By Green Glisse Surf School
Surfing in Biarritz
European surfing was born here in 1957, and Biarritz remains the best place on the continent to catch your first wave. Here is everything you need to know, from a school based on the sand of Côte des Basques.
Where to surf in Biarritz
Côte des Basques
Beginners and longboardersThe birthplace of European surfing and the gentlest wave in town: long, slow and forgiving, breaking over sand. This is where surf schools teach, ours included. One local rule to know: at high tide the beach disappears against the sea wall, so sessions happen around mid-tide.
Grande Plage
IntermediateThe city-centre beach, punchier and hollower than Côte des Basques. Good fun when the sandbanks line up, crowded in summer, with strictly separated swimming zones.
Anglet
All levels, depending on the beachFour kilometres of beach breaks starting just north of Biarritz. Catches more swell than the town beaches: a great option when Biarritz is flat, and a serious one when the swell picks up.
Guéthary and Bidart
AdvancedA short drive south. Parlementia in Guéthary is a world-class big-wave spot, best admired from the terrace with a coffee unless you really know what you are doing.
When to come
June to September
Small, regular waves and water at 20 to 23 °C: the learning season. Expect crowds in July and August, and book lessons a few days ahead.
September and October
The locals' favourite. The Atlantic sends clean, organised swells, the water stays warm, and the summer crowds are gone. If you can choose your dates, choose these.
November to March
Powerful winter swells for experienced surfers, in a 4/3 wetsuit with boots. Uncrowded line-ups and the best waves of the year, for those who can handle them.
Checking conditions before you paddle out? Our live webcam of Côte des Basques shows the beach in real time.
Learning to surf while you are here?
We teach in English all season, right on Côte des Basques beach. Group lessons from 45 €, wetsuit and board included, and a photographer captures your first waves from the sand.
See our surf lessonsFrequently asked questions
Is Biarritz good for beginner surfers?
It is one of the best places in Europe to learn. Côte des Basques beach offers a long, gentle wave breaking over sand, surf schools operate from April to October, and the town itself makes the trip worth it even on flat days.
When is the best time to surf in Biarritz?
September and October offer the best combination: organised swells, warm water and far fewer people. For a first lesson, any time from June to September works perfectly, with small waves and water above 20 °C.
Do I need a wetsuit to surf in Biarritz?
In midsummer, a shorty or even boardshorts will do, as the water reaches 22 °C. The rest of the season a 3/2 mm fullsuit is the standard. If you take a lesson or rent a board with us, the wetsuit is provided.
Where did surfing start in Europe?
In Biarritz, on Côte des Basques beach, in 1957, when screenwriter Peter Viertel had a board shipped over during the filming of The Sun Also Rises. The wave that taught Europe to surf is the one beginners still learn on today.
Can I take a surf lesson in English in Biarritz?
Yes. Our instructors teach in English every week of the season, from complete beginners to intermediate surfers. Group lessons run at 45 to 50 € for 1.5 hours, all equipment included.