Note to travelling surfers
- Ecosystem first. Be kind to the environment you’re visiting: don’t leave any trash behind.
- Be kind to locals. Every lineup has an order and it was earned over years. Wait your turn, and respect local etiquette.
- Fly less, stay longer. The flight is the biggest impact of any surf trip. Two weeks once beats one week twice!
The best places to learn to surf in Europe are Baleal and Arrifana in Portugal, Hendaye and the Pors Carn end of La Torche in France, Zarautz in northern Spain, Famara on Lanzarote, Polzeath in Cornwall, Lahinch in Ireland, Scheveningen in the Netherlands and Nørre Vorupør in Denmark.
They share sand underfoot and surf schools on the beach, and most have lifeguards in season. Think of this as the beginner's cut of our guide to Europe's surf destinations.
Summer is the learning season almost everywhere, because the swell eases off. Water is the big difference: SeaTemperature.org's August averages run from about 17°C at Polzeath to 21°C at Hendaye.
- 1. What are the best places to learn to surf in Europe?
- 2. What makes a beach good for learning to surf?
- 3. Where can you learn to surf in Portugal?
- 4. Where can you learn to surf in France?
- 5. Where can you learn to surf in Spain?
- 6. Where can you learn to surf closer to home?
- 7. When is the best time to learn to surf in Europe?
- 8. Showers, wetsuits and washing up after a lesson
- 9. Learning to surf: locals and the environment
- 10. Summary
- 11. Frequently asked questions
- 12. Sources
What are the best places to learn to surf in Europe?
Here are the 10 spots, from south to north. Best months follow the sources named below, or the warmest water where none gives a window.
| Spot | Country | Why it suits beginners | Best months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famara, Lanzarote | Spain | Sandy bottom, mild water, lots of schools | May to Sep |
| Arrifana, Algarve | Portugal | Cliff-ringed bay, waves that break only over sand | Summer |
| Baleal, Peniche | Portugal | Sandy bays, one sheltered by Baleal island | May to Sep |
| Zarautz, Basque Country | Spain | Long beach, more than five schools, lifeguards | Jun to Aug |
| Hendaye, Basque coast | France | Very flat beach that slows the swell down | May to Sep |
| Pors Carn and La Torche, Brittany | France | Gentler waves at the south end of Pors Carn | Jun to Aug |
| Polzeath, Cornwall | United Kingdom | Slow-breaking waves, RNLI lifeguards | May to Sep |
| Scheveningen, The Hague | Netherlands | Four schools on one beach, lifeguards | Jun to Sep |
| Lahinch, County Clare | Ireland | Long sandy beach, lifeguards in summer | Spring to early autumn |
| Nørre Vorupør, Cold Hawaii | Denmark | Rated ideal for beginners by the tourist board | High summer |
What makes a beach good for learning to surf?
A good learning beach is long and sandy, has waves that break gently, and has a surf school and lifeguards on it.
Discover Ireland puts it this way: "Choose long, sandy beaches without rocks or reefs, where waves break gently over a good distance."
The RNLI, whose lifeguards patrol UK beaches, adds the basics: wear a leash and ask a lifeguard where the rip currents are. Flags differ by country. On RNLI beaches surfers stay between the black and white chequered flags, while in Brittany the Pays Bigouden tourist office says you can surf anywhere outside the flagged swimming area. Ask at the lifeguard post on day one.
A week of lessons with a bed attached is a surf camp, which we explain in your first surf camp. Camp bathrooms are often shared and short on shelf space, and one solid bar for hair, body and face needs a single corner of it.
Shampoo, body and face wash, all in one bar. Cooling, refreshing and designed for those always on the go.
More in our guide to surf camp showers.
Where can you learn to surf in Portugal?
Baleal near Peniche and Arrifana in the Algarve are the easiest places to start in Portugal: sandy and full of surf schools.
At Baleal, Visit Portugal describes "a broad sweep of sand bathed by calm waters" and lists a Blue Flag, surveillance and showers. The Surf Atlas calls Prainha, the corner behind Baleal island, the easiest wave in the area, though it's crowded by midday. It recommends May and September for total beginners. More in our guide to Peniche and Baleal.
Arrifana sits in a bay surrounded by high cliffs, with a Blue Flag and surveillance, says Visit Portugal. Lonely Planet calls it "a learner's paradise for summer surfers", where the waves break only over sand, and warns that it turns "a bit more gnarly" in autumn and winter. The rest is in our Algarve guide.
Where can you learn to surf in France?
