The World’s 20 Best Surf Towns
When traveling or looking for a place to live, most surfers want to find the best surf town with great waves and a unique surfing atmosphere.
Here is our list of the world’s best surf towns. Whether it is for a quick visit or a potential new place to live, here are a few ideas to help you find the perfect place…
To find the surf town that suits you best, try our WaveFinder search engine!
1. Tofino, Canada
Tofino is not your typical exotic surf town. However, over the Canadian summer months, many surfers rush into this charming town on the west side of Vancouver Island for a season filled with waves, parties and amazing nature.
The summer swells are very gentle and beginner-friendly while fall and winter conditions become way more challenging and should only be tested by experienced surfers. Also, pretty much all the surf spots here are beach breaks making it another good reason for beginners to come spend summer and play in the Pacific Ocean.
When to surf Tofino, Canada: The best time to surf Tofino is most likely from May to October when weather is milder and town is a bit more lively and buzzing.
Read our full surf guide to Tofino, Canada
2. Byron Bay, Australia
Byron Bay should be on top of every surf lover’s list when it comes to the best surf towns to visit and live in. Located in northern New South Wales, this hippy surf town has seen a boom in popularity over the last decade mainly due to its laidback vibe, wild nightlife and stunning beaches.
The surf is also very consistent mostly due to the head point which allows multiple optimal swell and wind directions. The Pass is one of the longest and friendliest waves in Australia, perfect for beginners and long boarders. For a bit more challenge and power, head to Tallow Beach, Broken Head or Main Beach.
When to surf Byron Bay, Australia: The best time to surf Byron Bay is pretty much all year round. However, it does get busier in the summer months which also tend to have smaller conditions. The winter months will offer bigger, more consistent waves and less crowded line-ups.
Read our full surf guide to the east coast of Australia
3. Sagres, Portugal
In the heart of Algarve lies this lively surf town called Sagres which is strategically positioned right on the south western tip of Portugal.
With very affordable restaurants and accommodation as well as having several high quality surf spots right next to it, Sagres has everything to please all types of surfers.
When to surf Sagres, Portugal: The best time to surf Sagres is during the summer months (May to September) for beginners. The winter months, from October to April, will bring much bigger swells which can be suitable for advanced surfers.
Read our complete surf guide to the region of Algarve, Portugal
4. Klitmoller, Denmark
Yes, there is surf in Denmark…and it does get good! Klitmøller is the country’s most charming surf town and it is known as Cold Hawaii for good reasons.
Not anywhere as consistent as Hawaii, this northern town is more of a windsurfing spot but when the winds are off, waves peel nicely and offer fun cold conditions for an out of ordinary surf trip.
When to surf Klitmøller, Denmark: The best time to surf Klitmøller is most likely during the winter months even if this means cold weather and freezing water. Summer will obviously be warmer and more enjoyable but waves will be more inconsistent.
Read our full surf guide to Klitmøller, Denmark
5. Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa
J-Bay does not need any more presentation. With its dreamy right-hand point breaks barreling for miles, there is potential here for the wave of a lifetime.
On top of having excellent surfing conditions, the town of J-Bay is very backpacker friendly and lively. All the ingredients are gathered for a successful surf trip to remember. Even if experienced surfers will probably be able to take better advantage of this world-class surf spot, beginners are also welcome and will easily find a surf school to get into the sport.
When to surf Jeffrey’s Bay: The best time to surf J-Bay is from April to October when swells and tradewinds are more consistent. There are also some good conditions in summer.
Read our full surf guide to Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa
6. Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Torquay is a mythical surf town located just 100 km south of Melbourne, Victoria. As well as being home of Ripcurl, the world-famous clothing company, it is also known for sitting right next to Bells beach, an iconic Australian surf spot.
Whether you are an advanced surfer looking to carve through one of Winkipop’s massive wall or a beginner hoping to get into the sport, Torquay is a key surfing destination in Australia!
When to surf Bells Beach, Australia: The best time to surf Bells Beach is from April to October when swells are very consistent and sizable. The summer months are also very enjoyable with warmer temperatures and obviously bigger crowds.
Read our full surf guide to Bells Beach, Torquay
7. Raglan, New Zealand
First put on the map by the movie Endless Summer in 1966, Raglan quickly became New Zealand’s most famous surf town. Located a couple hours away from Auckland, on the North Island, this small town will seduce you with its laid back vibe and strong surfing culture.
