Bizkaia · Spain
Surfing Sopelana
A beach break in Bizkaia, Spain, for beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers.
Sopelana is a beach break just outside Bilbao, under cliffs of layered flysch rock, and one of the most surfed beaches in the Basque Country. It works on most swells and suits a wide range of levels, unlike Mundaka.
There are several peaks along the beach, surf schools and shops, and a big local surf scene. The metro from Bilbao gets you there.
It works all year, but autumn and winter bring the best swells. The beach is reached on foot down from the clifftop car park, and it's busy at weekends and after work. If it's too crowded, La Salvaje is just south and Plentzia is a few minutes north.
When to surf
Sopelana
Sopelana is at its best from year-round. Conditions it likes: NW swell, SE offshore wind, all tides.
October to March: Prime
Consistent, powerful NW-W swell, cold but firing
April to June: Good
Reliable swell, milder crowds
July to August: Quiet
Smaller swell, packed beaches and high season prices
The year across Basque Country
Waves near Sopelana
Meñakoz
under 1 kmBizkaia · Right Reef · Pro
La Salvaje
1 kmBizkaia · Beach Break · Intermediate / Advanced
Punta Galea
4 kmBizkaia · Right Reef · Pro
Straight-line distances. By road it is usually further.
Getting there
Where to stay: Mundaka is small and books out fast on a good swell; Sopelana, closer to Bilbao, has more beach-break options and a bigger surf scene.
Transport, costs, where to stay and the rest of the waves in the area are in the Bizkaia guide.
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