Month guide · November

Surfing in November

Bigger swells, emptier line-ups and the start of the cold

November is the bridge between the golden autumn and the storms of winter. The swells are bigger and more frequent, the water is still a couple of degrees warmer than it will be in January, and once the Toussaint holidays end the coast goes very quiet. Nazaré's giant-wave season gets going: Garrett McNamara's famous wave of about 24 m was ridden there in November 2011.

It is a month for surfers who can read a forecast. The big lows bring wind and rain as well as waves, so the best sessions come in the windows between fronts, and at spots that like size: the Basque reefs, the Spanish rivermouths, Porthleven and Thurso East, and the sheltered corners that only work when the open coast is too big. The Canaries and Madeira offer the same swells in water around 21–22 °C.

At a glance

🌡️ Water: 8 °C Lofoten – 22 °C Canaries
Averages are about 8 °C in Lofoten, 10.5 °C in Orkney, 12 °C at Galway, 13.5 °C at Le Havre, Brest and the Isles of Scilly, 15 °C at A Coruña and 15.5 °C at Biarritz. Lisbon is about 18.5 °C, the Azores 19.5 °C, Madeira 21 °C and Gran Canaria 22 °C.
🧥 Wetsuit: 4/3 + boots south · 5/4 north
A 4/3 mm suit with boots works in the Basque Country, Spain and Portugal. In Brittany, Normandy, Britain and Ireland a 5/4 mm becomes the sensible choice by the end of the month, with a hood and gloves in Scotland and Norway. A 3/2 or light 4/3 mm is enough in the Canaries and Madeira.
🌊 Swell: Growing W–NW swells, some storms
Autumn and early winter swells get bigger through the month. Basque tourism names October to February as the big-wave season, and regional guides to south-west France put September to December among the best months for advanced surfers. The same swells feed Nazaré, the reefs of Ericeira, Ireland and Scotland, and the north shores of the Canaries and Madeira. Winter south-west swells can also reach the French Mediterranean.
🌬️ Wind: Fronts with windows between
Atlantic lows bring spells of strong westerly wind and rain. Strong winds are frequent on the Galician coast from October to April, so plan around the calm gaps behind each front.
☀️ Air: Highs 5–24.5 °C
Average highs fall to about 5 °C in Lofoten, 9 °C in Orkney, 11 °C in Galway and on the Channel, 12.5 °C in Brest and 15 °C in Biarritz, with frequent rain. Lisbon is about 18 °C and Gran Canaria 24.5 °C.
👥 Crowds: Locals only after Toussaint
The French autumn holidays end on 2 November 2026. After that the resorts close up for winter, and only the best-known spots get busy when they break, like Porthleven, El Confital and Cap Saint-Louis.
🌅 Daylight: ~8 h north · ~11 h Canaries
Mid-month the sun rises around 08:00 in Biarritz and 08:25 in Brest and sets around 17:40. Thurso has about 8 hours of light, from 08:00 to 15:55, and Lofoten only about 5, while Las Palmas still has nearly 11.

Where to go

Pays Basque

The reefs of Guéthary and the points around Saint-Jean-de-Luz need the bigger swells that November brings. Anglet stays reliable on smaller days.

Landes

Hossegor is still excellent when the swell is moderate and the wind east. On bigger days, La Nord holds the size and Capbreton gives shelter.

Bizkaia

Mundaka and the reefs below the Sopela cliffs start to work in earnest; on the biggest days the sheltered beaches inside the Bilbao estuary come alive.

Asturias

The rivermouths of Rodiles and the Nalón need a big north-west swell, and the regional tourism office calls the colder months the best for swell.

Portugal Centro

Nazaré's big-wave season is under way, and Supertubos near Peniche is one of Europe's heaviest beach breaks on west to south-west swells.

Lisbon coast

Coxos and the other Ericeira reefs are in season, with long-period north-west swells and the water still about 18.5 °C.

Scotland

Thurso East is at its best in the autumn and winter groundswells, but the days are short: about 8 hours of light by mid-month.

Ireland North West

Easkey's reefs and Bundoran's Peak take the full force of the north-west swells, with few people in the water outside the weekend.

Western Canaries

El Confital, the long right on the edge of Las Palmas, starts working on the winter north swells, in water around 22 °C.

French Mediterranean

Cap Saint-Louis, the best right point on the French Mediterranean, needs the south-west swells that the colder months bring.

The 20 best spots in November

  1. Guéthary – Parlementia

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

    The Basque Country's big-wave reef starts to break when long-period swells reach two to four metres, which November begins to deliver. Advanced surfers on bigger boards; also a fine wave to watch from the shore.

  2. Nazaré – Praia do Norte

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

    The Nazaré canyon focuses winter swell into some of the biggest surfed waves on Earth; Garrett McNamara rode a wave of about 24 m here in November 2011. Giant days are pros only, with thousands watching from the fort.

  3. Hossegor – La Nord

    Soorts-Hossegor · Landes · Expert · Beach break

    When the swell grows too big for Hossegor's other banks, La Nord holds it thanks to the Gouf canyon. Heavy, long paddles and experts only.

