6 Jul, 2025 @ 16:30
1 min read

Where to find the best waves for surfing in Spain’s Basque Country

The Basque Country has an excellent reputation in the surf world.

SUMMER in Spain may stir up images of gentle waves lapping on the shore as you sunbathe on the beach, but if you head north, you’ll find a surfer’s paradise.

Crashing waves, emerald green landscapes, and the surfing community of the Basque Country welcome both beginners and pros alike.

This northern stretch of sea is known as ‘Green Spain’, and it’s where the wild Cantabrian Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet.

READ MORE: Free surfing and canoeing lessons start at beaches popular with expats on Spain’s Costa Blanca

There’s a consistent swell, especially from Autumn to Spring, with world-class point breaks and reef breaks for the pro surfers, and gentle beach breaks for the new to a board.

Summer is the best time to head north if you’re a beginner surfer. In general, the waves are smaller and more manageable, and surf schools are in full swing.

But which Basque beaches should you go to?

Mundaka is for the advanced surfers – it’s a long, hollow, sand-bottomed left-hand wave breaking off the nearby river mouth.

Zarautz is your quintessential Spanish surf town. With a long sandy beach, there are waves for every level of surfer, and plenty of surf schools to help get you confident on the waves.

Sopelana is the go-to spot for local surfers living in nearby Bilbao. There are two beaches right next to each other – Arrietara and Atxabiribil

READ MORE: Surf’s Up! Beach on Spain’s Costa Blanca South to be made an official surfing zone

Click here to read more Olive Press Travel News from The Olive Press.

Staff Reporter

DO YOU HAVE NEWS FOR US at Spain’s most popular English newspaper - the Olive Press? Contact us now via email: newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 951 273 575. To contact the newsdesk out of regular office hours please call +34 665 798 618.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Story

SPOTLIGHT: Denia in Spain has been itself for 2,000 years, being recognised by UNESCO

Next Story

How two brothers oversaw a ‘forced prostitution empire that enslaved 500 South American women’ on the Costa del Sol

Latest from Basque Country

Go toTop