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 surf trips without flying from the Netherlands, Belgium and France are Scheveningen, the Belgian coast, Normandy, Brittany, the Vendée, Hossegor, the Basque coast, San Sebastián and Denmark's Cold Hawaii.
Some are a tram ride from the station, some are one change of train in Paris, and one is a proper road trip north. They all belong to our wider guide to the best surfing destinations in Europe. We like the idea of flying less and staying longer, and this is the practical version. Train details come from the operators' own pages, so confirm times before you book.
- 1. Which surf trips can you do without flying?
- 2. How do you take a surf trip by train?
- 3. The North Sea doorstep: Scheveningen and the Belgian coast
- 4. Normandy, Brittany and the Vendée: France's quieter coasts
- 5. Hossegor, the Basque coast and San Sebastián: the classic run south
- 6. Cold Hawaii, Denmark: the road trip north
- 7. When is the best time for a no-fly surf trip?
- 8. Showers, wet kit and washing up on a train or car trip
- 9. Surf trips without flying: locals and the environment
- 10. Summary
- 11. Frequently asked questions
- 12. Sources
Which surf trips can you do without flying?
These nine destinations can all be reached from Amsterdam, Brussels or Paris by train, tram or car. The cleanest surf month is Surf-Forecast's statistic for one break in each place.
| Destination | Without flying | Who it suits | Cleanest surf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheveningen, Netherlands | Tram from The Hague's main stations | Beginners on small days | May |
| Ostend, Belgium | Train to Ostend, then the Coast Tram | Surfers who can go when it's on | January |
| Siouville, Normandy | Direct train from Paris to Cherbourg, then by road | Beginners, with the surf club | April |
| La Torche, Brittany | Direct TGV INOUI from Paris to Quimper, then by road | Experienced; beginners at Pors Carn | March |
| Les Sables d'Olonne, Vendée | Direct TGV INOUI from Paris | Beginners at Tanchet | March |
| Hossegor and Seignosse, France | TGV INOUI to Dax or Bayonne, then bus 517 | Beginners in Seignosse, experienced at La Gravière | October |
| Biarritz and Hendaye, France | Direct TGV INOUI from Paris | Beginners at Hendaye | October |
| San Sebastián, Spain | TGV INOUI to Hendaye, then Euskotren E2 | All levels | October |
| Klitmøller, Denmark | By car through Germany | Beginners with an instructor, and up | December |
How do you take a surf trip by train?
From Amsterdam or Brussels you take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, cross the city to Paris Montparnasse and board a direct TGV INOUI to the Atlantic coast. Eurostar lists Amsterdam to Paris at 3 hours 20 minutes and Brussels to Paris at around 1 hour 22 minutes. When we checked, SNCF Connect showed direct trains from Montparnasse to Quimper, Les Sables d'Olonne and Hendaye (just under five hours), and from Paris Saint-Lazare to Cherbourg.
The catch is the board. Eurostar says you can take a surfboard on its routes between Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands if it's no longer than 2 metres. SNCF Voyageurs is stricter: on TGV INOUI a board travels as your one "special" item, in a labelled bag of up to 90 by 130 centimetres. That's shorter than most adult surfboards, so the simple plan is to bring your wetsuit and rent a board from a surf school.
You also carry everything yourself, so with a wetsuit, a towel and a week of clothes in one bag, every bottle you leave out helps.
Shampoo, body and face wash, all in one bar. Cooling, refreshing and designed for those always on the go.
By car, none of that applies, and our guide to surf trips by van in Europe covers where you can park and sleep.
The North Sea doorstep: Scheveningen and the Belgian coast
Scheveningen and Ostend are the no-fly trips you can do on a free Saturday, as long as you accept that North Sea surf is fickle.
For Scheveningen, The Hague's tourist office says trams run from both main stations to the Kurhaus stop in about fifteen minutes, and that no other Dutch city has so many surf schools in one place. Surf-Forecast describes a beach and pier break that's often crowded, with rips and obstacles. Even in May, its best month, clean surfable waves turn up about 12 per cent of the time.
On the Belgian coast, SNCB lists a connecting tram at Oostende station, and De Lijn's Coast Tram has 67 stops. Surf-Forecast calls Ostend an inconsistent beach break that's best in winter and tends to be flat in summer. Our guide to surfing in the Netherlands and Belgium goes spot by spot.