  4. Ericeira – Coxos

    Ribamar · Lisbon coast · Expert · Reef break

    Ericeira's most famous wave, a powerful, hollow right over a shallow, urchin-covered reef, at its best on long-period north-west swells. Experts; the line-up is packed and territorial when it is good.

  5. Hossegor – La Gravière

    Soorts-Hossegor · Landes · Expert · Beach break · live cam

    Still world class on a moderate west-north-west swell with a light east wind, and far less crowded than in October. Experts only.

  6. Thurso East

    Thurso · Scotland · Advanced · Reef break

    A long, powerful right with barrel sections in front of Thurso Castle, often named among the best waves in Europe. Solid autumn north-west groundswell with a south-easterly; advanced, and plan around the short days.

  7. Saint-Jean-de-Luz – Lafitenia

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

    A long right point that wants 1.5–3 m of north-west to west swell and a south-east to east wind. Autumn and winter are its months; advanced surfers.

  8. El Confital

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

    A long, hollow right over a shallow volcanic ledge on the edge of Las Palmas, and one of the best waves in Europe. Winter north to west swells at high tide; experts, very crowded when it is good.

  9. Anglet – Les Cavaliers

    Anglet · Pays Basque · Advanced · Beach break · live cam

    Anglet's most consistent and powerful bank holds a good swell without maxing out, so it often works on the in-between days of a stormy month.

  10. Mundaka

    Bizkaia · Expert · River mouth

    Inside the big-wave season that Basque tourism names, and the left starts to run on large north-west swells with a southerly. Experts only, and a very local line-up.

  11. Easkey Left

    Easkey · Ireland North West · Intermediate · Reef break

    A classic Irish left by the castle at the Easkey rivermouth, with a steep take-off, a fast tube section and a long wall that holds from head high to well overhead. North-west swells with a southerly wind.

  12. Sopela – Meñakoz

    Sopela · Bizkaia · Expert · Reef break

    A powerful big-wave right over rock in a cove north of Sopela, which starts at about one and a half metres and holds very large swells. Experts only; you can watch it from the cliff.

  13. Rodiles – river left

    Villaviciosa · Asturias · Advanced · River mouth · live cam

    This rivermouth needs a two-to-three-metre north-west swell and a light southerly, a classic late-autumn combination. Advanced, and the locals take priority.

  14. Ribeira da Janela – Madona

    Porto Moniz · Madeira · Expert · Point break

    A long, powerful left over rocky reef near Porto Moniz on Madeira's north coast, a rare left on an island of rights. A north-north-west swell from mid to high tide; experts, with 10–20 surfers when it is on.

  15. Porthleven

    Cornwall · Advanced · Reef break

    England's most famous reef, a heavy right off a rock ledge by the harbour that only wakes up on solid south-west groundswells in the colder months. Advanced; very crowded when it breaks, with a strong local crew.

  16. La Santa – Morro Negro (La Derecha)

    La Santa · Lanzarote and Fuerteventura · Advanced · Point break

    A long, thick right below the black hill at La Santa on Lanzarote that holds very big swell, one of the best rights in the Canaries. Fun when small, serious above head height; calmer than the left across the bay.

  17. San Juan de la Arena – Nalón bar

    San Juan de la Arena (Soto del Barco) · Asturias · Advanced · River mouth · 3 live cams

    On a big north-west swell the bar at the mouth of the Nalón can give a long, powerful left. River current and boat traffic make it a spot for experienced surfers only.

  18. Longeville-sur-Mer – Bud Bud

    Longeville-sur-Mer · Vendée · Advanced · Beach break · live cam

    The Vendée's best-known beach break throws fast, hollow peaks on long-period west to north-west swells with an easterly wind. Quality depends on the banks; experienced surfers.

  19. Cap Saint-Louis – Le Liouquet

    La Ciotat · French Mediterranean · Advanced · Point break

    The best right point on the French Mediterranean, wrapping around the cape between La Ciotat and Les Lecques for up to about 200 m. It needs a south-west swell with a north-east wind; very crowded when it works.

  20. Capbreton – L'Estacade / Plage Centrale

    Capbreton · Landes · Intermediate · Jetty

    When the Landes are maxed out, the Gouf spreads the swell around central Capbreton and the pier gives a sheltered, surfable option.

Tips from the line-up

  1. Use the shelter spots. When the forecast shows a huge swell, the sheltered bays and estuary beaches are where the surfable waves are.
  2. Big-wave spots like Nazaré, Parlementia and Meñakoz are worth watching even if you do not paddle out: the fort, the cliffs and the promenades are natural grandstands.
  3. Expect closed beach cafés and fewer lifeguards. Surf with a friend and tell someone where you are going.
  4. Rivermouths carry extra water after heavy rain, which makes currents stronger and water quality worse. Give them a day or two after a downpour.
  5. Daylight is short: check tide times first, then plan the day around the right part of the tide.
  6. Short of daylight in the north? Thurso has about 8 hours by mid-November, so plan the whole day around one good session.

Sources