In France, Hendaye is the Basque coast's beginner beach, and the southern end of Pors Carn is the gentle corner of La Torche in Brittany.
Surf-Report calls Hendaye's long beach "un jardin pour débutants", a garden for beginners, because the very flat sand slows the swell. The Surf Atlas goes as far as "arguably the best beginner surf spot in France" and recommends May to September. The caveats: it doesn't break when the swell is weak, says Surf-Report, and it's getting busier every year. Its neighbours are in our Biarritz guide.
La Torche is the most popular surf spot in Finistère, says the Pays Bigouden tourist office, which points first-timers to the south end of Pors Carn, where "the rollers are less impressive". The Surf Atlas agrees the bay is great for beginners in summer but mentions rips, including one locals call "the Elevator", so let an instructor choose your spot. More in our guide to surfing in Brittany.
Where can you learn to surf in Spain?
Zarautz is the classic learner beach of northern Spain, and Famara on Lanzarote is the warm-water option.
The Basque government's tourism site describes Zarautz as the longest beach on the Basque coast and "ideal for complete beginners", with more than five schools, a lifeguard service and showers. The Surf Atlas suggests June to August for learners and warns that it gets busier every year. More in our guide to surfing in Spain.
The Surf Atlas calls Famara ideal for learners: a mellow, sand-bottomed beach with surf schools everywhere and smaller swells from May to September. Hello Canary Islands still tells visitors to bathe with caution because of the strong waves and constant wind, and Turismo Lanzarote lists lifeguards and hazard signs. See our Lanzarote guide.
Lanzarote means a flight, often with hand luggage only. A solid 3-in-1 bar isn't a liquid at airport security, so the wash bag shrinks.
Shampoo, body and face wash, all in one bar. Keep your hair and skin healthy on the go. Monoï-infused scent with a touch of vanilla. Designed for those always on the go.
We've answered whether you can take soap on a plane separately.
Where can you learn to surf closer to home?
Polzeath, Lahinch, Scheveningen and Nørre Vorupør have sand and surf schools too, in water several degrees colder than the Bay of Biscay.
Polzeath's "long, consistent, slow-breaking waves make the beach a haven for novice and intermediate surfers", says Visit Cornwall. The RNLI lists daily lifeguard patrols from 2 May to 27 September 2026, and Surf-Forecast warns of dangerous rips, so stay between the flags. More in surfing in the UK.
At Lahinch, Tourism Ireland says the long stretch of sand and reliable waves are ideal for first-time surfers in spring, summer and early autumn. Discover Ireland adds that the beach is lifeguarded in summer and has several surf schools. See our Ireland guide.
Scheveningen needs no flight. The Hague's tourism site counts four surf schools on Noorderstrand alone and says around 160 lifeguards watch the city's beaches daily from May to October, weather permitting. The best waves come in autumn and winter, it adds, which makes summer the calmer time to start. More in surfing in the Netherlands and Belgium.
In Denmark's Cold Hawaii, the regional tourist board calls Vorupør ideal for beginners, with a surf school at Lille Mole, and describes Agger, by contrast, as having rougher conditions and strong currents. VisitDenmark says TrygFonden's lifeguards watch Vorupør beach in high season. Our Denmark guide has more.
When is the best time to learn to surf in Europe?
The best time to learn to surf in Europe is June to September, when the swell is smallest and the water warmest.
Temperatures are SeaTemperature.org and SeaTemperatu.re monthly averages for each spot's best months, plus Surf-Forecast's seasonal peak for La Torche. Wetsuits follow The Surf Atlas, Surf-Forecast and Pure Surfcamps' rule of thumb: 3/2 mm from about 17°C, 4/3 mm for 12 to 17°C.
| Region | Water temp (°C) | Wetsuit |
|---|---|---|
| Lanzarote (Famara) | 20 to 23 | Shorty or 3/2 |
| Portugal (Peniche) | 17 to 19.5 | 3/2 |
| Bay of Biscay (Hendaye) | 16 to 21 | 3/2, or 4/3 in May |
| Brittany (La Torche) | Peaks at 16 to 20 in August | 3/2, fully sealed |
| Cornwall (Polzeath) | 12 to 17 | 4/3 |
| North Sea (Scheveningen) | 15 to 18 | 4/3, or 3/2 in August |
Our wetsuit thickness guide goes through it degree by degree.
Showers, wetsuits and washing up after a lesson
Rinse the salt off at the beach if there's a shower, and save the soap for the bathroom where you're staying.
