The beach below Biarritz's cliffs where surfing arrived in Europe in the late 1950s, and still the spiritual home of French longboarding. Long, slow, peeling waves roll over a wide sandy beach, at their gentlest on the lower half of the tide (at high tide the beach all but disappears). Surf schools line the promenade. Best from spring to autumn with light easterly winds.
🌡️ ~19.7°C now · a 2mm spring suit / shorty
Beginner: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Intermediate: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Advanced: not suitable for this level
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Côte des Basques. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Intermediate: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Advanced: not suitable for this level
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Côte des Basques's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 11 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 13° | 13° | 13° | 15° | 17° | 21° | 23° | 24° | 22° | 20° | 17° | 14° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 5.8 ft (1.8 m), with cross-offshore winds around 13 km/h from the S. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.5 ft (1.7 m), with cross-offshore winds around 11 km/h from the SE. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.0 ft (1.5 m), with cross-onshore winds around 12 km/h from the S. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.2 m), with onshore winds around 12 km/h from the W. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.3 ft (1.0 m), with onshore winds around 11 km/h from the W. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 2.7 ft (0.8 m), with onshore winds around 9 km/h from the NW. Water is ~21°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.1 ft (1.0 m), with onshore winds around 10 km/h from the NW. Water is ~23°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 3.6 ft (1.1 m), with onshore winds around 10 km/h from the NW. Water is ~24°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for beginners.
Waves average 4.0 ft (1.2 m), with cross-onshore winds around 9 km/h from the SW. Water is ~22°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 11 km/h from the S. Water is ~20°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for beginners and intermediates.
Waves average 5.1 ft (1.6 m), with cross-offshore winds around 12 km/h from the S. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 6.2 ft (1.9 m), with cross-offshore winds around 11 km/h from the S. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
For beginners: Apr–Oct. For intermediates: Sep–Mar. The biggest waves come in December, averaging 6.2 ft (1.9 m), and the smallest in June, at 2.7 ft (0.8 m).
It ranges from ~13°C in January to ~24°C in August, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In January (~13°C): a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. In August (~24°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed.
Yes. The best months for beginners are Apr–Oct, when waves average around 3.5 ft (1.1 m).
The nearest airport is BIQ, and the nearest town is Biarritz, France.
