Best time to surf in France
February to April, September to October for intermediate surfers, March to April, September to December for beginners, and February for the biggest waves. Month by month below, from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at 70 spots. Updated 3 November 2026.
| Month | Good days (intermediate) | Beginner days | Good days (advanced) | Typical waves | Water | Best region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1.2–1.8 m | 12 °C | Morbihan |
| February | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1.4–2 m | 12 °C | Pyrénées-Atlantiques |
| March | 7 | 8 | 8 | 1.2–1.8 m | 12 °C | Gironde |
| April | 4 | 9 | 3 | 1.1–1.7 m | 14 °C | Gironde |
| May | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1–1.4 m | 17 °C | Landes |
| June | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1–1.6 m | 21 °C | Finistère |
| July | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1–1.4 m | 22 °C | Landes |
| August | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1–1.4 m | 23 °C | Gironde |
| September | 6 | 9 | 3 | 1–1.6 m | 21 °C | Landes |
| October | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1.1–1.7 m | 18 °C | Landes |
| November | 5 | 9 | 5 | 1.1–1.7 m | 16 °C | Landes |
| December | 8 | 8 | 6 | 1.1–1.7 m | 13 °C | Landes |
Days per month at the best third of the spots for each level, rated the way the app rates them. Model data, not observations. Method.
By region
| Region | Intermediate | Beginners | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landes | March to April, September to December | September to December | 12–24 °C |
| Basque Coast | February to March, September to October | September to November | 13–25 °C |
| Gironde | March to April, September to October, December | March to April, September to October, December | 11–22 °C |
| Pyrénées-Atlantiques | February to March, September to October | April to June, September to November | 13–24 °C |
| Vendée | March | March to April, December | 9–21 °C |
| Finistère | February to April | March to April, September | 10–19 °C |
| Morbihan | January to April | March to April | 10–19 °C |
| Manche | December to January | few beginner days | 9–20 °C |
Questions
What is the best month to surf in France?
December, with about 8 good days for an intermediate surfer at the best spots. The best run of months is February to April, September to October.
When is the best time to surf in France for beginners?
March to April, September to December, when the beginner spots have the most days of small, clean waves.
When are the biggest waves in France?
February has the biggest typical surf (about 1.4–2 m at the spots we follow). That is the season for experienced surfers.
Can you surf in France in summer?
Mostly small: June to August bring almost no good days for intermediate surfers; it is the season for learning, not for good waves.
How warm is the water in France?
About 12 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 23 °C in August (Springsuit 2 mm or vest).
More: all surf spots in France · this week's forecast · wetsuit by month · why the swell period matters.