Whether you are looking for a sunny surf trip in Portugal or empty cold waves in Norway, here is a list of 10 European surfing destinations that will allow you to have the surf trip of a lifetime.

Try our WaveFinder search engine to find the destination that suits you best!

Ericeira, Portugal

Read our complete surfing guide to Ericeira, Portugal

Located just half an hour away from Lisbon, Ericeira is one of the few “World’s Surfing Reserves”. With the quality and versatility of its waves, this popular surf town offers something special for any type of surfers.

Beginners will be able to enjoy some summer swells at beaches like São Julião, Foz do Lizandro or Ribeira D’Ilhas while advanced surfers will get their fix at Coxos, The Cave or Pedra Branca. 

When to go: The best time to visit Ericeira is in summer (June-July-August) for beginners and in fall (September-October-November) for advanced surfers.

Book a surf camp in Ericeira, starting at US$211

Newquay, England

Read our complete  Surfing Guide to Cornwall, England

While England is not primarily known for its surfing, the state of Cornwall has some decent waves and a very cool surfing culture. Newquay is the main hub of the region and becomes a true surf town a couple months per year.

Located on the southwestern part of England, Cornwall attracts many Brits and tourists every summer mostly because of its stunning beaches and pristine water. Many people also make it down there to perfect their surfing skills on some gentle waves.

Forming a peninsula, this region catches swell from many different angles and several surf spots are spread along the coast to make sure you will always find somewhere to get wet!

When to go: The best time to surf Cornwall, England is from May to September for warmer weather and smaller waves or from October to April for winter conditions.

Find a surf camp in Newquay, starting at US$259

Hossegor, France

Read our Surfing  Guide to Hossegor, France

“Beach breaks don’t get much better than the ones in southern Landes. Hossegor is the heart of this surfing paradise and has been hosting the World Surf League every autumn for what became a very prestigious surfing event.

 
Waves here are very hollow and powerful especially in winter providing extremely challenging conditions even for the best surfers. Over the summer months though, Hossegor offers gentle peaks good for learning and practicing.

 
The town of Hossegor itself revolves around surfing which gives it a very nice vibe. Wide beaches, young crowd, good nightlife and pleasant weather are all good ingredients for a perfect surf trip.”

When to go: The best time to surf Hossegor, France is from June to August for beginners and September to November for advanced surfers.

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian is considered as the best surf town in Spain, mostly due to its accessible surf spots and its incredibly relaxed vibe.

Waves in San Sebastian will suit any type of surfers. Zurriola Beach offers several differents peaks and surf spots that will change depending on the swell direction and allow advanced surfers or beginners to find the right peak for them.

When to go: The best time to surf San Sebastian, Spain is from June to November

Read our Surfing Guide to San Sebastian, Spain

Sagres, Portugal

Read our Surfing Guide to Algarve, Portugal

Sagres is a small surf town located in the Algarve region, on the southern part of Portugal. Being strategically positioned in a peninsula, Sagres is gifted with swells form all angles and offers many different surfing options depending on the wind direction.

Many surf schools and surf shops are to be found in Sagres which will help anyone making their first steps into surfing.

This part of Portugal is also known for having stunning beaches and beautiful weather all year long.

When to go: The best time to surf Sagres, Portugal is from June to August for beginners and September to November for advanced surfers.

Find a surf camp in Sagres, starting at US$270

Klitmøller, Denmark

Klitmøller, also called “Cold Hawaii” is a pretty exotic surfing destination in its own way. Located on the northern coast of Denmark, Klitmøller is a great place to avoid the crowds and experience a unique surf trip.

The surf is not very consistent but when the conditions are not right, it usually is a great time to go kite surfing or wind surfing. 

When to go: The best time to surf Klitmøller, Denmark is from November to March. That is when swells are more consistent.

Read our Surfing Guide to Klitmøller, Denmark

Mundaka, Spain

Mundaka is known as one of the best left-hand waves on Earth and is a great place to go in order to score some amazing surf in Spain.

This small surf town is totally charming and will treat you with the surf trip of a lifetime. While being much smaller than San Sebastian, Mundaka is also a bit less versatile as far as surfing goes, but this point break is something to be seen.

When to go: The best time to surf Mundaka, Spain is from September to November.

Biarritz, France

Biarritz is another very popular French surf town. The surfing lifestyle, cafes and restaurants are all very unique and charming while the waves are some of the best in Europe.

