Where to learn surfing

Easy spots for beginners, with schools nearby.

Updated October 2026 · weather data 2022–2026

1Canggu – Batu BolongIndonesia · best February, May–October3 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 29°C water in season, no wetsuit · ✈ DPS 11 km

• Quiksilver Surf Center 5.9 km
• Surf School 8.3 km
• Neptune Surf School 9.6 km

2WeligamaSri Lanka · best May–September9 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 28°C water in season, no wetsuit · ✈ KCT 12 km

• Soul Defender Surf Camp 0.3 km
• Kuma Surf Camp 1 km
• Ama Surf School 1.1 km
• Mariott Weligama Surf Spot 1.2 km
• and 5 more on the spot page

3TaghazoutMorocco · best January–July, September–December1 school nearbyBeginner-friendly · 19°C water in season, 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ AGA 38 km

• Pearl Surf Camp Morocco 6.6 km

4Peniche – BalealPortugal · best January–May, September–December15 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 16°C water in season, 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ LIS 68 km

• Spot de Surf Lagido 0.3 km
• Spot de Surf Cantinho da Bahía 0.5 km
• Praia do Baleal Campismo 0.7 km
• Spot de Surf 1 km
• and 11 more on the spot page

5ZarautzSpain · best January–March, November–December4 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 15°C water in season, 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ EAS 32 km

• Moor Surf Eskola 0.1 km
• North Shore Surf Eskola Zarautz 0.2 km
• Pukas Surf Eskola 0.2 km
• Flysch Surf Eskola 7.2 km

6Santa Cruz – Cowell'sUnited States · best January–May, October–December14 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 14°C water in season, 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ MRY 45 km

• Cowell's Beach Children's Surfing Area 0.3 km
• Little Wind-an-Sea 4.2 km
• Suicide's 4.4 km
• Sewer Peak 4.6 km
• and 10 more on the spot page

7Biarritz – Côte des BasquesFrance · best January–February, November–December13 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 14°C water in season, 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ BIQ 4 km

• Jo Moraiz Surf School 0.1 km
• La Vague Basque 0.1 km
• Le Club de la Glisse 3.6 km
• ESCF 3.7 km
• and 9 more on the spot page

8Newquay – Fistral BeachUnited Kingdom · best January–March, November–December3 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 11°C water in season, 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ NQY 8 km

• Escape Surf School 1 km
• Holywell Bay School of Surf 4.3 km
• Perranporth Surf School 8.7 km

9Tofino – Long BeachCanada · best January–April, October–December1 school nearbyBeginner-friendly · 10°C water in season, 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ YAZ 1 km

• Tofino Surf School 13.1 km

10Mount Maunganui – Main BeachNew Zealand · best April–July1 school nearbyBeginner-friendly · 17°C water in season, 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ TRG 5 km

• Mount Maunganui Surf Academy 0.9 km

11Lagos – Meia PraiaPortugal · best January–March2 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 16°C water in season, 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ PRM 8 km

• Lagos Surf Center 2 km
• Algarve Kite Center: school & rent 3.6 km

12Bournemouth – BoscombeUnited Kingdom · best November–December2 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 12°C water in season, 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ BOH 7 km

• Wetsuit Centre 1.4 km
• The Watersports Academy 6.8 km

13SayulitaMexico · best February1 school nearbyBeginner-friendly · ✈ PVR 29 km

• Lunazul Surf School & Shop 0.1 km

14BrouwersdamNetherlands · best January–February, November–December1 school nearbyBeginner-friendly · 8°C water in season, 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ RTM 45 km

• windsurf-school Brouwersdam 1 km

15DomburgNetherlands · best January–February, November–December2 schools nearbyBeginner-friendly · 8°C water in season, 6/5 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ OST 59 km

• Surfschool Veerse Dam 10.7 km
• Thijs Surfschool 11.2 km

Spots with easy conditions for beginners and schools nearby, ranked by the best months for surfing from years of weather data. Camps and schools are from OpenStreetMap; check with them directly before you book.

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