The luck of residing on a peninsula like the Iberian one—especially if you’re a surf enthusiast—is that there are incredible coasts to give your best on a board with the finest waves. The north of Spain, in particular, is a fabulous option if you seek nature, swell, and fun. And indeed, Galicia is dotted with surf schools and companies all along its coast.
See for yourself by learning from the best surfers or practising alongside them some of the techniques that keep them "on the crest of the wave"—literally. If you already were (or are) a lover of Galician culture, cuisine, and architecture, just wait until you surf while embracing everything the Atlantic Ocean has in store for you.
To get you warmed up and planning your next surf getaway, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best beaches for surfing across Galicia’s provinces, including those closest if you’re in Ourense.
1. Beaches to surf in Pontevedra
2. Beaches to surf in A Coruña
3. Beaches to surf in Lugo
- La Lanzada: A beach situated on an isthmus with a protected wetland for birds, forming a unique ecosystem around the La Lanzada beach, the Bao marsh, and its surroundings. It’s a long beach with numerous surfable peaks. The best wave is the left that breaks near a rock at the start of the beach. Northeast wind. At low tide, a good right and left wave appear in the middle of the beach. Heading towards El Grove, you’ll find a spot that works well when the north wind is strong. Highly recommended.
- Foxos: This beach is often an alternative, especially in summer when waves are scarce. It produces left and right waves.
- Montalvo: A powerful wave over a sandy bottom. The northeast wind is ideal for making the wave hollow.
- Canelas: A beach that needs a high tide to produce a powerful left wave over sand. When Montalvo is big, this beach can offer a stunning session.
- Silgar: Located in the town of Sanxenxo, it’s sometimes the only surfable beach when conditions are off. Variable peak. Since sand was removed to widen the beach, it now requires a strong swell to work.
- Cabo Home (Costa de la Vela): In Cangas, you’ll find this spot with tricky access. Works best at mid/low tide. Handles big swells and can jump from 1m to 2m in two sets.
- Vilarube: A beach in the Cedeira estuary. A powerful right breaks at low tide, ideal with a southwest wind. A good option when the sea is messy. Wave quality is average.
- Baleo: Works well with a southeast wind, producing a gorgeous right. The beach is nudist—so in summer, you can imagine the scene.
- Pantín: One of the best waves you’ll surf in Galicia. A right breaks near a channel you can paddle into, taking you straight to the peak. Best with a southeast wind. Hosts a WQS World Championship event.
- Pantín Centro: Pantín handles big swells. A fantastic right breaks here over sand. Ideal southeast wind.
- Valdoviño: Powerful wave over sand. A solid alternative when other beaches are flat.
- Valdoviño Lago: Powerful wave over sand. Best with a west wind.
- Campelo: A barrelling, hollow wave under a cliff. Access isn’t well-marked. Packed in summer. Warning! Don’t judge the wave size from the railing—it’s deceptive. Check it up close.
- Campelo Derecha: A powerful right over rock and sand. Works with an east wind.
- Ponzos: The bottom changes often. Usually a right wave, best with a west wind.
- Santa Comba: Needs a strong swell and southwest wind. The worthwhile wave is the shorebreak at mid/high tide.
- Fragata: Left and right wave. Works well with a northeast wind, but Doniños must be off for good conditions.
- Centro Esmelle: A bit tricky to reach, but the wave is powerful and works with an east wind.
- San Jorge: Best with a south wind. Popular—a great option when the south wind is strong.
- Doniños: One of Galicia’s most popular spots. A powerful wave works best at low tide with a northeast wind.
- Doniños Río: Located at a river mouth. Lefts and rights. Needs a northwest wind and high tide.
- Doniños Outeiro: Often busy. Works with an east wind at low/mid tide. Lefts and rights. Protected from the northeast.
- Nemiña: On the Costa da Morte, near Cape Finisterre. Protected from north winds. Rights and lefts.
- Playa del Rostro: Also on the Costa da Morte. A good alternative on flat days. Variable peak.
- Razo: A great right wave. Best with a southwest wind. Has a campsite and even a surf school.
- Bastiagueiro: A mellow wave over sand. Often crowded. No defined peak.
- Orzán: A left breaks mid-beach with average quality. Located in A Coruña city. Busy. Works with a southeast wind over sand and rock.
- Matadero: A spot to the right of Orzán beach, also crowded. Works best with a south wind. In winter, a hollow right appears.
- Sabón: CAUTION! Water isn’t as clean as desired. A powerful wave with a variable peak. Southeast wind.
- Sabón Alba: Left over sand. Polluted water. Southeast wind.
- Barrañán: Best with a south wind. Variable peak over sand and rock. A long beach with scattered rocks.
- Caión: Best at mid/high tide. Variable peak over sand. Southwest wind. A small beach.
- Malpica: Ideal at mid-tide. A powerful wave over sand with a variable peak. Southwest wind. Crowded in summer.
- Traba: Best with a northwest swell and southeast wind—a powerful, barrelling wave at mid-tide over sand.
- Louro: Needs a west or southwest swell. Sandy bottom, ideal northeast wind.
- Corrubedo (El Vilar): In a natural park. Requires a strong swell for this powerful wave over sand. Northeast wind.
- Ladeira: Needs a west or southwest swell. Sandy bottom. Variable peak, south wind.
- Balieiros: A rocky, heavy wave—more so than El Vilar. Only works at low tide (high tide breaks onto rocks). Few surfers. East winds.
- Seráns: Between Balieiros and Furnas. Sandy bottom shifts the peak. Rarely busy. Perfect south-southwest wind.
- Espiñeirido: Once glorious, but rarely breaks well now. When it does, it’s "hollow", short, and close to shore.
- Río Sieiro: A hollow wave, great with a southeast wind. Excellent water quality. Variable peak.
- Castro de Baroña: Under a stunning landscape near a Celtic village. A powerful right (up to 2.5m) breaks near the ruins. A fantastic left also breaks in front of the beach centre house.
- Ribadeo: With a big swell, a great right breaks below the Ribadeo bridge. A long wave over sand. Tricky access. South wind. As they say, "it needs a big swell".
- Reinante: A powerful wave over sand and rock. Ideal south wind.
- Barreiros: Known as Oliñas, on the far side of the Foz estuary. A powerful wave with a variable peak. The best wave breaks near the restaurant. South wind.
- Foz (estuary): A powerful, long right over sand. South wind. Excellent.
- Foz (harbour): Powerful wave over sand. South wind. A top choice.
- Peinzas: A powerful left over rock. Best at low tide. The spot is in a cove. South wind is ideal.
- Noia: Powerful wave over sand and rock. Needs some swell. Lefts and rights. South wind.
- Burela: Rarely crowded. Powerful lefts and rights over sand and rock. South wind.
- Burela (Amarosa): Powerful wave, variable peak. Few surfers. South wind.
- Esteiro: Near Cape Estaca de Bares. A mellow wave over sand. Close to Viveiro.
- San Román: A gorgeous left over rock and sand. Sheltered from northwest winds. The beach is shell-shaped.