Baleal and Zarautz list showers. Elsewhere we couldn't confirm them, so keep a bottle of tap water in the car. Beach showers are for sand and salt only. Don't rinse shampoo or soap directly into the ocean or into beach showers that drain to the sea. Lather only where the water goes into a drain: your apartment, hostel or camp bathroom. More in how to rinse off after a surf.
Then there's the drive back, with everything wet in one bag in the boot. That's exactly when a shampoo bottle likes to open itself. A solid bar has nothing in it to leak in a wet bag.
Shampoo, body and face wash, all in one bar. Cooling, refreshing and designed for those always on the go.
Schools and camps usually offer a wetsuit, often as part of the course, notes Pure Surfcamps. If yours pongs by day four, here's how to get rid of wetsuit smell.
Learning to surf: locals and the environment
Respect the locals
Learner beaches are shared with swimmers, other schools and local surfers. The RNLI asks surfers to understand etiquette and rights of way and to consider other water users. For a beginner that means staying where your instructor puts you and keeping hold of your board. See our surf etiquette rules.
Respect the environment
Some of these beaches are protected: Famara lies inside the Natural Park of the Chinijo Archipelago, according to Hello Canary Islands, and Vorupør beach in Thy National Park, according to VisitDenmark. Take your litter home, stay on the marked paths, and keep soap for the bathroom.
Summary
For warm water, choose Famara, Hendaye or Zarautz. For the widest choice of schools, Baleal or Arrifana. To stay close to home, Scheveningen or Vorupør, in a thicker suit. Book a school, ask the lifeguards about flags and rips, and go in summer. Travelling with children? See our surf destinations for families.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to learn to surf in Europe?
There isn't one winner. Hendaye, Baleal and Zarautz are the classics: sandy, gentle in summer and full of surf schools. Famara has the warmest water.
What is the best month to learn to surf in Europe?
June to September on most coasts, when the swell is smallest and the water warmest.
Do I need a wetsuit to learn to surf in Europe?
Almost everywhere, yes. Summer averages run from about 15°C at Scheveningen in June to 21°C at Hendaye in August.
Can I teach myself to surf without lessons?
We wouldn't. Discover Ireland advises starting with lessons at a local surf school, and the RNLI advises asking lifeguards about rip currents.
Can you learn to surf in the Netherlands?
Yes. Scheveningen has four surf schools on Noorderstrand alone and lifeguards from May to October, according to The Hague's tourism site.
Sources
The facts in this article are based on the sources below, checked in October 2026.
- Guide to surfing in Ireland. Discover Ireland, 2026.
- Surfing. RNLI, 2026.
- Surfing on the waves. Destination Pays Bigouden, 2026.
- Praia do Baleal. Visit Portugal, 2026.
- Baleal surf. The Surf Atlas, 2026.
- Praia da Arrifana. Visit Portugal, 2026.
- Best surfing in the Algarve. Lonely Planet, 2026.
- Surf info Hendaye. Surf-Report, 2026.
- Hendaye surf. The Surf Atlas, 2026.
- La Torche surf. The Surf Atlas, 2026.
- Zarautz Beach. Euskadi Tourism, 2026.
- Zarautz surf. The Surf Atlas, 2026.
- Lanzarote surf guide. The Surf Atlas, 2026.
- Famara Beach. Hello Canary Islands, 2026.
- Playa de Famara. Turismo Lanzarote, 2026.
- Polzeath Beach. Visit Cornwall, 2026.
- Polzeath Beach lifeguards. RNLI, 2026.
- Polzeath surf guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- A beginner's guide to Ireland's best surf spots. Tourism Ireland, 2026.
- Lahinch Beach. Discover Ireland, 2026.
- Surfen in Scheveningen. The Hague and Partners, 2026.
- Praktische informatie Scheveningen en Kijkduin. The Hague and Partners, 2026.
- Great surf spots at the Northwest Coast. VisitNordvestkysten, 2026.
- Vorupør Beach and Sea Pool in Thy National Park. VisitDenmark, 2026.
- La Torche wetsuit guide. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Peniche sea temperature. SeaTemperature.org, 2026.
- Hendaye sea temperature. SeaTemperature.org, 2026.
- Polzeath sea temperature. SeaTemperature.org, 2026.
- Scheveningen sea temperature. SeaTemperature.org, 2026.
- Caleta de Famara sea temperature. SeaTemperatu.re, 2026.
- Wetsuit: the second skin for surfers. Pure Surfcamps, 2026.
