19 Most Iconic Surfing Beaches On Earth

This guide to the world’s most iconic surfing beaches hops from North America to Africa, Indo to Europe, all to showcase some of the planet’s most legendary sands.

There are famous surfing beaches on just about every continent these days. Europe’s got Nazare’s Norte, America has Ocean Beach and Waikiki, Africa touts the sands around Taghazout and Cape Town.

Let’s face it: Any list of the most iconic on Earth could easily run into the 100s. Well…we thought we’d start you off with a humble 17. These are the surfing beaches that came to mind first when our team of in-house experts went for a coffee and a cake to argue it out (scientific, eh?).

It’s a good snapshot of what we think are the beaches that every budding surfer should know about, a snapshot we’re almost certain to add to as names come to mind!

Watergate Bay – known, simply, as The Bay to Cornish locals – is one of the most famous beaches in England‘s surf-kissed southwestern county. We could just as well have put Fistral Beach here. That’s only a click to the south and offers slabby monsters in winter storms. But Watergate Bay steals it because it’s a chameleon of a beach, with waves for all levels depending on the season and the tide. It’s also linked to Newquay town, the UK’s surf capital, where you can find rentals, old fishing cottages to rent, and a surprisingly wild nightlife scene.

When to go – Spring through to fall is best (November-April)

Where to stay – The Beachcombers is one of the few properties actually on Watergate. Some apartments have views of the waves. You could also stay down in Newquay town, but you’ll need a car to get in from there, though the gastronomy and nightlife is a lot better.

Beach breaks aren’t known for their barreling prowess. Most of the time, you gotta’ luck out with good sandbanks and whatnot. God forgot to tell Supertubos that. This is Europe’s – and probably the world’s – finest hollow shore break. With big swells hitting the Portuguese coast in fall and winter, it churns out Hawaii-esque tubes that demand superfast drop ins and a steady rail to see you through. It’s pros only, really, though the beginner beaches of Baleal and Peniche proper are only a short drive north.

When to go – The autumn is our fav. Go in September for smaller waves or November for bigger days.

Where to stay – The Pineapple Surf House is the closest of all to Supertubos, sat just over the dunes. If you want more beginner friendly stuff in the area, then check out the surf camps in Baleal and Peniche.

Monsters rage into Nazare‘s North Beach (Praia do Norte) when the autumn month hit and the Atlantic turns on the NW swell channels in earnest. The largest waves in the world have been surfed just off the boulders and cliffs at the southern end of this hallowed bay. Only a handful of the planet’s finest chargers can handle them, so join the onlookers in October and November instead. They gather at the top of Nazare funicular by the lighthouse. It makes for epic viewing.

When to go – The big wave season last all winter but the best months are usually November and December

Where to stay – Bright, breezy and right on the main beach in Nazare (not Praia Norte, but the city beach, where there’s more accessible surf for us mere mortals), Nazare Marisol Praia is the hotel to go for.

Hossegor is the king of European beach slabs. If we had a cent for every time we saw a pic of a hollow A-frame curling its way onto the shores of the town’s iconic Graviere beach in a surf mag, we’d have something like 10 euros by now. They’re stunning things, sculpted to perfection by sandbanks that move around and shift, before suddenly settling to suck up NW swells and give some of the continent’s most sought-after performance waves. It’s by far the most famous of all the surfing beaches in France.

When to go – All year, but winter is biggest

Where to stay – The Hôtel & Spa Villa Seren is the luxury option, with its pool and riverside views just back from the main beaches of Hossegor.

Kuta is often criticized (by us, too) for its overdevelopment and nightlife excess, but there’s no denying that it remains a top destination for novice surfers and one of the world’s most iconic surfing beaches. Despite its transformation into a hub of tourism and partying, Kuta’s surf attracts beginners with its manageable waves and abundance of surf schools. It’s taught gazillions of people how to get on the waves, and for that, sky bars or not, we must doff our cap.

When to go – Dry season in Bali, which is Nov-March

Where to stay – The YELLO Hotel Kuta Beachwalk (budget) and the Grand Istana Rama Hotel (not-so-budget) both have prime access to the main surf areas of Kuta Beach. IMO, though, the better option is a surf camp in Bali, which might not go to Kuta but will show you the best of the island.

