Where to go surfing in Europe in January
The 30 best surfing spots in Europe in January, ranked by wave height.
Find the best time to goTap a spot to see when to go: wind, waves, water temperature, sun and rain in every month, from years of weather statistics.
Updated October 2026 · weather data 2022–2026
In short
- Best for surfing in Europe in January: Fuerteventura – Flag Beach (Spain), Fuerteventura – El Cotillo (Spain) & Lanzarote – Famara (Spain).
- Water at the top 10: 15–20°C.
- For beginners: Fuerteventura – Flag Beach, Lanzarote – Famara & Sagres.
By continent
Fuerteventura – Flag BeachSpain · water 20°C · air 21°C2.3 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ FUE 30 km2
Fuerteventura – El CotilloSpain · water 20°C · air 22°C2.3 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ FUE 28 km3
Lanzarote – FamaraSpain · water 20°C · air 20°C1.8 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ ACE 20 km4
SagresPortugal · water 16°C · air 17°C2.8 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ PRM 36 km5
GuinchoPortugal · water 15°C · air 15°C2.9 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ CAT 10 km6
Ericeira – Ribeira d'IlhasPortugal · water 15°C · air 15°C3 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ CAT 30 km7
Costa da Caparica – Fonte da TelhaPortugal · water 15°C · air 16°C2.8 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ CAT 22 km8
Peniche – BalealPortugal · water 15°C · air 15°C3.2 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ LIS 68 km9
Peniche – SupertubosPortugal · water 15°C · air 15°C3.2 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ LIS 66 km10
Nazaré – Praia do NortePortugal · water 15°C · air 15°C2.8 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ LIS 92 km11
CarcavelosPortugal · water 15°C · air 15°C2.9 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ CAT 6 km12
ZarautzSpain · water 14°C · air 13°C2.5 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ EAS 32 km13
SopelanaSpain · water 14°C · air 13°C2.4 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ BIO 12 km14
MundakaSpain · water 13°C · air 13°C2.4 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ BIO 21 km15
Biarritz – Côte des BasquesFrance · water 13°C · air 12°C2.1 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ BIQ 4 km16
Gran Canaria – Pozo IzquierdoSpain · water 20°C · air 21°C1.5 m wavesAdvanced only · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ LPA 13 km17
Biscarrosse PlageFrance · water 12°C · air 11°C2.9 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ BOD 60 km18
KlitmøllerDenmark · water 5°C · air 5°C2.7 m wavesAdvanced only · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ AAL 83 km19
Tiree – BalevullinUnited Kingdom · water 9°C · air 8°C3.6 m wavesIntermediate and up · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ TRE 6 km20
Newquay – Fistral BeachUnited Kingdom · water 10°C · air 10°C2.5 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ NQY 8 km21
Croyde BayUnited Kingdom · water 9°C · air 9°C2.6 m wavesIntermediate and up · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ CWL 69 km22
PorthlevenUnited Kingdom · water 10°C · air 10°C2.9 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ NQY 46 km23
Freshwater WestUnited Kingdom · water 9°C · air 9°C2.7 m wavesIntermediate and up · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ CWL 123 km24
LahinchIreland · water 8°C · air 8°C2.7 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ SNN 38 km25
La TorcheFrance · water 11°C · air 10°C2.6 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ BES 68 km26
UnstadNorway · water 6°C · air 0°C3.3 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ LKN 13 km27
BundoranIreland · water 8°C · air 8°C2 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ CFN 63 km28
Thurso EastUnited Kingdom · water 9°C · air 7°C2.6 m wavesAdvanced only · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ WIC 29 km29
ÞorlákshöfnIceland · water 5°C · air 2°C4.1 m wavesIntermediate and up · 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ RKV 41 km30
Lagos – Meia PraiaPortugal · water 16°C · air 17°C1.7 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ PRM 8 kmThe 30 spots with the best surfing conditions in January, from years of weather data, ranked by wave height and, a little, warm water. Wave height: average daily maximum.
Questions
Where is the best surfing in Europe in January?
Fuerteventura – Flag Beach (Spain): 2.3 m waves; Fuerteventura – El Cotillo (Spain): 2.3 m waves; Lanzarote – Famara (Spain): 1.8 m waves.
Where is the water warm in January?
Gran Canaria – Pozo Izquierdo: 20°C, 3/2 wetsuit; Fuerteventura – Flag Beach: 20°C, 3/2 wetsuit; Fuerteventura – El Cotillo: 20°C, 3/2 wetsuit.
Where can beginners go surfing in January?
Good spots for beginners this month: Fuerteventura – Flag Beach, Lanzarote – Famara & Sagres.
Other months
More ideas
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