Month guide · January

Surfing in January

Storm season: big swells, cold water and Europe's famous winter waves

January belongs to the Atlantic storms. Low-pressure systems line up across the ocean and send long, powerful swells onto every exposed coast of Europe, from the reefs of northern Scotland and the west of Ireland to the Bay of Biscay, Portugal and the Canary Islands. The waves that need real size, the rivermouths, points, reefs and the canyon at Nazaré, finally get the energy they wait for all year.

It is not an easy month in the north. The water is at its coldest, the days are short, and many storms arrive with onshore wind and rain. The trick is to chase the gaps: the day after a front, a sheltered corner, a point that hides from the wind. Or head south: the Canaries and Madeira are in their main surf season, with the sea at about 19 °C.

At a glance

🌡️ Water: 4 °C Denmark – 19.5 °C Canaries
Climate averages put the sea around 4 °C at Skagen in Denmark, 8.5 °C in Orkney off north Scotland, 10 °C at Galway and 10.5 °C off Cornwall's Isles of Scilly. Further south it is about 13 °C at Biarritz, 15.5 °C at Lisbon, 17 °C in the Azores and 19.5 °C around Gran Canaria.
🧥 Wetsuit: 5/4 mm and hood north · 3/2 Canaries
A 5/4 mm with boots is the standard from Brittany north, plus a hood and gloves in the Channel, Ireland and Scotland; in Scandinavia surfers wear 6/5 mm suits and thick gloves. In the Basque Country, north Spain and Portugal a 4/3 or 5/4 mm with boots is comfortable. The Canaries and Madeira need only a 3/2 mm or a light 4/3 mm.
🌊 Swell: Big, long-period W–NW storms
Winter brings the year's biggest swells to the whole Atlantic coast. Open beaches often max out, so the best sessions come from spots that need size: Mundaka and the Guéthary reefs, Nazaré and Coxos in Portugal, Thurso East in Scotland, Mullaghmore in Ireland and the north-facing reefs of the Canaries and Madeira.
🌬️ Wind: Stormy, onshore days between windows
Fronts bring strong westerly and north-westerly winds, and clean days are the exception in the north. Look for the offshore behind a front: a southerly on the Spanish north coast and in north Scotland, an easterly in the Landes and Portugal. In the Canaries the north-east trade wind often picks up in the afternoon, so mornings are usually cleanest.
☀️ Air: Highs 2–21 °C
Average highs are about 2 °C in Lofoten, 6.5 °C in Orkney, 9 °C in Galway and 12 °C in Biarritz, against 15 °C in Lisbon and 21 °C in Gran Canaria. Expect frequent rain in the north; A Coruña averages about 15 rainy days a month in winter.
👥 Crowds: Quiet beaches, busy famous waves
The resorts are empty after the Christmas holidays end in the first days of the month. The famous waves are a different story: when Mundaka, Coxos, Thurso East or El Confital break, every good surfer in the region knows it. The Canaries are busier than the north, since winter is their surf season and the best reefs draw locals and visitors alike.
🌅 Daylight: ~7 h north · ~10.5 h Canaries
Mid-month the sun rises around 08:50 and sets before 16:00 in Thurso, against about 08:35 and 17:50 in Biarritz and 07:55 and 18:25 in Las Palmas. In Lofoten the sun only returns after the first week of January and stays up for under three hours by mid-month.

Where to go

Bizkaia

Mundaka is at its most consistent in winter, and the cliffs of Sopela and Getxo hide big-wave reefs like Meñakoz and Punta Galea. Basque tourism names October to February as the big-wave season.

Asturias

The regional tourism office calls winter the best time for swell on the Cantabrian coast, for experienced surfers with the right gear. Rodiles and the Nalón rivermouth need exactly these big north-west swells.

Pays Basque

Guéthary's reefs, the Lafitenia point and the jetties of Saint-Jean-de-Luz come alive on long-period swells that close out the beaches.

