Trouville – Le Phare

Trouville-sur-Mer · Normandie · France

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Trouville – Le Phare (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/trouville.

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Trouville's long sandy beach, just east of the Touques river mouth and its lighthouse jetty, is the main surf spot on the Calvados coast. It faces north-west and catches the swell that bends round the tip of the Cotentin, plus short, choppy wind swell from local blows, so it needs a solid Channel swell; waves are small, soft and fun on most working days, good for learners and longboarders, and clean waist-high days come only a few times a year. The usual peak, Le Phare by the estuary, has spread-out sandbanks with room for everyone, but the very flat beach means a long walk and paddle. The other option, the Aquarium peak near the jetty, breaks closer to shore with more push at high tide.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Some company
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
Longboards, mid-lengths and foam boards to make the most of the weak waves.

When it works

✓ A solid NW swell of 1.5 m or more with a light SE to S wind, from mid to high tide, ideally on the falling tide.

When it doesn't

✕ A small or westerly swell, which the Cotentin blocks, or onshore north-westerlies, which often bring the swell but blow it out.

Watch out for

  • currents
  • boats
  • pollution

Best months

January, February, March, April, October, November, December

Local tips

Most local surfers meet at Le Phare, close to the Touques jetty. At high tide the peak in front of the aquarium on the Promenade des Planches breaks closer to shore with more push, but works less often. The river current shapes the sandbanks but also carries murky water, so avoid it after heavy rain and keep clear of boats in the channel. A falling tide from high water is usually the window.

Getting there

The beach runs along the Promenade des Planches in the town centre, straight off the boardwalk; parking in Trouville gets very hard on busy weekends. A surf school on the beach gives lessons and rents boards from spring to autumn.

Travel notes

How often it works
It faces north-west, which makes it the most reliable spot on the Calvados coast. It is still unreliable: it needs a solid north-west swell or a strong local wind. Summer is mostly flat, and even in winter clean waves come on only about one day in twenty.
Crowd and vibe
Weekdays are usually empty. Weekends bring a few locals and visitors, since this is the closest surf to Paris. The sandbanks at Le Phare are spread out, so there is room for everyone and the mood is relaxed. Parking in town is very hard on busy weekends.
Camping and vans
Camping Chant des Oiseaux sits on the hillside above the sea, about 1.5 km north-east of the spot. It is roughly a 30-minute walk from the town centre. Other campsites are around Honfleur, Le Tilleul and the Côte Fleurie. Nearest campsite about 1.5 km away.
Facilities
North Shore Surf School on the beach gives lessons and rents boards from April to late October, with toilets and a hot shower at its base. A lifeguard post runs from mid-June to mid-September, and cafés and restaurants are steps from the boardwalk.
Water quality
ARS Normandie rated Trouville 'excellent' and the Deauville side 'good' at the end of 2025. The Touques river and harbour carry dirty run-off, and one sample failed in summer 2026, so avoid the water after heavy rain.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WNW–NNW best, W–N works
Size
1.8–3 m offshore swell; starts at 1.5 m, holds to 4 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 11 s
Wind
Offshore ESE–S; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, on the falling tide
Faces
NW (318°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Normandie · All spots

Sources