Manu Bay, Raglan’s main surf break, is an amazingly long and consistent point break considered as one of the World’s best left-hand waves.
When to surf Raglan: The most enjoyable time to surf Raglan is probably during the summer months from November to April. However, winter brings much bigger swells and obviously colder temperatures.
Read our full surf guide to Raglan, New Zealand
8. Hossegor, France
Beach breaks don’t get much better than the ones in southern Landes. Hossegor is at 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.
When to surf Hossegor: The best time to surf Hossegor is from September to April for skilled surfers who aren’t scared of cold conditions. The summer months will offer smaller conditions with great weather and that is when the town of Hossegor really starts vibin’.
Read our complete surf guide to Hossegor, France
9. Haleiwa, North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii
Is there any surf town with a bigger aura than Haleiwa? Probably not…Located on the mythical North Shore of Oahu, Haleiwa is the entrance door to some of the world’s most amazing waves like Pipeline/Backdoor, Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach, just to name a few.
Although the crowds can get very heavy, no where in the world has a culture that revolves around surfing more than on the North Shore…
When to surf North Shore of Oahu: The best time to surf the whole North Shore is from November to March with the big consistent winter swells.
Read our full surf guide to the island of Oahu
10. Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Over the years, Puerto Escondido built for itself nothing less than the reputation of being the Mexican surfing mecca. This amazing surf town is one of the few places in the world where professional big wave surfers and beginners can both catch waves within the same surfing area.
In fact, Zicatela, one of the main breaks in Puerto, is also called Mexican Pipeline due to its massive barreling waves reminding anyone riding them, the Hawaiian type of power.
There are also a few nice secluded bays and beaches, like Carrizalillo, which are less exposed to big swells and are perfectly suitable for beginners.
When to surf Puerto Escondido: The time to surf Puerto Escondido is during the summer months, from April to October, for bigger swells. Beginners will want to aim for November to March for smaller waves.
Read our full surf guide to Puerto Escondido, Mexico
11. Cabarete, Dominican Republic
As far as surfing in Dominican Republic goes, Cabarete is definitely the one place you want to head to in order to have the best time. You will find multiple surf spots that will suit all levels of surfers.
This amazing surf town is very safe and friendly, has a lot of accommodation/surf camps/surf schools options and sits right on the beach. With tropical weather all year there is no need to bring anything else than board shorts and a lot of sunscreen.
When to surf Cabarete, Dominican Republic: The best time to surf Cabarete is during the winter months, from October to April, which is when there is a lot of activity in the Atlantic. Make sure to keep in mind the hurricane season runs roughly from August to October in the Caribbean.
Read our complete surf guide to Cabarete, Dominican Republic
12. Rincon, Puerto Rico
Rincon is located on the west side of Puerto Rico and attracts chargers every winter down to this Caribbean surfing paradise. Most waves here are reef breaks that can handle monstrous size on good north swells.
In summer, there are also a few beach breaks or deeper reefs for beginners looking for a bit of action. Rincon is a mythical surf town with a great history and truly is where you will want to be based on a surf trip to Puerto Rico.
When to surf Rincon, Puerto Rico: The best time to surf Rincon, Puerto Rico is from October to April which is when the Atlantic really lights up and sends decent swells down to Puerto Rico.
Read our complete surf guide to Puerto Rico
13. Taghazout, Morocco
Taghazout is the surf town you want to be based in on a trip in Morocco for its proximity with so many quality breaks. Most waves here a right-hand point breaks both for beginners and advanced surfers.
Water may be a bit cold, but the overall consistency and quality of Taghazout’s waves are well worth the small inconvenience.
Culturally speaking, Morocco is also extremely rich and vibrant with amazing food and very welcoming locals.
When to surf Taghazout: The best time to surf Taghazout is from October to April for more consistent conditions. However, the summer months may be more suitable for beginners with smaller gentle waves.
Read our full surf guide to Taghazout, Morocco
14. San Sebastian, Spain
Arguably the best surf town in Spain, San Sebastian is a must for anyone on a European surfing trip. Only a few minutes away from the French border, this place attracts more and more travelers every summer.