Landes

Hossegor's beaches often close out, but La Nord holds big swells over the Gouf, and the Capbreton groynes offer a refuge when everything else is too big.

Portugal Centro

Nazaré's Praia do Norte sits at the head of a submarine canyon that turns winter swell into some of the biggest surfed waves on Earth. Nearby Peniche has Supertubos for experts and sheltered bays for everyone else.

Lisbon coast

Ericeira's reefs, inside Europe's first World Surfing Reserve, need exactly these north-west swells. Coxos is the famous one; Ribeira d'Ilhas is the forgiving point that almost always has something to ride.

Western Canaries

Winter is the surf season on the north shores of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. El Confital in Las Palmas is one of Europe's best rights, and the city beach of Las Canteras has waves for learners on most winter days.

Madeira

The island's boulder points come alive on big north-west swells. Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar on the south-west coast are the classics, with only a small, capable crew in the water.

Ireland North West

Bundoran's Peak, the Easkey reefs and the big-wave reef off Mullaghmore Head all work on winter's long-period swells, with far fewer surfers than on the continent.

Scotland

Thurso East and the reefs around Brims Ness on the north coast face straight into winter's north-west groundswell. Cold water and short days keep most line-ups small, though Thurso East gets busy when it fires.

The 20 best spots in January

  1. Mundaka

    Bizkaia · Expert · River mouth

    Surf forecasters rate January as Mundaka's most consistent month for clean waves, when big north-west swells and southerly winds line up on a falling low tide. Experts only, and the line-up is crowded and local.

  2. Nazaré – Praia do Norte

    Nazaré · Portugal Centro · Expert · Beach break · 5 live cams

    In winter the canyon off Praia do Norte turns big swells into giant peaks, and tow and paddle teams take over while crowds watch from the fort. On ordinary days it is still a heavy beach break for experts only.

  3. Thurso East

    Thurso · Scotland · Advanced · Reef break

    Scotland's best-known wave, a long, powerful right in front of Thurso Castle, wants a solid north-west groundswell, a rising mid tide and a south-easterly. Winter delivers; advanced surfers, in water of about 8–9 °C.

  4. Rodiles – river left

    Villaviciosa · Asturias · Advanced · River mouth · live cam

    The Villaviciosa rivermouth wants a two-to-three-metre north-west swell and a light southerly, which winter supplies. One of the best lefts in Spain; advanced surfers only, with a strong local hierarchy.

  5. Ericeira – Coxos

    Ribamar · Lisbon coast · Expert · Reef break

    Ericeira's famous right needs a long-period north-west swell of two to three and a half metres and an east wind, a classic winter combination. Fast and hollow over shallow, urchin-covered reef; experts only, with a territorial line-up.

  6. Guéthary – Parlementia

    Guéthary · Pays Basque · Advanced · Reef break · live cam

    The Basque Country's big-wave reef needs a long-period west-north-west swell of two to four metres with a light south-east wind. Winter is its season; for advanced surfers on big boards.

  7. El Confital

    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Western Canaries · Expert · Reef break

    A long, hollow right over a volcanic ledge at the edge of Las Palmas that fires on winter's north swells at high tide. One of the best waves in Europe, in water near 19 °C; very crowded, with an intense local crew.

  8. Jardim do Mar

    Calheta · Madeira · Expert · Point break · live cam

    Madeira's world-class right point holds swells well over five metres but needs a big north-west swell at low tide, so January is prime time. Experts only: it breaks over boulders, works for a short window and has a small, capable crew.

  9. Mullaghmore Head

    Mullaghmore · Ireland North West · Expert · Reef break

    Ireland's big-wave reef only wakes up on a long-period north-west swell of four metres or more, which is a winter event. It is mostly surfed with jet skis; for everyone else the headland is the place to watch.

  10. Hossegor – La Nord

    Soorts-Hossegor · Landes · Expert · Beach break

    The Gouf canyon focuses winter groundswell onto La Nord, so it holds big waves when other banks close out. A heavy wave with long paddles, for experts only.

