Where to go surfing in Europe in May
The 29 best surfing spots in Europe in May, 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 May: Peniche – Baleal (Portugal), Fuerteventura – Flag Beach (Spain) & Fuerteventura – El Cotillo (Spain).
- Water at the top 10: 11–21°C.
- For beginners: Peniche – Baleal, Fuerteventura – Flag Beach & Zarautz.
By continent
Peniche – BalealPortugal · water 16°C · air 20°C1.9 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ LIS 68 km2
Fuerteventura – Flag BeachSpain · water 20°C · air 24°C1.6 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ FUE 30 km3
Fuerteventura – El CotilloSpain · water 20°C · air 23°C1.6 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ FUE 28 km4
Ericeira – Ribeira d'IlhasPortugal · water 16°C · air 20°C1.7 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ CAT 30 km5
Nazaré – Praia do NortePortugal · water 17°C · air 20°C1.6 m wavesAdvanced only · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ LIS 92 km6
Gran Canaria – Pozo IzquierdoSpain · water 21°C · air 25°C1.3 m wavesAdvanced only · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ LPA 13 km7
Tiree – BalevullinUnited Kingdom · water 11°C · air 13°C1.8 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ TRE 6 km8
Biscarrosse PlageFrance · water 17°C · air 20°C1.4 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ BOD 60 km9
Costa da Caparica – Fonte da TelhaPortugal · water 17°C · air 24°C1.4 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ CAT 22 km10
El MédanoSpain · water 21°C · air 24°C1.1 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ TFS 3 km11
ZarautzSpain · water 17°C · air 20°C1.3 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ EAS 32 km12
MundakaSpain · water 17°C · air 20°C1.2 m wavesAdvanced only · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ BIO 21 km13
LahinchIreland · water 14°C · air 15°C1.4 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ SNN 38 km14
SopelanaSpain · water 17°C · air 20°C1.2 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ BIO 12 km15
PorthlevenUnited Kingdom · water 13°C · air 16°C1.4 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ NQY 46 km16
Biarritz – Côte des BasquesFrance · water 18°C · air 20°C1.1 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ BIQ 4 km17
Freshwater WestUnited Kingdom · water 13°C · air 16°C1.3 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ CWL 123 km18
Croyde BayUnited Kingdom · water 14°C · air 16°C1.2 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ CWL 69 km19
KlitmøllerDenmark · water 12°C · air 14°C1.3 m wavesAdvanced only · 5/4 wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves · ✈ AAL 83 km20
Lagos – Meia PraiaPortugal · water 17°C · air 24°C1 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ PRM 8 km21
Newquay – Fistral BeachUnited Kingdom · water 13°C · air 16°C1.2 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ NQY 8 km22
Tarifa – Los LancesSpain · water 18°C · air 23°C0.8 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ GIB 29 km23
Chia – Su GiudeuItaly · water 19°C · air 22°C0.7 m wavesIntermediate and up · 3/2 wetsuit · ✈ CAG 43 km24
Hyères – L'AlmanarreFrance · water 18°C · air 23°C0.7 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ TLN 6 km25
Sylt – WesterlandGermany · water 13°C · air 13°C1 m wavesIntermediate and up · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ GWT 3 km26
Bournemouth – BoscombeUnited Kingdom · water 14°C · air 17°C0.9 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ BOH 7 km27
Hossegor – La GravièreFrance · water 17°C · air 21°C1.1 m wavesIntermediate and up · 4/3 wetsuit · ✈ BIQ 24 km28
DomburgNetherlands · water 15°C · air 17°C0.8 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ OST 59 km29
BrouwersdamNetherlands · water 14°C · air 17°C0.8 m wavesBeginner-friendly · 5/4 wetsuit and boots · ✈ RTM 45 kmThe 29 spots with the best surfing conditions in May, 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 May?
Peniche – Baleal (Portugal): 1.9 m waves; Fuerteventura – Flag Beach (Spain): 1.6 m waves; Fuerteventura – El Cotillo (Spain): 1.6 m waves.
Where is the water warm in May?
Gran Canaria – Pozo Izquierdo: 21°C, 3/2 wetsuit; El Médano: 21°C, 3/2 wetsuit; Fuerteventura – Flag Beach: 20°C, 3/2 wetsuit.
Where can beginners go surfing in May?
Good spots for beginners this month: Peniche – Baleal, Fuerteventura – Flag Beach & Zarautz.
Other months
More ideas
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