When most people picture Spain, they might think of flamenco and long, sunny lunches. But for those in the know, it’s a proper surf destination with some of Europe’s best waves.
The country’s coastline is incredibly varied. You’ve got the wild, green north, where the Atlantic sends powerful, world-class waves to the shores of the Basque Country and Galicia. Head south to Andalusia and the vibe completely changes to chilled-out longboard sessions under the sun. Then there are the Canary Islands, a volcanic chain offering year-round warmth and breaks. This variety means surfing in Spain can be for everyone, from people wanting to stand up on a board for the first time to seasoned pros looking for a challenge. Here is a look at ten of the best surf spots in Spain to get you started.
Zarautz, Basque Country
Zarautz is the undisputed heart of Spanish surf culture. It's a proper surf town with a huge, sweeping beach and a bustling promenade. The atmosphere is energetic and social, with a mix of serious local surfers, international travellers learning the ropes, and families enjoying the sand.
The wave
This is a super consistent beach break that works on almost any tide, offering up a variety of left and right-hand peaks along its 2.5 km length. It's best for absolutely everyone. The western end is often gentler and perfect for beginners, while the middle section can offer more powerful waves for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Know before you go
The best time to visit depends on your level. Summer offers smaller, fun waves for learning, while autumn and winter bring more powerful swells. The town is completely set up for surfing, with dozens of rental shops and surf schools right on the promenade, so you can just turn up and get in the water.
Mundaka, Basque Country
Mundaka is a quiet, beautiful Basque town that transforms into a global surf hotspot when the wave awakens. The vibe is one of reverence; people line the harbour wall to watch, and the mood in the water is serious and competitive. It’s less of a party town and more of a pilgrimage site for surfing.
The wave
It's considered by many to be the best left-hand wave in Europe. A perfect, dredging barrel that breaks over a sandbar at the river mouth and can run for hundreds of metres. It is strictly best for expert surfers only due to its speed, power, and the crowds of highly skilled locals.
Know before you go
The wave only works from autumn through to spring, needing a big west or northwest swell to get going. This is not a place to learn. The best thing you can do is grab a coffee, find a spot on the wall, and watch the show. Respect for the local surfers is essential.
Somo, Cantabria
Relaxed, friendly, and completely focused on learning. Somo Beach is the ultimate beginner's paradise, and the whole town seems geared towards surfing. The beach is enormous, so there's a real sense of space, and the atmosphere is encouraging and very international, with surf camps full of people from all over Europe.
The wave
A vast, sandy beach break that offers gentle, rolling waves perfect for building confidence. The sheer size of the beach means it can handle crowds without feeling packed. It is unquestionably best for beginners and improving intermediates.
Know before you go
You can surf here year-round, but summer offers the most gentle conditions for learning. There are countless surf schools and rental shops lining the town. A lovely way to arrive is by taking the short ferry ride across the bay from the city of Santander.
Pantín, Galicia
Wild, raw, and beautifully rugged. Pantín Beach is a wide, open bay in Valdoviño that feels exposed to the full force of the Atlantic. The vibe is windswept and powerful, attracting surfers who love a challenge and don't mind a bit of weather.
The wave
This is one of the most consistent surf spots in Spain, as it picks up almost any swell going. It's a beach break with multiple peaks that work on different tides, offering something for most people. It's generally best for intermediate surfers who are comfortable in more powerful waves.
Know before you go
The beach hosts a major professional surfing contest (a World Surf League event) at the end of every summer, which is a great time to visit. It's reliable all year, but be prepared for wind. Facilities are good, with parking and a couple of surf schools right by the beach.
Rodiles, Asturias
Natural and wonderfully green. Located within a beautiful nature reserve in Villaviciosa, Rodiles Beach feels a world away from the busy surf towns. The vibe is more about appreciating the stunning scenery and the quality of the wave itself. It's popular with skilled local surfers from Asturias.
The wave
Often called the "other Mundaka," this spot produces a fantastic, hollow left-hand wave that breaks from a river mouth. It's a high-performance wave that’s faster and more challenging than a standard beach break. It's best for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Know before you go
Like Mundaka, Rodiles needs a decent swell to start working, so autumn and winter are the prime seasons. As it's in a nature reserve, facilities are limited, so come prepared.
Tarifa, Andalusia
Energetic and international, with a mix of surf and wind sports culture. Tarifa is Europe's capital for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and this gives the town a windswept, bohemian, and slightly chaotic feel. It's a town that lives for the wind and the waves.
The wave
Surfing here is secondary to the wind sports, but the town's main beach at Balneario can offer fun, punchy waves when the swell is right. It's a beach break that can get good, though it's less consistent than El Palmar. It's good for surfers who want to mix it up with other sports or enjoy the town's famous nightlife.
Know before you go
Always check the forecast; strong offshore levante winds can ruin the surf, while a poniente wind and groundswell can create perfect conditions. It's a place where you need to be on it to score good waves.
El Palmar, Andalusia
A cohemian and incredibly laid-back Blue Flag Beach in Spain, not far from the popular seaside resort Conil de la Frontera. El Palmar is the undisputed capital of surfing in southern Spain. The dusty main strip is lined with surf schools, rental shacks, and chilled-out beach bars (chiringuitos). It's a very social, fun-loving place where the surf day blends into the evening.