  11. Saint-Jean-de-Luz – Lafitenia

    Saint-Jean-de-Luz · Pays Basque · Advanced · Point break

    A long right-hand point that needs a west-north-west swell of 1.5–3 metres and a south-east wind, a common winter combination. Advanced, crowded and taken seriously by locals.

  12. Bundoran – The Peak

    Bundoran · Ireland North West · Advanced · Reef break

    Ireland's best-known reef peaks over a flat rock ledge in the middle of Bundoran, with a long left and a shorter right. Winter's westerly swells and south-east winds suit it; advanced surfers, and the regulars are a close group.

  13. Isla de Lobos – La Derecha

    Corralejo · Lanzarote and Fuerteventura · Advanced · Point break

    The longest right in the Canaries peels along an old volcano on the island of Lobos when a north or north-west swell arrives, as it does all winter. Remote, and crowded on good days with boats from Corralejo.

  14. Santa Catarina

    Praia da Vitória · Azores · Expert · Slab

    One of Europe's heaviest slabs, by the port of Praia da Vitória on Terceira in the Azores. It needs a north to north-west swell and a westerly wind; for expert surfers and bodyboarders only, over very shallow lava.

  15. Capbreton – L'Estacade / Plage Centrale

    Capbreton · Landes · Intermediate · Jetty

    The Gouf spreads swell away from central Capbreton, which makes the Estacade pier the classic refuge when Hossegor is too big. A good intermediate option on stormy days.

  16. Porthleven

    Cornwall · Advanced · Reef break

    England's best-known reef is a heavy right by the harbour that only wakes up on solid south-west groundswell in the colder months. Advanced surfers; very crowded when it breaks, with a strong local crew.

  17. Isla de Santa Marina

    Ribamontán al Mar · Cantabria · Expert · Reef break

    Cantabria's best-known big-wave right only breaks on a large, long-period north-west swell, which is a winter event. For experts; it holds five metres and more.

  18. Donostia – Zurriola

    Donostia / San Sebastián · Gipuzkoa · Beginner · Beach break · 3 live cams

    San Sebastián's city beach picks up most swells and works at every tide. On moderate winter days with a southerly it is the easiest place on the Basque coast to get a session in.

  19. Capo Mannu

    San Vero Milis · Sardinia · Advanced · Reef break

    The Mediterranean has its season too. Sardinia's best-known wave works on winter mistral swells, with lefts and rights over reef that get hollow and hold well over three metres. Crowded on good days; wait your turn.

  20. Playa de Famara

    Caleta de Famara · Lanzarote and Fuerteventura · Beginner · Beach break

    For something easier, the long beach under the Famara cliffs on Lanzarote has room for everyone and most of the island's surf schools. It is best on a 1–2 m north-north-west swell with a light wind, early in the day.

Tips from the line-up

  1. Read the wind before the swell. In winter the size is rarely the problem: look for a southerly or easterly behind a front and the spot it blows offshore.
  2. Respect the famous waves. Mundaka, Rodiles, Coxos, El Confital and the Guéthary reefs have experienced local crews; sit wide, wait your turn and leave if it is beyond you.
  3. Bring a second wetsuit or a dryrobe-style changing coat. Pulling on a wet 5/4 mm at 9 °C is no fun.
  4. Use the sheltered backups. When the open coast is out of control, Capbreton's groynes, the Saint-Jean-de-Luz jetties or a city beach like Zurriola may still be surfable.
  5. Big swell means strong currents near rivermouths and jetties. Watch for a few minutes before paddling out and know where the channel is.
  6. Days are short: aim for the best two hours around the right tide rather than trying to surf all day.
  7. Think about going south. If the cold puts you off, the Canaries and Madeira are in their main surf season, with the sea at about 19 °C.
  8. Watch the giant days from land. The fort at Nazaré and the headland at Mullaghmore are natural grandstands; stay well back from the edge when big sets arrive.

Sources