Surfing is the undisputed summer sport and allows you to discover dreamy spots while you practice. The history of surfing in Spain is fairly recent, however, the growth of this sport has been exponential, with numerous surfing beaches popping up across Spain. It’s increasingly common to see our beaches filled with surfers riding the waves with their surfboards and wetsuits.
The greatest virtue of this activity is that it takes place outdoors, blending sport and nature. Therefore, it allows surfers, whether starting with an introductory surfing course or already a professional, to enjoy places of extreme beauty.
Spain is one of the countries in the world with the greatest number of coastal areas, being almost completely surrounded by water. This fact has resulted in many possible surfing spots in Spain. Therefore, at Biosurfcamp, we have compiled a list of the best beaches for surfing in Spain. Are you going to miss it?
The best beaches in Spain for surfing
Mundaka beach in Vizcaya
Mundaka Beach boasts a wave prized by surfers from all over the world, located in a small Basque fishing village, next to the Mundaka estuary (also known as the Oka estuary). This small corner of Biscay has hosted world championships for years, as it is the most prominent surfing spot in Spain.
The Mundaka wave is one of the best left-handers in Europe, with a height that can reach 4 meters and a length of over 400 meters. The wave has a tube-like shape, which attracts intrepid surfers from all over the world on a daily basis. The wave starts at the so-called Mundaka bar and ends on Laida Beach. It is usually best to surf at low or mid-tide, when the bar is shallower. This wave is only suitable for experienced surfers.
Its biggest problem is that, as it is one of the most famous spots in Spain, it is usually quite crowded. However, the town is worth a visit for more than just the surfing. Nearby, you can enjoy nature in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, gastronomy with typical Basque pintxos, monuments such as the Hermitage of Santa Catalina and the Church of Santa María, and spectacular landscapes from its many viewpoints.
Rodiles beach in Asturias
Rodiles Beach is a beautiful, unspoiled beach located next to the mouth of the Villaviciosa estuary in the Principality of Asturias. Some surfers compare it to Mundaka, as it has similar waves (powerful and fast) due to its location at the mouth of an estuary. The landscape surrounding this idyllic beach is wild, with fine sand and vegetation, making it one of the best surfing beaches in Spain.
The beach is about 1 kilometer long, with the western part of the beach being the most notable for its waves. In this area, next to the mouth of the Villaviciosa estuary, there is a left-hand, barrel-shaped wave that rivals the one in Mundaka. As in Mundaka, the wave is most powerful at low or mid-tide.
In the area surrounding the beach, you can visit the Dinosaur Coast or the Asturian Jurassic Coast. Several prehistoric sites with dinosaur footprints have been found in this area. This is a complementary activity to surfing near Rodiles Beach.
Zarautz beach in Guipuzcoa
Zarautz Beach in Guipúzcoa is the longest beach in the Basque Country, stretching over 2.5 kilometers. It has waves practically all year round, making it a perfect place to learn and perfect your surfing technique. Its vast expanse produces waves of all levels, as it is open to the sea. The great advantage of this beach is that you can enjoy different types of waves if you move along its coastline, and even when there are many people in the water, there are waves for everyone.
Zarautz is home to internationally renowned surfers such as Aritz Aranburu. This is due to its excellent conditions and wide variety of spots, making it one of the best surfing beaches in Spain.
It is also a lively town that offers a multitude of activities to complement your surfing experience, such as a visit to its historic center, trying several of its typical pintxos, or a visit to its museums. The port and promenade area boast dozens of bars and restaurants where you can sample the most typical dishes of Basque cuisine.
Los Locos beach in Cantabria
Los Locos Beach, located in the Cantabrian town of Suances, is one of the best beaches for learning to surf in Cantabria. Its northwest orientation gives it ample exposure to the open sea and its waves are very clean and powerful. The beach is 400 meters long and features fine sand. It was declared the third European Surfing Nature Reserve in 2012 due to the quality of its waves.
The beach has three distinct surfing areas. On one side, the Orchard, to the right of the beach, with fairly flat right-hand waves. On the other side, the beach, in the center, with waves that flow indistinctly to both sides. Finally, the Sopico, on the left side, with left-hand tube waves.
In addition, Suances offers several beaches with different orientations, perfect for surfing. The beaches of Suances offer the opportunity to find waves any day of the year, as if there aren’t any waves at one beach, there will be at another (due to their varied orientation). This makes Suances one of the best places in Northern Spain to learn to surf.