Normandy, Brittany and the Vendée: France's quieter coasts
Normandy, Brittany and the Vendée are the French surf coasts you reach before the famous south-west, each with a direct train from Paris. For the bigger picture, see our guide to surfing in France.
In Normandy, Normandie Tourisme describes Siouville-Hague as fine sandy beaches and an excellent surf spot, where the Cotentin Surf Club teaches daily from April to November and provides boards and wetsuits. Surf-Forecast notes relatively few surfers.
Brittany's headline spot is La Torche, which Brittany Tourism calls "THE Breton beach break". The Pays Bigouden tourist office says "Don't venture there if you're a novice!" because of strong currents, and points beginners to neighbouring Pors Carn. Our Brittany guide has the full list.
In the Vendée, Vendée Tourisme recommends Tanchet beach in Les Sables d'Olonne for beginners and warns that Bud Bud is for advanced surfers only and La Sauzaie takes real skill to avoid the rocks.
Hossegor, the Basque coast and San Sebastián: the classic run south
One TGV INOUI line from Paris Montparnasse serves all three: Dax and Bayonne for Hossegor, Biarritz and Hendaye for the Basque coast, and Hendaye again for the hop into Spain.
For Hossegor, the tourist office says to take the train to Dax or Bayonne, then bus line 517, which runs all year from Monday to Saturday. The surf is the heaviest on this list: the same office reserves La Gravière for experienced surfers and says La Nord can reach 6 metres, while Seignosse, next door, counts no fewer than 30 surf schools. Our Hossegor guide sorts the beaches by level.
On the Basque coast, Biarritz's tourist office says Txik Txak buses link La Négresse station with the centre. Surf-Forecast describes the Côte des Basques as a low-tide beach and reef break with rocks and crowds. At the end of the line, Hendaye is what Surf-Report calls "a garden for beginners": a 3.5 kilometre beach with many surf schools. See our Biarritz guide.
For San Sebastián, Euskotren's E2 line runs from Hendaye to Amara station, and Zurriola beach has four surf schools, according to the city's tourist office. Surf-Forecast expects crowds.
Cold Hawaii, Denmark: the road trip north
Cold Hawaii is the no-fly trip for people who'd rather drive north: a stretch of North Sea coast in Thy with 31 surf spots between Agger and Hanstholm, according to the regional tourist board.
Klitmøller is the centre. Surf-Forecast lists a beach and point break with rocks in the line-up that gets busy when the surf is up, and the tourist board tells beginners to always have an instructor with them. More in our Denmark guide.
We couldn't confirm a simple rail route to these beaches, and chasing the right spot for the day's wind is the whole point, so this is where we'd take the car. It's also the longest drive home with wet kit: a damp wetsuit, a sandy towel and your wash bag share one tub in the boot, and anything that can leak will find a way.
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.
Whichever direction you drive, timing matters more than distance.
When is the best time for a no-fly surf trip?
Autumn is the season for the French south-west and San Sebastián, spring gives the cleanest surf in Normandy, Brittany and the Vendée, and the North Sea is a mixed bag. That's the pattern in Surf-Forecast's statistics, and our guide to the surf seasons in France goes deeper.
Cold is the honest headline further north. Surf-Forecast puts Scheveningen at 3 to 9 degrees in mid February and Klitmøller at 2 to 6 in early March, and recommends a 6/5/4 or 5/4 wetsuit with gloves, boots and a hood for both. Our wetsuit thickness guide helps you match a suit to the water.
Showers, wet kit and washing up on a train or car trip
The after-surf routine is the same everywhere: rinse the salt off at the beach with water only, and do your washing where there's a proper drain.
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.
On a train trip, a wetsuit that's still damp at check-out goes into a dry bag inside your one piece of luggage, right next to your clothes and your wash bag. That's when you'll be glad there's no bottle in there: a solid 3-in-1 bar for hair, body and face has nothing to leak.
Shampoo, body and face wash, all in one bar. Cooling, refreshing and designed for those always on the go.
If you're driving, give the wet tub its own corner of the boot, away from anything you want to wear again.