Zicatela is one to drool at. When the XL swells punch through in the summer, the main playa of Puerto Escondido – the surf capital of Oaxaca state – becomes a veritable amphitheater of onlookers. They come to see who can handle what’s surely one of the steepest, fastest drops of any beach break on the globe, into a gnarly tube that you’d swear is a closeout if you only blinked for one second. The good news? There are beginner-friendly beaches to the north and south of Zicatela that host fine surf camps and beachside hotels.

When to go – The Mexican summer, from April-September

Where to stay – For the everyman surfer, the Villas Carrizalillo are a fine bet. They aren’t on Zicatela, but rather on a beach to the north that has smaller waves for all levels. You can easily travel to watch the chargers when you like, plus there’s a pool and nice sun terraces overlooking the coast.

Nestled beneath towering cliffs in La Jolla, Blacks offers one of the most potent swells of any beach on the West Coast, courtesy of an underwater canyon that amplifies wave energy. It can handle the size, too, and rarely maxes out – when it’s on, it’s like Cali’s answer to Hossegor. Oh yea, and the setting is super nice, what with the jagged rock formations of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve above and the outline of San Diego city in the distance.

When to go – June-November for good south swells

Where to stay – You’ll need to rent a car (but you’ll likely need to do that for any West Coast surf trip) to stay in La Jolla and visit Blacks, but it’s worth it for nice accomodations like the Inn by the Sea.

San Fran locals draw a certain modicum of pride from the fact that Ocean Beach is their main go-to. This long run of pounding beach breaks and ridiculous rips is the main urban stretch in the Paris of the West. It’s not easy stuff. Many boards have been broken; bones, too. There’s really no saying what it will do here either. Some days its just bombs going off one after the other. Others it’s closeouts from the bay entrance all the way down south.

When to go – June-November is again the sweet spot

Where to stay – Look for something in the upscale area of Richmond, like this quirky Victorian mansion rental with its own hot tub.

The tanned bodies of Pamela and The Hoff put Zuma on the map, when this spot was used as a backdrop to Baywatch in the 80s and 90s. Highly exposed to oncoming NW swells, the spot has peak after peak that work very consistently most winters and throughout the summers. And it’s really just the start of what’s on offer in Malibu – the point breaks that you’ll find a touch further along the 101 are also legendary!

When to go – Summer is best but it’s all-year-round here

Where to stay – The Surfrider is one of the best beachside hotels on the whole Pacific Coast Highway if you ask us. So, so cool.

We say Tamraght to mean Taghazout. The reason? Anyone who comes surfing in Morocco’s surf capital is probably going to do most of their practice on this more chilled section of Atlantic shore to the south of Tag village. We actually love it, because it’s got real nice vibes, loads of surf schools, and mellow, mellow waves.

When to go – Winter (Nov-March)

Where to stay – Tamraght is home to many of the best surf camps in the Taghazout area. If you want a hotel only, then consider the Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay. Yes, it’s a resort but it’s got very private stretches of beach and has a stunning pool and spacious suites.

Bells Beach, located in Victoria, the state at the southeastern edge of Australia, is world-renowned for its powerful swells. It hosts the Rip Curl Pro Surfing Competition each year, one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the world of surfing, attracting top surfers and enthusiasts globally. The natural amphitheater shape of the coastline provides spectators with a unique viewing experience. You can hit the cliffs and watch the long rifle tube rights marching into the bay. It’s section after section after section on this classic Aussie wave.

When to go – March-Oct for the biggest S swells

Where to stay – Wood-fired stoves and country views make the Bells Beach Cottages the best pick in the vicinty of the beach itself. The alternative is to base yourself in nearby Torquay town, which has lots of surf beaches, more bars, and loads more accomodation.

Little old Wales boasts the legendary 5-mile run of Llangennith Beach. Ridiculously consistent, it’s essentially the epicenter of the Welsh surf scene today (though nearby Langland also has a claim to that). The paddle out here gets brutal, but catch it on 3-5 foot with a light easterly offshore and you’ll see why it’s famous. The setting is jaw-dropping, with heather-clad mountains behind and the rugged Worm’s Head island emerging from the Atlantic to the south.