Salinas beach in Asturias
Salinas Beach, located on the central coast of the Principality of Asturias, is one of the region’s most prominent surfing areas. The beach stretches over 2.5 kilometers of fine sand and has a spectacular promenade that runs completely around it.
The beach has right- and left-hand waves, making it perfect for any surfing level: beginner, expert, or intermediate. Its waves are fast and powerful, reaching up to 60 meters and reaching two and a half meters in height. This is why numerous festivals are held there throughout the summer, such as the “Salinas Longboard Festival.”
One of the must-do things to do in Salinas is to climb to its spectacular 360º viewpoint, located next to the Philippe Cousteau Anchor Museum. This viewpoint offers a spectacular panoramic view of Salinas Beach, the surrounding pine forest, and the town.
Pantín beach in A Coruña
Pantín Beach in Valdoviño, Galicia, is nearly a kilometer long with waves that break left and right, perfect for intermediate surfers and those looking to improve their surfing. The horseshoe shape of the beach provides waves year-round, although the swell is much stronger in winter.
Its most prominent peak is located on the right side of the beach, with waves that break in both directions. This is the beach’s star spot; however, other peaks for all levels are found throughout its length.
The Pantín Classic is held in September. This international surfing championship is held annually in this Galician town. This classic surf festival seeks to evoke the Hawaiian aesthetic, attracting many people and being one of the most prominent in Europe.
Los Lances beach in Cádiz
Lances Beach is located in one of the southernmost areas of the peninsula, offering views of the Strait of Gibraltar and the coast of Africa on clear days. This beach, over 7 kilometers long, is located on the coast of Tarifa in Cádiz and is known throughout Andalusia for the quality of its waves.
The water temperature is always pleasant, so surfing is possible year-round, although the best waves occur from November to March. The Atlantic wind blows inland, creating good, high waves, perfect for surfing. This combination of small details makes it one of the best beaches in southern Spain for surfing.
In addition, the strong winds that occur in the area mean that, in addition to surfing, sailing sports are very popular. Windsurfing and kitesurfing, two types of surfing, are two of the star sports offered on this Cádiz beach.
Famara beach in Lanzarote
Famara Beach, located in the fishing village of Caleta de Famara on the island of Lanzarote, is a very long beach, over 6 kilometers long, so it’s almost never crowded. Surfing is possible year-round, as both the water temperature and the waves remain very stable.
The waves at Famara Beach are medium-sized but very consistent. This makes them perfect for beginners in all types of water sports, whether surfing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, or any other sport. It also has a large parking area, so you won’t waste a second from the moment you arrive until you start surfing. One of the best beaches in Spain for beginner surfing.
Surrounding the beach is a large mountain range that blends into the impressive landscape. Additionally, nearby, you can visit the Valle Grande site, where several eggs of flightless birds have been discovered.
Confital beach in Gran Canaria
Confital Beach, located on the Isleta Peninsula on the island of Gran Canaria, is a continuation of Las Canteras Beach. It is a 2-kilometer stretch of coarse sand with multiple surf spots, making it one of the most challenging beaches in Spain, suitable only for experts.
Confital’s most notable wave is a right-hander, commonly known as the Confital right-hander, which many consider one of the best right-handers in Europe on good days. The wave forms a significant tube that can reach over 3 meters and extend for 300 meters. Other notable waves at this beach are Las Monjas and La Punta.
The area’s natural surroundings complement the experience, with clear waters and large cliffs. Furthermore, it is not overcrowded and is a quiet beach with a beautiful wooden boardwalk, making the experience pleasant and relaxing.
Barceloneta beach in Barcelona
This beach, located in the heart of Barcelona, is one of the best beaches for surfing in Spain, despite being located on the seemingly calm Mediterranean Sea. It’s the oldest beach in Barcelona, located in the neighborhood of the same name, in the Ciutat Vella district.
You won’t find waves here year-round, but you can enjoy days with good conditions for surfing from November to May. However, there are a large number of surfers in Barcelona, so the waters on those select days are often crowded.
It’s important to check the forecast regularly, as waves in the Mediterranean appear and disappear constantly. To do this, we recommend checking the surf reports and not thinking twice when there are waves. There are also other interesting spots like Masnou and Sitges.
Have you surfed at any of these beaches? Which is your favorite? Do you think we’ve missed any essential ones? Tell us in the comments!
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