Beginners: Biarritz Grande Plage (Fair, 1.0 m, cross-onshore around 09:00), Marinella (Fair, 1.1 m, cross-onshore around 09:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 01:03 UTC.
The spots
Biarritz Grande Plage · beach break, beginner, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with ENE/E/ESE wind, all tides. The main beach in Biarritz works on west swell with an east wind, and the busy lineup suits learners as well as locals. Mind the rocks at the sides.
VVF · beach break, intermediate, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with ENE/E/ESE wind, low tide. Anglet beach near the Chambre d'Amour that works works around low tide on west swell with an east wind. Crowds in the water can be heavy.
Les Sables d'Or · beach break, intermediate, best on WSW/W swell with ESE/E wind, all tides. Anglet beach breaks between groynes, with sandbar peaks on both sides of the lines of rock. A busy local spot with a surf school scene.
Côte des Basques · beach break, beginner, best on W/WNW swell with E wind, low tide. Long, gentle wave below the cliffs of Biarritz, regarded as the birthplace of surfing in Europe. Only usable at low tide because the beach is covered at high water.
Marinella · beach break, beginner, best on W/WNW swell with E/ESE wind, all tides. Anglet beach protected a little from southwest winds by the headland, holding sand-bottom peaks across the tide. Popular with learners and longboarders, so it fills up…
Marbella (Ilbarritz) · reef break, advanced, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with ENE/E/ESE wind, all tides. A reef break at Ilbarritz that works at all tides on west swell with an east wind. Rocks and small crowds.
La Madrague · beach break, beginner, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with ENE/E/ESE wind, all tides. Beach between jetties in Anglet that works at all tides on west swell with an east wind. Sheltered somewhat by the jetty and popular with schools.
Les Cavaliers · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW swell with E wind, low to mid tide. Consistent sandbar beach between breakwaters in Anglet, one of the most reliable waves of the Basque coast. Usually has a peak working somewhere along the beach and is…
Bidart (Plage du Centre) · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW swell with SE/ESE wind, all tides. Beach in front of Bidart village with sand peaks between rocky patches, working across the tide. Sheltered somewhat by the cliffs from some winds.
Parlementia · reef break, advanced, best on W/NW swell with SE/ESE wind, mid to high tide. Big-wave right-hand reef off Guéthary village that only wakes up on large swells and then peels a long way. Locals dominate the lineup when it is firing.
Cenitz · reef break, advanced, best on WSW/W/WNW swell with E/ESE/SE wind, mid tide. A reef at Guéthary that is works at mid tide on west swell with an east-southeast wind. Pretty mellow, but local etiquette applies.
When to surf in Biarritz
Best months for intermediate surfers: February to March, September to October. For beginners: April to June, September to November. The water goes from about 13 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 25 °C in August (Boardshorts / rash vest). Best-known spots: Biarritz Grande Plage. 4 of the 11 spots suit beginners, such as Biarritz Grande Plage, Côte des Basques, Marinella.
Days per month at the best third of the 11 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Biarritz?
The best-known are Biarritz Grande Plage, Côte des Basques, Marinella, Les Cavaliers. In all, 11 spots lie within 9 km: 8 beach breaks, 3 reef breaks.
Where can beginners surf in Biarritz?
Biarritz Grande Plage, Côte des Basques, Marinella, La Madrague: sandy, more forgiving spots. Surf them on small days, ideally with a lesson or near the lifeguards.
When is the best time to surf in Biarritz?
For intermediate surfers February to March, September to October. For beginners April to June, September to November.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Biarritz?
The sea goes from about 13 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 25 °C in August (Boardshorts / rash vest).