Best Time to Surf France
The best time to surf France is September to November: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 9 of the 9 France breaks we map at the peak.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
Surf in France month by month
How many of the 9 breaks we map in France are at their best in each month, and which ones. The busiest months are highlighted.
January
0 at their best · 0 in season
February
0 at their best · 0 in season
March
0 at their best · 0 in season
April
0 at their best · 0 in season
May
0 at their best · 0 in season
June
0 at their best · 0 in season
July
0 at their best · 0 in season
August
0 at their best · 0 in season
September
9 at their best · 9 in season
La Gravière, Les Cavaliers, Lafitenia, Grande Plage, Lacanau, Côte des Basques, La Nord, Parlementia +1 more
October
9 at their best · 9 in season
La Gravière, Les Cavaliers, Lafitenia, Grande Plage, Lacanau, Côte des Basques, La Nord, Parlementia +1 more
November
9 at their best · 9 in season
La Gravière, Les Cavaliers, Lafitenia, Grande Plage, Lacanau, Côte des Basques, La Nord, Parlementia +1 more
December
0 at their best · 0 in season
Lefts, rights and peaks in France
Every break we map here, by what the wave breaks over and which way it peels — a left peels to the surfer's left as they ride towards the beach.
| Break type | Lefts | Rights | Both ways / A-frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point | — | Lafitenia | — |
| Reef | — | Parlementia | — |
| Beach | — | — | La Gravière, Les Cavaliers, Grande Plage, Lacanau, Côte des Basques, La Nord, Les Estagnots |
Season at every France break
Each break's stated season, with its best months filled in.
- Grande Plage
Biarritz
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- La Gravière
Hossegor
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Lafitenia
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Côte des Basques
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- La Nord
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Lacanau
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Les Cavaliers
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Les Estagnots
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Parlementia
- Wave
- Reef break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- September to November (autumn)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
Surf spots in France by level
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf France?
The best time to surf France is September to November: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 9 of the 9 France breaks we map at the peak.
Can you surf France all year round?
Not every month. None of the 9 breaks we map in France lists December to August in its season.
When is the best time for beginners to surf France?
The 2 beginner-rated breaks we map in France (Grande Plage and Côte des Basques) are mostly at their best in September to November. Smaller days in the shoulder months are easier to learn on.
Which surf breaks in France are lefts and which are rights?
Rights: Lafitenia and Parlementia. The table below splits every break we map in France by type and direction.