The Ultimate Surf Road Trip through Europe

We have visited Hossegor many times before, and we keep coming back to this wave magnet. There are so many waves on offer here, ALL YEAR long. Even in summer, when the swell is obviously smaller, you can still find many spots that work up some decent waves. Exploring the coastlines of Hossegor’s surroundings with a camper van is actually the best way to do it. There are many camp spots available, ranging from very basic to more luxurious campgrounds.

Camp spots:

• Wild camping: parking at Plage des Casernes
• Camper van parking: Aire Camping-Car Park de Seignosse
• Camping: Les Chevreuils 

Surf spots:

• La Graviere: Hossegor’s most famous spot and definitely not for the faint-hearted. This is an expert only spot with its steep, hollow, and fast tubes.
• Le Sud: If you’re a beginner, Le Sud is your safest bet for a more forgiving surf session. It’s also quite a mellow wave, making it attractive for longboarders.
• Le Nord: this is Hossegors big wave spot which can hold up to 6 meter. Definitely an expert spot only as well.
• Seignosse: honestly, this is my favorite spot. There are multiple peaks here, offering you more forgiving waves than Le Nord and La Graviere, but a bit more challenging ones than Le Sud. Le Penon is perfect for intermediates and more advanced surfers.

The good thing about surfing France, is that there are so many good after surf treats. From fresh croissants for breakfast at L’Autre Endroit or big breakfast plates at Pacific Coast Cafe, to yummy lunches at Spot Palace and typical French dinners at Le Bistro Balneaire: you will be spoiled. Want a more extensive guide about Hossegor’s surf spots and places to eat? Make sure to check out our Hossegor Guide!

San Sebastián, our favorite city in Europe! A surf road trip isn’t complete without at least three nights in this cool place. The city is not really camper van friendly, so we would suggest booking a hotel or Airbnb for a few nights to properly enjoy it. San Sebastián is all about surfing, good food, good wines, and the typical Southern European outdoor living. Believe us, you wouldn’t be the first that gets hooked here.

The good thing about San Sebastián is, that it’s not just a beautiful city with lots of things to do, but it also has a surf beach right in town. It’s not the most reliable spot on the Basque Coast, and it does get pretty crowded when it works. But hey, who doesn’t like an early morning surf session before a day of city exploring? The surf is best to be enjoyed from September till May.

Camp spots:

• Wild camping: definitely not allowed. Regular check-ups and fines here.
• Camper van parking: Autokarabanak Paseo de Berio. It is about 4 km from the city centre of San Sebastián, but public transport is well arranged. Get here early in the morning, though, as it fills up quick.
• Camping: only available outside San Sebastián. Wecamp south of the city or Camping Oliden north of town are worth checking out.

Surf spots:

• Zurriola: San Sebastián’s main surf beach is Playa Zurriola. It’s a nice A-frame beach break, offering lefts and rights. There’s not much going on in summer, but the rest of the year it’s a fun intermediate wave. Does get very crowded.
• La Concha: only works outside the summer months, and it needs quite a bit of swell to work. When it works, it’s a good spot for beginners.

As there are so many spots to eat and stay, San Sebastián obviously requires its own guide to share it all. So make sure to check out our Ultimate San Sebastián Guide when visiting this beautiful city!

While you’re making your way down the coast, stopping at Loredo and Somo can be a whole lot of fun. These two towns share a big bay that’s spilling waves all year long. Though summers are small and crowded with surf schools and beginners, the rest of the year this place might surprise you. The town of Somo is a proper surf town, while Loredo is a bit smaller and low-key. Both towns, however, are directly situated at the long stretch of golden sand beach that goes on for about 8 km.

Camp spots:

• Wild camping: there are different parking spots close to the beach
• Camper van parking: Area de Somo
• Camping: camping Derby Loredo has the best location right at the beach. Facilities aren’t the best and there’s very little shade to find.

Surf spots:

• Somo: a sheltered beach break that has some of the most reliable surf in Spain. It’s very beginner-friendly, but also has a few more challenging peaks. Somo can be surfed during all tides, ideally with a NNW swell direction.
• Loredo: as Loredo is even more sheltered than Somo, the waves are even more mellow and beginner-friendly. You might have some flat days during summer here.

You’ve made it to Galicia! This is where the real fun begins. Galicia is well known for its unspoiled nature, waves, and great cuisine and wines, and all of that without the masses of holiday crowds. We walked empty beaches, surfed empty waves, and had sunset picnics at the most amazing viewpoints all by ourselves. It’s also the place where you’ll definitely need to start using a 4’3 or 5’4 wetsuit and might wanna bring some booties.

Your first stop in this beautiful part of Spain should certainly be Playa de Esteiro. The area is absolutely stunning and gives you a real taste of the remoteness Galicia has to offer. There are many beautiful beaches like Playa de Esteiro, Playa Caolin, and Playa de Bares. There are also many hiking trails on offer to explore the surroundings. As the area is quite remote, there are no campings around. Though wild camping is officially prohibited, you’ll see many people doing it outside the holiday season.

Camp spots:

• Wild camping: parking at Playa de Esteiro for surfing, or parking at the cliffs of Praia do Picon for epic views. Look up “el Banco mas bonito del Mundo” in Google. 
• Campervan parking: no official spot. If you need to get water or need to get rid of your waste; gas stations would be your best bet.
• Camping: there are no campings close by. But if wild camping isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to consider spending a few nights at the Banana Longboard House.

Surf spots:

• Playa de Esteiro: a consistent beach break that works almost the whole year through, offering both left and rights.
• Praia Sarridal: another fairly consistent beach break with both left and right handers. It won’t work all year long, though; the best time to visit is either spring or autumn.

White sands and crystal clear blue waters; Praia do San Xurxo is your Galician paradise. One of the prettiest surf beaches around with the best water quality as there are no river mouths. The waves are mellow here, so it’s a good spot for beginners, longboarders, and intermediates. When the wind picks up, this spot attracts a lot of kite surfers, windsurfers, and wing foils.

Camp spots:

• Wild camping: there are multiple parking lots next to the beach of San Xurxo which are suitable for wild camping. Especially the spot close to Club Ferrolvento is popular. Again, officially not allowed, so wouldn’t recommend it in high season.
• Camper van parking: there’s no official spot at San Xurxo, but there’s one at the next beach of Praia de Doniños.
• Camping: Camping As Cabazas is situated at the northern end of the beach. It’s an expensive camping with basic facilities, but you can’t beat the location of it.

Surf spots:

• Praia do San Xurxo: an exposed beach and point break, offering waves all year long. It needs a SE wind and a NW swell, but will turn into kite surfer paradise when the winds are strong. It’s a popular spot, so can get pretty crowded when the swell is good and over the weekends.