Learn to surf in France

Beginner surf spots in France

Quietest first.

Where to learn, area by area

Seignosse & Vieux-Boucau · Landes (Hossegor)

• Le Penon: A more approachable stretch of the Landes coast, and a sensible choice for those wanting a gentler introduction to this powerful region. Le Penon breaks over sand in softer, more forgiving peaks than the heavy-hitting spots further south around Hossegor's canyon-fed banks.

A week here costs from about $369 with flights from Europe, or around $980 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $500 →

Biarritz & Anglet · Côte Basque

• La Grande Plage: La Grande Plage is the main beach in Biarritz, in front of the casino and the old seafront hotels. Surfing in France started in Biarritz in the 1950s, and this beach and the Côte des Basques next to it are where it began.
• Côte des Basques: Côte des Basques is the beach below the cliffs just south of the Grande Plage in Biarritz, and the home of French longboarding since the late 1950s. The waves are long, slow and soft, good for noseriding and easy surfing.

A week here costs from about $390 with flights from Europe, or around $1,032 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $500 →

Guéthary & Hendaye · Côte Basque

• Hendaye Plage: A long, wide sandy beach at the very southern end of the French coast, right at the Spanish border. Hendaye Plage breaks over sand in accessible, forgiving peaks, a friendlier alternative to the reef and jetty breaks further north around Biarritz and Guéthary.

Lacanau & Le Porge · Gironde

• Lacanau-Océan: Lacanau-Océan is the main surf town in Gironde, with a long-running contest every August, the Lacanau Pro. Its beach breaks pick up plenty of Atlantic groundswell and have punchy peaks, though they're less intense than Hossegor.

A week here costs from about $327 with flights from Europe, or around $861 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $500 →

Cap Ferret & Le Verdon · Gironde

• Cap Ferret: Cap Ferret is the long peninsula between the Bassin d'Arcachon and the Atlantic. Its ocean beaches are open beach breaks that pick up consistent swell, with plenty of room to spread out.
• Montalivet: A long, family-oriented beach town further up the Gironde coast, known as much for its naturist tradition as its surf, with beach breaks that stay reliably fun across a wide range of swell sizes. Montalivet's waves break over sand in accessible, well-shaped peaks that suit a broad range of levels.

Crozon Peninsula · Finistère (Brittany)

• Porsmilin: Porsmilin is a small, sheltered bay near Brest, surfed mostly by people from the city. It's easier than the open beaches on the Crozon Peninsula.
• Le Minou: A sheltered spot near Brest, tucked in behind protective headlands that keep it surfable more often than the fully exposed Crozon Peninsula breaks further out. Le Minou catches swell and shapes it into a friendlier, more accessible wave than the open peninsula coast.

A week here costs from about $481 with flights from Europe, or around $945 travelling comfortably. See other surf trips under $500 →

When to go

June to September. Winter brings bigger, colder swells that are better left to experienced surfers.

Best time to surf France, month by month →

Months when at least one zone is at its best: January · February · March · April · September · October · November · December