Being located close to the the French-Spanish boarder, being in Biarritz also offers you the possibility to go on day trips to San Sebastian or Hossegor, two other amazing surf towns.

When to go: The best time to surf Biarritz, France is from June to August for beginners and from September onwards for Advanced surfers.

Lofoten, Norway

Norway is definitely not your typical surfing destination. However, it is extremely rewarding on so many fronts.

First of all, the crowds are almost non-existent throughout the year, mostly due to the cold water temperature. For some, it may be a downside, but for many, wearing a thicker wetsuit to be alone in the line-up is a big win!

Secondly, the landscapes in Lofoten, or in Norway in general, are some of the most beautiful in the whole world. The backdrop is just stunning and you won’t believe you are surfing while being surrounded by such beauty.

When to go: The best time to surf Lofoten, Norway is from November to April, although you can surf all year round.

Read our complete surfing guide to Norway

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are an absolute swell magnet located a few hundred miles off the Moroccan coastline. 

Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are the 4 major islands of the Canarias and they are all very unique in their own way.

Waves in the Canary Islands can be very punchy, hollow and powerful at times, which will appeal the most experienced surfers on the planet.

However, since there are surf spots all around the islands, you can also find some mellow and beginner friendly waves.

When to go: In the Canary Islands, you can surf any time of the year. However, the winter months offer bigger waves.

Read our Surfing Guide to the Canary Islands

The post 10 Best Places to Surf in Europe appeared first on MyWaveFinder.

Central America is a very popular destination amongst the surfing community for its year-round warm weather, consistent world-class waves and cheap cost of living.

From Tijuana, at the tip of Baja California, all the way down to Panama, one can find thousands of different waves spread through 8 countries.

Here is a breakdown of Central America’s best waves and surf spots…

To find the surfing destination that suits you best, try our WaveFinder search engine!

Playa Colorado, Nicaragua

Many people refer to Playa Colorado as one of the world’s best surf spot for tube riding.

With 300+ days of offshore winds in a year, surf spots rarely get as consistent as they do in Nicaragua.

Playa Colorado is well positioned in Nicaragua, right between San Juan del Sur and Popoyo, two of the country’s most popular surf towns.

This wide beach has many peaks that will help spread the already not so existent surfing crowd and guarantee everyone a few attempts at a Nicaraguan barrel!

When to go: The best time to surf Playa Colorado, Nicaragua is from April to October.

Pavones, Costa Rica

This wave is definitely more fickle and secluded than most surf spots you will find in Central America.

When it is on, Pavones is Costa Rica’s longest wave and also one of the world’s best left-hand waves.

Located on the southern end of the country, not many surfers actually make the trip down to Pavones which allows the spot to be very raw and welcoming.

When to go: Pavones needs a decent SSW swell to work which will be much more likely to happen during the months of May to September.

Make sure to chose the best time to surf Central America depending on your skill level!

Read our complete surfing guide to Pavones, Costa Rica

Punta Roca, El Salvador

Punta Roca is undeniably El Salvador’s best wave and potentially Central America’s best surf spot.

This long right-hand point break is consistent and very well line-up giving way to some incredible rides.

Located near La Libertad, Punta Roca is also known as the J-Bay of Central America which means a lot about the quality of that surf spot…

Read our full surf guide to El Salvador

When to go: The best time to surf Punta Roca is from May to October.

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Puerto Escondido is home to Playa Zicatela which is definitely Central America’s heaviest wave…

On a good swell, big wave surfers come from all over the world to get barreled on one of Puerto Escondido’s massive bombs.

In winter, beginners can also have a great time in Puerto Escondido at one of the surrounding beaches which are more sheltered from the big swells.

Read our full guide to Puerto Escondido, Mexico

When to go: Puerto Escondido is a good surfing destination all year. However, May to October will offer much bigger and more consistent swells.

Scorpion Bay, Mexico

Probably Central America’s longest point break and one of the world’s best rights, Scorpion Bay is a must on a surf trip to Mexico.

Located in the middle of Baja California, Scoprion Bay is not all that easy to get access to. However, if the swell is decent enough to make a few peaks connect, you are in for a trip of a lifetime…

When to go: Scorpion Bay needs a decent SW swell to work properly which is more likely to happen from April to November.

Read our complete surfing guide to Baja California Sur, Mexico

Jaco, Costa Rica

Jaco is a classic Costa Rican beach break that is extremely consistent throughout the year located in a town that never sleeps.

