Intermediate: Ereaga (Good, 1.2 m, onshore around 19:00), Plentzia (Good, 1.1 m, cross-onshore around 17:00), La Arena (Good, 1.1 m, onshore around 18:00)
Beginners: Plentzia (Good, 1.1 m, cross-onshore around 17:00), Playa de Brazomar (Good, 1.0 m, cross-shore around 19:00)
Barinatxe (La Salvaje) · beach break, intermediate, best on NW swell with SSE/S wind, all tides. Wild, exposed beach with sand peaks and reef sections; lefts are favoured and crowds can be heavy.
Azkorri · point break, advanced, best on NW swell with SSW/S wind, all tides. Rocky left-hand point near the Gorrondatxe-Azkorri beach; works rarely and has few surfers.
Arrietara · beach break, intermediate, best on NNW/NW swell with S wind, all tides. Beach break between Barrika and Sopelana with lefts and rights; often flat in summer.
Sopelana (Larrabasterra) · beach break, intermediate, best on NW swell with SE/SSE wind, all tides. Dependable exposed beach break working at all tides and one of the busiest peaks near Bilbao.
Meñakoz · reef break, advanced, best on NNW/NW swell with SSE/S wind, mid tide. Powerful right-hand reef below cliffs, a big-wave spot that handles larger NW swells.
Punta Galea · point break, advanced, best on NW swell with SSE/S wind, mid tide. Exposed rocky headland at Getxo with a big-wave point break that needs large NW swell.
Arrigunaga · beach break, intermediate, best on NW swell with SE wind, all tides. Getxo sandbar beach with right-handers, popular and often crowded when swell reaches the bay.
Barrika · beach break, intermediate, best on NW swell with ENE/E wind, mid to high tide. Sheltered beach with reef sections that works only occasionally; offshore from the east.
Ereaga · beach break, beginner, best on NW swell with SE/SSE wind, all tides. Sheltered urban beach in Algorta; small waves only when big swell wraps in.
Plentzia · beach break, beginner, best on NW/N swell with SW/S wind, low tide. Sheltered estuary-side beach break that only gets small waves; suited to beginners at low tide.
La Arena · beach break, intermediate, best on NW swell with SSE/S wind, all tides. Exposed beach break at the western edge of Bizkaia with lefts and rights at all tides; rips can be strong.
Playa de Brazomar · beach break, beginner, best on NW/NNW swell with S wind, all tides. Quite exposed beach break that does not work often; rarely crowded and pollution can be an issue.
Bakio · beach break, beginner, best on NNW/NW swell with S wind, all tides. Long reliable beach break with lefts and rights at all tides; popular with schools and crowded on good days.
Peña Roja · beach break, intermediate, best on NNW/NW swell with SSE/S wind, low tide. Right-hand break just east of Bakio's main beach, best around low tide and moderate size.
When to surf in Bilbao
Best months for intermediate surfers: February, September to October. For beginners: February, September to November. The water goes from about 13 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 23 °C in July (Springsuit 2 mm or vest). 4 of the 14 spots suit beginners, such as Ereaga, Plentzia, Playa de Brazomar.
Days per month at the best third of the 14 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Bilbao?
The best-known are Bakio, Barinatxe (La Salvaje), Sopelana (Larrabasterra), Arrigunaga. In all, 14 spots lie within 18 km: 11 beach breaks, 1 reef break, 2 point breaks.
Where can beginners surf in Bilbao?
Ereaga, Plentzia, Playa de Brazomar, Bakio: 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 Bilbao?
For intermediate surfers February, September to October. For beginners February, September to November.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Bilbao?
The sea goes from about 13 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 23 °C in July (Springsuit 2 mm or vest).