Hossegor & CapbretonBeginner to Pro
12 waves · Best October to March · La Gravière, La Nord, La Centrale, Les Culs Nuls…
The canyon-fed barrels that built Hossegor's reputation
Surf guide to Hossegor & Capbreton
Surf guide
Surfing in France
Europe's surf capital, from Hossegor's barrels to Brittany's wild points
230km of Europe's most consistent, powerful beach breaks between the Basque border and the Gironde estuary, plus Brittany's wilder Celtic points further north. France packs a genuine surf capital (Hossegor), a world-famous Basque wave (Guéthary/Biarritz), and hundreds of empty kilometres of Atlantic sand.
Areas9
Best seasonSeptember to April
Flights from Europefrom $40
Daily budgetfrom $41
Where to surf in France
Landes (Hossegor) · best October to March
Seignosse & Vieux-BoucauBeginner to Pro
7 waves · Best October to March · Les Estagnots, Bourdaines, Le Penon, Les Casernes…
Quieter beaches just north of the main strip
Surf guide to Seignosse & Vieux-BoucauMessanges & MolietsBeginner to Intermediate
3 waves · Best October to March · Messanges, Les Chênes-Lièges, Moliets Plage Centrale
Long forest-backed beaches north of Vieux-Boucau
Surf guide to Messanges & MolietsCôte Basque · best October to March
Biarritz & AngletBeginner to Advanced
4 waves · Best October to March · La Grande Plage, Côte des Basques, Anglet Jetties, Marbella
The birthplace of French surfing
Surf guide to Biarritz & AngletGuéthary & HendayeBeginner to Pro
7 waves · Best October to March · Avalanche, Alcyons, Lafitenia, Hendaye Plage…
A world-class reef and the beach at the Spanish border
Surf guide to Guéthary & HendayeGironde · best October to March
Lacanau & Le PorgeBeginner to Advanced
3 waves · Best October to March · Lacanau-Océan, Le Porge, Carcans-Plage
The Gironde surf-town hub and its wilder neighbour
Surf guide to Lacanau & Le PorgeCap Ferret & Le VerdonBeginner to Advanced
4 waves · Best October to March · Cap Ferret, Le Verdon, Montalivet, Le Mascaret
Oyster-village peninsula at the Bassin d'Arcachon
Surf guide to Cap Ferret & Le VerdonFinistère (Brittany) · best September to April
Crozon PeninsulaBeginner to Advanced
4 waves · Best September to April · La Palue, Anse de Dinan, Porsmilin, Le Minou
The most consistent quality beach break in Finistère
Surf guide to Crozon PeninsulaPointe du Raz & SouthIntermediate to Pro
4 waves · Best September to April · Baie des Trépassés, La Torche, St-Tugen, Plozevet
Brittany's dramatic, most exposed westernmost tip
Surf guide to Pointe du Raz & South
The best-known waves in France
La Gravière
Beach Break · Hossegor & Capbreton · Advanced / ProLa Nord
Beach Break · Hossegor & Capbreton · Advanced / ProLes Estagnots
Beach Break · Seignosse & Vieux-Boucau · Advanced / ProAnglet Jetties
Beach Break · Biarritz & Anglet · Intermediate / AdvancedCôte des Basques
Beach Break · Biarritz & Anglet · Beginner / IntermediateParlementia
Right Reef · Guéthary & Hendaye · Advanced / ProLacanau-Océan
Beach Break · Lacanau & Le Porge · Beginner / Intermediate / AdvancedLa Torche
Beach Break · Pointe du Raz & South · Intermediate / AdvancedBest time to surf France
The main season in France is September to April.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimeGoodQuiet
Landes (Hossegor): best in October to March, biggest, most powerful groundswell, quieter off-season.
Côte Basque: best in October to March, big, powerful swell, mild Basque winter.
Gironde: best in October to March, consistent, powerful groundswell, quiet off-season.
Finistère (Brittany): best in September to April, wide swell window catches groundswell from most directions.