The wave
A long, sandy beach break that stretches for kilometres, offering countless peaks for surfing. The waves are generally mellow and fun rather than powerful and intimidating. This makes it suitable for all levels, from first-timers to longboarders and advanced surfers looking for a relaxed session.
Know before you go
The main season runs from autumn through to spring, as summer can be flat. It can get very busy on good days, but a short walk along the beach will usually get you to a quieter peak. The sunset views from one of the beach bars are an essential part of the experience.
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Flag Beach, Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)
This is the 'Hawaii of Europe', and the vibe at Flag Beach is pure holiday fun. With white sand, turquoise water and views across to the island of Lobos, it's a stunning place. It's a hub for all kinds of water sports, so the atmosphere is busy, active, and very international.
The wave
A mix of sand and reef that offers a variety of peaks. The waves are generally fun and not too intimidating, breaking in that beautiful, clear water. It's good for all surfing levels, with gentler sections for beginners and more defined reef sections for intermediates.
Know before you go
Fuerteventura offer a year-round season with warm water and sun. Flag Beach is near the town of Corralejo, which is a perfect base with lots of shops and restaurants. It can get windy (hence the name, from the windsurf flags), so check the forecast.
El Cotillo, Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)
El Cotillo is a beautifully chilled-out fishing village that has slowly become a major surf hub, without losing its charm. It's more laid-back and bohemian than the bigger resort towns, with a lovely harbour, whitewashed buildings, and a number of great, casual restaurants. The vibe is all about surfing during the day and enjoying a quiet sunset beer in the evening.
The wave
The main beach in front of the town is a fantastic, powerful beach break over sand that offers some of the most fun and consistent waves on the island. Just to the north, a stretch of desert track leads to a series of world-class reef breaks for experts. This variety makes El Cotillo great for everyone, from total beginners on the beach to pros on the outer reefs.
Know before you go
The beach break works best around mid-tide; at high tide, the wave can break right on the shore. While the village is small, it has plenty of excellent surf schools and rental shops. It’s also a perfect base for exploring the famous North Shore of Fuerteventura.
Famara, Lanzarote (Canary Islands)
Famara Beach in the Teguise area is one of Spain's most visually stunning beaches, a vast arc of sand set beneath towering volcanic cliffs. The vibe is one of awe; it's a raw, powerful, and humbling place that reminds you of nature's scale.
The wave
A powerful and very consistent beach break that picks up a lot of Atlantic swell. The waves have more punch here than at many mainland spots. It's best for confident beginners and intermediates, but some of the peaks can be challenging enough for advanced surfers.
Know before you go
The beach is huge and different sections work better at different tides, so watch what the locals are doing. The cliffs can create their own wind patterns. The small town of Caleta de Famara has everything you need, from great food to surf schools.
Surf spots in Spain on the Mediterranean
You technically can surf on Spain's Med coast, but it’s a completely different game. You’re not dealing with the powerful, organised groundswells of the Atlantic here. Instead, it’s all about waiting for a good storm, usually a strong easterly wind called a temporal de levante, to whip up some waves. It’s inconsistent and unpredictable, but if you’re in the right place at the right time, you can definitely get in the water.
La Mata, Torrevieja
A proper local Mediterranean spot in Torrevieja. This isn't a surf town in the Atlantic sense; it's a popular holiday beach on the Costa Blanca that happens to get good waves sometimes. The vibe is that of a normal Spanish beach, which is suddenly taken over by the small, dedicated local surf scene when a swell appears.
The wave
A long, sandy beach break that needs a specific wind-swell (usually from the east or northeast) to work. When the conditions align, it can produce surprisingly fun and peaky waves. It's best for any surfer who happens to be in the area when it's breaking.
Know before you go
You cannot plan surfing in Torrevieja; you have to be there and get lucky. Follow local surf forecasts closely. When it's flat, it's just a lovely, big beach for swimming and sunbathing.
La Patacona, Valencia
La Patacona is a wide, open stretch of sand just north of Valencia's busier city beach. It has a friendly, neighbourhood feel, with a long promenade lined with cafés where people watch the waves when they arrive.
The wave
It's a classic Mediterranean beach break, completely reliant on a temporal de levante (easterly storm) to come to life. The waves can be surprisingly fun and a little more spread out than in Barcelona, offering more room to move. It’s a great spot for a longboard.
Know before you go
Like all Med spots, you have to be ready to drop everything and go when the forecast is right. It’s the main hub for Valencia’s small but passionate surf community. Don’t expect amazing waves, but do expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the water.
La Barceloneta, Barcelona
Energetic, urban, and right in the thick of it. When a swell hits, Barcelona's main city beach transforms. The usual mix of sunbathers and tourists makes way for a dedicated crew of local surfers, creating a unique, bustling atmosphere against the city skyline. It's a real 'make the most of it' kind of scene.
The wave
This is pure Mediterranean wind swell. Expect choppy, short-period waves that only appear when a good storm rolls in. It's a sandy beach break, and while it's not a world-class wave by any means, it's a fun novelty to be surfing right in the heart of the city.
Know before you go
Conditions are famously fickle; it can be flat for months. When the waves do arrive, the line-up gets crowded fast. Several surf schools operate right on the promenade, so renting a board is easy when the forecast looks promising.
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