Surf trips without flying: locals and the environment
Respect the locals
Easy access means busy line-ups. Surf-Forecast flags crowds at Scheveningen, La Torche, the Côte des Basques and Zurriola, so wait your turn and read up on surf etiquette before you go. Travelling alone? Our solo surf trips guide picks the easiest places to turn up by yourself.
Respect the environment
The European Environment Agency concluded in 2021 that rail is the best motorised way to travel and that aviation's emissions are much higher per passenger kilometre. It adds a detail for road-trippers: a petrol or diesel car, especially with one person in it, can be more harmful than flying. So if you drive, fill the seats.
Cold Hawaii lies beside Thy National Park, whose request to visitors is simple: "Be nature's best guest." Take your rubbish with you and keep to the paths through the dunes.
Summary
You don't need an airport to go surfing from the Netherlands, Belgium or France. Scheveningen and Ostend are a tram ride from the station, the French coasts have direct trains from Paris, and Cold Hawaii is the one for the car. Bring your wetsuit, rent the board and pack for cold water.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take a surfboard on the train?
Sometimes. Eurostar allows a surfboard of up to 2 metres on its routes between Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. On TGV INOUI, SNCF Voyageurs limits a board bag to 90 by 130 centimetres, so most people rent at the destination.
Where can I surf by train from Amsterdam?
Scheveningen is the closest, by tram from The Hague's main stations. For bigger waves, Eurostar runs direct to Paris, where TGV INOUI trains leave for the Atlantic coast.
Where can I surf by train from Paris?
SNCF Connect lists direct trains to Cherbourg, Quimper, Les Sables d'Olonne, Dax, Bayonne, Biarritz and Hendaye.
Is taking the train really better than flying?
For emissions, yes. The European Environment Agency concluded in 2021 that rail is the best motorised way to travel, and that a petrol or diesel car with one person in it can be worse than flying.
Which no-fly surf trip is best for beginners?
Hendaye, which Surf-Report calls a garden for beginners, and Seignosse, with no fewer than 30 surf schools. Tanchet, Siouville and Zurriola are good alternatives.
Sources
The facts in this article are based on the sources below, checked in October 2026.
- Sports and camping equipment. Eurostar, 2026.
- Amsterdam to Paris trains. Eurostar, 2026.
- Brussels to Paris trains. Eurostar, 2026.
- Questions et réponses: à bord. SNCF Voyageurs, 2026.
- Hendaye to Paris timetable. SNCF Connect, 2026.
- Paris to Quimper timetable. SNCF Connect, 2026.
- Paris to Les Sables d'Olonne timetable. SNCF Connect, 2026.
- Paris to Cherbourg timetable. SNCF Connect, 2026.
- Line E2 Hendaia to Lasarte-Oria timetable. Euskotren, 2025.
- Scheveningen beach resort. The Hague Marketing Bureau, 2026.
- Scheveningen Pier. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Scheveningen Pier sea temperature. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Oostende station. SNCB, 2026.
- Coast Tram. De Lijn, 2026.
- Oostende. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Surfing lessons in Siouville. Normandie Tourisme, 2026.
- Siouville. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Surf attitude. Brittany Tourism, 2026.
- Surfing on the waves. Destination Pays Bigouden, 2026.
- La Torche. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Best surf spots in the Vendée. Vendée Tourisme, 2026.
- Tanchet. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Getting to Hossegor. Hossegor Tourist Office, 2026.
- Surfing in Hossegor. Hossegor Tourist Office, 2026.
- Surf schools in Seignosse. Seignosse Tourisme, 2026.
- La Gravière. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Access to Biarritz. Biarritz Tourisme, 2026.
- Côte des Basques. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Surf infos: Hendaye. Surf-Report, 2026.
- The waves of La Zurriola. Donostia San Sebastián Turismoa, 2026.
- Playa de Gros. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Cold Hawaii. Visit Nordvestkysten, 2026.
- Great surf spots at the Northwest coast. Visit Nordvestkysten, 2026.
- Klitmøller. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Klitmøller sea temperature. Surf-Forecast, 2026.
- Thy National Park. Nationalpark Thy, 2026.
- Motorised transport: train, plane, road or boat, which is greenest?. European Environment Agency, 2021.