Indeed, Jaco is one of Central America’s top surfing destination for people looking for a surf and party lifestyle.

Whether you are a beginner looking to get into surfing or an experienced surfer looking to be in the water all day, Jaco is definitely one of your best bet in Central America.

When to go: Waves are good all year in Jaco, Costa Rica with conditions peaking from April to November.

Popoyo, Nicaragua

Popoyo is a charming little surf town with a wide range of surf spots that will suit any type of surfer.

Beach breaks like Playa Guasacate and Playa Popoyo are perfect for beginners to learn in a safe environment while advanced surfers can head to Popoyo reef or Playa Santana for bigger thrills.

See our full surf guide to Popoyo, Nicaragua

When to go: Surfing is good all year in Popoyo with consistent offshore winds and conditions peaking from April to November.

Bocas del Toro, Panama

This archipelago located off the Panamanian east coast is an absolute surfing hidden gem (not so hidden anymore) in Central America.

Unlike every other surf spot on this countdown which are located on the Pacific Ocean, Bocas del Toro is located on the Caribbean side of Central America.

Generally, swells hitting the east coast are more inconsistent and have a shorter period.

However, if you hit the right season, waves in Bocas can be as mean and powerful as what you can find on the Pacific side, minus the crowd.

Here is our complete surf guide to Bocas del Toro, Panama

When to go: The best time to surf Bocas del Toro, Panama is from December to April but there is also a summer swell window from June to August which will offer smaller waves.

Nosara, Costa Rica

Nosara is a quiet surfing village  located in the Guanacaste province. With stunning beaches like Playa Nosara and Playa Guiones, Nosara definitely established itself as one of Central America’s best surf spot.

Read our complete surfing guide to Nosara, Costa Rica

This town has a much more balanced of rejuvenating lifestyle than what you will find in Tamarindo or Jaco. Many surf camps offer surfing lessons as well as yoga classes, like the Safari Surf Women Retreat, for a surf trip that will sooth your soul.

To find the best surfing destintion for you, try our WaveFinder search engine!

El Tunco, El Salvador

El Tunco is another great surfing destination in Central America for a well balanced surf trip at a very reasonable price…

This lively town is surrounded with some great surf spots like La Bocana or El Sunzal and also has a decent party scene.

Beginners and advanced surfers can both find their wave in El Tunco without having to worry about heavy crowds or intense localism.

When to go: The best time to surf El Tunco in El Salvador is from April to November for consistent SW swells.

The post 10 Best Places to Surf in Central America appeared first on MyWaveFinder.

1. Mozambique

Mozambique‘s coastline offers untouched surf spots with consistent right-hand point breaks. The best time to visit is during the Austral winter, from May to September, when swells are most favorable.

2. Sumba, Indonesia

Sumba remains a hidden gem compared to its more famous neighbors. The island receives consistent Indian Ocean swells, particularly during the dry season from April to October.

3. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Known for its unique wildlife, the Galápagos also offers quality surf with minimal crowds. The prime surf season is from December to April, coinciding with the warmest water temperatures.

4. Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific

Tonga‘s islands receive both north and south swells, providing year-round surf opportunities. The main surf season runs from May to October, offering the most consistent conditions.

5. Iceland

For the adventurous, Iceland offers cold-water surf with stunning backdrops. The best surf conditions occur during the winter months, though daylight hours are limited.

6. Samoa

Samoa’s reef breaks are known for their power and beauty. The south coast is best from May to October, while the north coast sees action from November to April.

7. Easter Island, Chile

This remote island offers consistent surf year-round, with the best conditions from October to April. Its isolation ensures uncrowded lineups and a unique cultural experience.

8. Little Andaman, India

 Little Andaman boasts quality waves with minimal crowds. The optimal surf season is from March to May, when winds are favorable and swells are consistent. You can expect empty lineups and warm waves.

9. Federated States of Micronesia

 Home to the renowned P-Pass, Pohnpei offers world-class waves with few surfers. The prime surf season is from November to March, aligning with the northern hemisphere’s winter swells.

10. Norway

Norway‘s rugged coastline provides unique cold-water surf experiences. Obviously, the temperature is a big factor that keeps waves uncrowded. However, if you are not scared of wearing a thick wetsuit, you will be greatly rewarded by a surf trip in Norway. The best time to surf Norway is during the winter months, from October to March, when swells are most consistent.

The post The 10 Best Uncrowded Surfing Destinations appeared first on MyWaveFinder.