Beginners and advanced surfers will find their fix at one of the breaks along Zurriola Beach. Although the consistency here is probably not the best, the beauty of San Sebastian and its implemented surfing lifestyle will charm anyone paying a visit.
Only an hour drive away from Hossegor and 40 minutes from Biarritz, make sure to save a day or two for a little French getaway.
When to surf San Sebastian, Spain: The best time to surf San Sebastian is from September to December when the Atlantic becomes more active. Summer will obviously bring a whole different vibe with more people on holiday and that is when town comes to life.
Read our full surf guide to San Sebastian
15. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
The quiet surf town of Hanalei Bay in Hawaii is a true peace haven…Located in the heart of the lush north shore of Kauai, Hanalei fires off every winter offering a few months of insane waves.
On top of being a great winter swell magnet, Hanalei has a unique laidback vibe that everyone is looking for on a surf trip.
When to surf Hanalei Bay, Kauai: The best time to surf Hanalei is from November to April during the winter swell window.
Read our full surf guide to Kauai, Hawaii
16. Canggu, Bali, Indonesia
While most of Bali’s best waves are located around the Bukit Peninsula, there are also some friendly and incredible places to visit north of Kuta.
Canggu is a backpacker-friendly surf town just about an hour away from airport. It is filled with amazing bars, restaurants and hostels without the madness that can be found in Kuta which makes it a perfect place to settle, relax and enjoy the waves.
The surf in Canggu is also quite forgiving for beginners so you don’t have to stress over all the advanced surfers like you would have to down at Bukit.
When to surf Canggu, Bali: The best time to surf Canggu and all of Bali’s west side is from April to October when winds are light and swells are more consistent.
Read our full surf guide to Bali, Indonesia
17. General Luna, Siargao Island, Philippines
The Philippines may be composed of more than 7000 islands but if you are gonna pick one for a surf trip, Siargao will be the one. An absolute tropical gem, the island of Siargao is currently dealing with a huge increase in surf tourism.
The surf town where most surfers base themselves on Siargao is General Luna which is about 10 minutes away from Cloud Nine. A big range of accommodation and restaurants are available suiting any type of budget.
When to surf Siargao Island, Philippines: The best time to surf Siargao is from October to March for consistent swells. The summer months offer better weather but very small and almost non-existent waves.
Read our full surf guide to Siargao Island, Philippines
Visit the country’s tourist department website for more info!
18. Ericeira, Portugal
Ericeira is Portugal’s surfing capital and arguably one of Europe’s best surf town. In 2011, it was named as a World Surfing Reserve and it still is to this date, the only one in Europe out of a total of 9 reserves around the globe.
The famous surf town is located just about 35 km away from Lisbon and has a population of 10,000 people. Surfing in Ericeira is very popular due to the high quantity of different breaks and surf spots that will suit any type of surfer. Many insanely beautiful beaches are located around Ericeira and even non-surfers enjoy hanging around the area.
Beginners will enjoy beach breaks like São Julião, Foz do Lizandro or Ribeira D’Ilhas while advanced surfers will find challenging conditions at Coxos, The Cave or Pedra Branca.
When to surf Ericeira, Portugal: The best time to surf Ericeira is from September to April for advanced surfers and from May to August for beginners. Summer will also bring much more life into town.
Read our complete surf guide to Ericeira, Portugal
19. Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is becoming a very popular surfing destination in Asia mostly due to its 12-month swell exposure. Arugam Bay is definitely the country’s top surf town with some of the most consistent and high-quality breaks.
Most spots here are right-hand point breaks that never get too big in size and remain perfect for all levels of surfers.
Unlike the south side of Sri Lanka which can get very busy and suffocating, Arugam Bay is surrounded by natural beauty and is a absolute gem of a surf town that will be very hard to leave behind.
When to surf Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka: The best time to surf Arugam Bay is from April to October.
Read our full surf guide to Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
20. Pa’ia, Maui, Hawaii
Located on Maui’s north shore, Pa’ia is a small, charming surf town on the doorstep of world class surf spots like Ho’okipa and Pe’ahi (Jaws).
With many cafes and small restaurants Pa’ia is usually known as the depart line for Road to Hana. However, for surfers, Pa’ia means being right in the heart Maui’s surfing culture.
When to surf Maui, Hawaii: The best time to surf in Maui is in winter for the north swells and summer for south swells. There are waves all year long.