When to go – All year, but winter is bigger and summer is mainly for logging

Where to stay – Bed down in the King’s Head Inn, a hearty Welsh pub that does local food, real ales, and even weekend live music. It’s in a village about 5 minutes’ drive from the north end of Llangennith.

Waikiki Beach in Hawaii is famed worldwide for its gentle, long-rolling waves, perfect for beginners and longboard enthusiasts. It’s got the historical pedigree, too: This is hailed as the birthplace of modern surfing and the onetime stomping ground of The Duke himself. The backdrop of Diamond Head crater is just a bonus, as are those uber-cool 50s and 60s resort hotels along the shore. If you’re gonna’ surf in Hawaii this is a great place to start.

When to go – Waikiki is best in summer, between June and August

Where to stay – Waikiki is laden with super-cool hotels. Stay in any of the ones along the shoreline. We espeically love the Halekulani, a 5-star option with pools by the Pacific.

Muizenberg is located over the other side of Table Mountain from Cape Town. Celebrated as one of the world’s premier surf beaches, it draws surfers of all levels with its long, gentle waves and consistent conditions. Its hallmark is the colorful Victorian beach houses that line the shore, creating a picturesque backdrop for the wide, sandy beach that stretches invitingly. The water temperature is relatively mild, making it an all-year-round surfing destination. But Muizenberg isn’t only about the surf; it’s also a hub of surf schools, cafes, and shops, with a hubbub of sunbathers and lazers throughout the South African summer.

When to go – All-year, better for beginners in summer (Nov-March)

Where to stay – We love the offering from African Soul Surfer, who run a 7-day surf camp that’s great for beginners near Muizenberg. For a hotel only, choose THE PLACE, a stylish hangout with its own bar and pool.

Asked about his all-time favorite surf break, a certain Kelly Slater name dropped the Soup Bowl for its uber-fun bowly walls. They break just beyond the reefs of Bathsheba Beach, between clusters of arrowhead like rocks and long stretches of gold-flecked Caribbean sand. The waves here only come to life in the winter (Oct-March). The rest of the year is fickle, though you can still come for swims in bath-warm waters and Bajan seafood buffets!

When to go –Winter (Nov-March)

Where to stay – Rest Haven Beach Cottages are simple, affordable and very close to the iconic Soup Bowl.

Sri Lanka’s southwestern shoreline is riddled with all sorts of nooks and crannies to surf in. Reef rights bless the coast of Midigama, there are solid points in Mirissa and Hiriketiya, and a whole range of deeper reefs being discovered in Ahangama (the new darling of the SL surf scene). But it’s Weligama that usually stars becuase it’s the main place to learn to surf. It’s crowded but its fun and has some of the best surf schools in the country just to its back.

When to go – The dry season, which is from November to March. (If you come to Sri Lanka any other time, head to Arugam Bay).

Where to stay – Some of the best surf hotels in Sri Lanka pepper the headlands around Weligama. Of the lot, we adore the shoreline views and pool at Eraeliya Villas & Gardens, from where you can explore Midigama and Weligama itself.

Playa Tamarindo is to US travelers what Peniche is to European ones. A learner’s playground, it’s emerged as Costa Rica’s surf capital in the last decade, and there’s now all the nightlife and chic hotels and cool breweries to go with that. The waves, though, remain the same. This is one glorious arc of sand that picks up great dry-season and wet-season swell, offering various reef and sandbar waves at different levels of the tide.

When to go – Wet season is best, between May and September

Where to stay – The Playa Grande Surf Camp oozes authentic Tico character with it’s palm-thatched cottages and surf programs. There are also oodles of surf camps in Tamarindo that offer fully-fledged packages.

Byron, oh Byron. Once the hippy surf escpae of NSW, this town is now more about A-list celebs and open-top Porsches than it is hemp smoking and New Age meditators. But it’s written firmly into the annals of surf history and remains arguably the quintessential spot of the East Coast. Spots include The Wreck, a fun little A-frame that really gets going on a pushing tide, and The Pass, a long, sectiony right that’s often got 200-plus people jostling for rides.

When to go – June to August sees the most reliable swells here.

Where to stay – Azur Byron Bay is out of the main town but within walking distance of The Wreck. It’s got a cool, east-coast vibe and a nice pool area. The Surf House is more centrally located for hitting The Pass and has a real hubbub about it, plus on-site board rental.