️ Wind: Sea breezes, nortada, meltemi
Afternoon sea breezes remain the rule on hot days, and north-easterlies blow along the Spanish north coast, keeping the west-facing beaches cleaner. Portugal's north wind, the nortada, blows on many afternoons, and the meltemi blows down the Aegean.
☀️ Air: Highs 15–29 °C
Average highs are about 15.5 °C in Lofoten, 16 °C in Orkney, 19 °C in Galway, 21 °C in Brest, 25 °C in Biarritz, 28.5 °C in Lisbon and 29 °C on the Algarve and in Crete.
👥 Crowds: The busiest month
Peak of the French and Spanish summer holidays. French schools go back at the start of September, so the last days of the month start to calm down. Baleal is described as ultra crowded in August, and learner beaches across Europe are at their busiest.
🌅 Daylight: ~13–15.5 h · shortening fast
Mid-month the sun rises around 07:10 and sets around 21:10 in Biarritz and 21:30 in Brest. Thurso has about 15.5 hours of daylight and Las Palmas about 13. Days shorten quickly through the month, fastest in the north.

Where to go

Pays Basque

Hendaye's long, sheltered beach and the Côte des Basques are made for families and learners in the warmest water of the year.

Galicia Norte

Pantín has hosted the Pantín Classic at the end of August, and the Ferrol coast has beaches for every level.

Galicia Sur

Corrubedo's long, dune-backed beach is an easy-going choice for families who want space.

Cantabria

Somo and Loredo are calm, forgiving and full of schools; perfect for a summer of learning.

Portugal Centro

The Baleal bay near Peniche is sheltered from the afternoon north wind, with Cantinho for learners and the more powerful Baleal Sul next to it. Ultra crowded in August.

Algarve

Amado and Arrifana on the Costa Vicentina catch lots of swell for the season, with schools on every beach. The sea is about 21.5 °C at Faro.

Cornwall

Gwenver and Sennen at Land's End pick up more swell than almost anywhere in Cornwall, which makes them the summer go-to when the north coast is flat.

Ireland West

Lahinch is Ireland's best-known surf town, with sandbanks for every level and schools along the promenade. The water peaks at about 16 °C.

Azores

Summer south swells reach São Miguel's south coast, where Ribeira Quente has water warmed by undersea hot springs. The sea is about 23.5 °C.

Eastern Mediterranean

The meltemi blows down the Aegean and sends short, punchy wind swell into north-facing bays like Kolymbithra on Tinos, in water around 25 °C.

The 21 best spots in August

  1. Valdoviño – Pantín

    Valdoviño · Galicia Norte · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    Home of the Pantín Classic, a professional contest held at the end of August. Very consistent, handling small and big swells; the best peaks are at the north-east end.

  2. Hendaye – Grande Plage

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

    A three-kilometre beach sheltered from most swell and wind, which gives fun, easy waves on bigger days. A great family beach in the warmest water of the year.

  3. Biarritz – Côte des Basques

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

    Long, gentle waves for longboards and learners at the birthplace of European surfing, holding swells up to about three metres.

  4. Baleal Sul – Campismo

    Peniche · Portugal Centro · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    The southern stretch of the Baleal bay, with more power than Cantinho and its northern end close to offshore in the summer north wind. Busy with schools in summer, but a long beach with room to spread out.

  5. Zarautz

    Gipuzkoa · Beginner · Beach break · 2 live cams

    Nearly three kilometres of open sand that picks up almost every swell, with room to spread out and a big surf-school scene.

  6. Praia do Amado

    Carrapateira · Algarve · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    A wide beach in a green valley on the Costa Vicentina that catches lots of swell and works on all tides. Peaks can be fast even when small; busy with schools in summer, but big and relaxed.

  7. Bakio

    Bizkaia · Beginner · Beach break

    One of the birthplaces of Basque surfing, an open beach with peaks along its length that handles north-east wind better than most, thanks to the Gaztelugatxe headland.

  8. Gwenver

    Sennen · Cornwall · Intermediate · Beach break

    The wild northern end of Whitesand Bay next to Sennen. Few beaches in Cornwall pick up more swell, so it often has powerful peaks in August. Intermediates; a steep path keeps it quieter than Sennen.

  9. Somo

    Ribamontán al Mar · Cantabria · Beginner · Beach break · live cam

    Forgiving peaks, many schools and surf camps, and waves on about 150 days a year. A classic place to learn in summer.

  10. Lahinch Beach

    Lahinch · Ireland West · Beginner · Beach break

    Ireland's best-known surf town has sandbanks for every level and schools along the promenade. Always busy in summer, but friendly; the water peaks at about 16 °C.

  11. La Espasa

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

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

  12. Rossbeigh

    Glenbeigh · Ireland South · Beginner · Beach break

    A 6 km sand spit at the start of the Ring of Kerry, with easy peaks along the beach for learners and improvers. Relaxed, even with families and schools in summer.

  13. Rodiles – beach

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

    The mellow beach break east of the famous rivermouth suits learners and anyone avoiding a crowd, backed by a eucalyptus wood.

  14. El Conquistador

    Playa de Las Américas · Western Canaries · Intermediate · Reef break

    Summer south swells reach Tenerife's south coast, and this reef between Las Américas and Los Cristianos needs exactly that, with steep sections on the right. Intermediates and up; the local group is protective.

  15. Ferrol – Doniños

    Ferrol · Galicia Norte · Beginner · Beach break

    Two kilometres of consistent sand in front of a lagoon, at its best in spring and summer according to Galician tourism.

  16. Ribeira Quente

    Povoação · Azores · Intermediate · Reef break

    A peak over cobbles and rock in a fishing village on São Miguel's south-east coast, where hot springs warm the water. A solid south swell is the summer ticket; 10–20 island surfers, and a sand beach nearby for beginners.

  17. Corrubedo – Praia do Vilar

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

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

  18. Kolymbithra

    Tinos · Eastern Mediterranean · Beginner · Beach break

    Two sandy bays on the north coast of Tinos where the meltemi sends short, punchy wind swell straight in. Best when the wind eases or swings south; quiet in the week.

  19. Ibarrangelu – Laida

    Ibarrangelu · Bizkaia · Beginner · River mouth

    A small estuary beach right across the water from Mundaka, with long, slow peaks on sand that suit learners and longboarders. Far quieter than the big Bizkaia beaches in August.

  20. Hoddevik

    Stad · Norway · Beginner · Beach break

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

  21. 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 at Lannénec, ideal for families and improvers.

Tips from the line-up

  1. Know the rip currents. In the Landes, Gironde and Basque Country, baïnes form between sandbanks; if caught, let the current carry you, then swim parallel to the beach.
  2. Surf the edges of the day. Before 09:00 and after 19:00 the wind is lighter and the line-ups emptier.
  3. Watch for the first autumn swells in the last week of the month; that is when the bigger banks start to wake up.
  4. Respect the bathing zones and the schools. Lifeguards will send surfers out of the swimming area.
  5. Hydrate and protect your skin: the August sun is strong.
  6. Chasing warm water? The Aegean, the Azores and the Canaries are all around 22–25 °C in August, and each has summer waves of its own.

Sources