9 Awesome Surf Camps in Europe for 2025

So, you’re looking for surf camps in Europe? You’ve come to the right place.

Every year, we painstakingly sift through all the various surf stays, lodges, surfaris and glamping packages on offer on the continent to showcase the ones that we think really stand out from the crowd.

From the consistent beaches of the Algarve down south all the way to the cooler waters of Cornwall up north, there’s plenty to get through.

You might notice that there’s a big focus here on Portugal and the Canaries. That’s not surprising. Those are the two places that have really established themselves as the learn-to-surf hubs of Europe in the last 10 years or so. They’re packed with amazing surf camps and surf schools, and back that up with consistent waves that work all year round.

Our selection of the camps that we think are the proverbial dog’s gonads isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ve tried to give options for different surfers, becuase, well…all surfers are different. Plus, different camps in different locations focus on different types of surfing and vacationing, whether that’s surf-yoga, budget travel, or guiding for advanced surfers.

So, here goes…

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• Salty Pelican Yoga & Surf Retreat [Portugal] – Fantastic location on the beaches of Peniche
• Tiny Whale Surf Lodge [Portugal] – Great vibes and high quality surf camping in southern Portugal
• Lanzasurf Surf School [Lanzarote] – Great value for money
• Laneez Ericeira Surf [Portugal] – Best for solo travelers
• Latas Surf House [Spain] – Best for empty waves and authentic vibes
• Dreamsea Surf House Fuerteventura [Canary Islands] – Best for couples
• Star Surf Camp [France] – Escaping to nature
• Azores Bagus [Portugal] – Best for multi-level groups
• Cornish Wave Surf and Adventure [England] – Best for UK surf staycations

• Location: Peniche, Portugal

So, here it is: Numero uno, the bee’s knees. Yep, sticking to our guns, we think the overall hottest surf camp in Europe in 2024 is stil the rather fantastico Salty Pelican.

It’s housed in an all-new build right on the side of the Peniche beaches in central Portugal. And there’s stacks and stacks of things going for it…

First off, their 8-day packages cover EVERYTHING you could possibly need. That’s five full days of guided surf lessons, unlimited access to the in-house surfboard rentals and gear, buffet breakfasts each morning, and accommodation in one of the slickest stays on the Peniche coast (more on that later).

But it also goes well beyond what other camps bring to the table. Guests can stretch out in the morning and align their Zen at the end of the day thanks to UNLIMITED hatha and yin yoga sessions. Plus there are regular nightly events to get the whole group gelling like they’ve been surf buddies for ages – BBQs, drinking games, pub crawls.

Perhaps most of all, though, it’s the brand-spanking new accommodation that you get here. The Salty Pelican have blazed a trail across Europe and Asia in recent years but this has to be one of their coolest yet. It’s a multi-story lodge with a rooftop garden come bar, set literally steps from the main Baleal beachfront (a prime location for learners).

The whole thing is Boho styled and uber-cool. We visited in fall 2023 and ya, it’s pretty swanky!

• Location: Algarve, Portugal
• Best for: Beginners
• Price: 8 days/7 nights starting at $923 (£755) per person

Following hot on the fins of the Salty Pelican is another of the legendary surf-camp experiences of Portugal: Tiny Whale Surf Lodge. (In fact, you’ll notice this one claims the top spot on our roundup of the best surf camps in Portugal, so consider it a joint first place ticket!)

This one’s really made a name for itself as a quality option in the southern region of the Algarve, which is why we regularly recommend it to total beginners – you can pick between heavier west coast waves and really mellow south coast waves down there, so there’s always something to learn on.

Tiny Whale also profess a philosophy that’s honed to help people progress from whitewash to green waves in just a matter of days. They’re all about a “personalized approach to surf coaching,” keeping group sizes very small and employing only ISA Level Two instructors who really know what they’re doing.

That’s all framed by technical surf lessons, surf theory, technique practice in the pool, and daily video analysis. It’s basically impossible to leave this camp without being a better surfer than when you started.

And, of course, we love the camp itself. It’s a charming Algarvian-style home set between the rolling olive groves just a little inland from the south coast. You’ll have the feel of chilling with a group of pals amid the outdoor gardens, beside the private pool, after a long day’s surfing under the sun.

• Location: Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
• Best for: All surfers (but esp those on a budget)

We absolutely love Lanzasurf Surf & Yoga Camp! These folks just know how to make surfing fun. Simples.

They boast one of the best learner locations in the entire Canary Islands – Caleta de Famara, with its expansive five-kilometer beach break that has waves for every level. It’s never too crowded and free from the localism often found elsewhere.

Here’s a typical day: Start early with a healthy breakfast, 9:45 am pickup at the surf house, a quick ride to the beach (usually Famara Beach, just two minutes away), and then five glorious hours of surfing from 10 am to 3 pm. Afterward, unwind with a yoga session and some chill time.

The team is led by Evandro Muñoz, a seasoned surf instructor with over 15 years of experience. You’ll also meet Dejan, who began his surfing journey at Lanzasurf in 2006.

The surf house feels like a home away from home. It’s not a fancy lodge with designer interiors, but it’s cozy and clean, with shared kitchen spaces and sunny balconies. It’s like being on a surf holiday with friends – laid-back and fun.

On top of all that – this one’s a bit of a bargain. The full package of accomodation, surf lessons, and extras comes in at under $600 pp, which is some of the best pricing in Europa.

• Location: Ericeira
• Best for: Solo surf travelers

No guide to the best surf camps in Europe could possibly skip out on a place in Ericeira, now a designated World Surfing Reserve. And so here it is: Laneez. A classic whitewashed Portuguese villa with red-tiled roofs and a place atop the soaring cliffs of the Silver Coast, it continually gets plaudits for the quality of its surf instruction and the overall vibe.

Let’s deal with the latter first. There’s just a lovely buzz about this place. Couples, groups, and individuals are mishmashed together in their very own surf home, which includes lively social areas and outdoor patios overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There’s a fine lineup of weekly events to keep you busy, from BBQ to nights out in Ericeira downtown. If you come alone, you won’t feel like you did – let’s put it that way.

The in-house surf school is of the highest quality. It’s run by Miguel Ruivo and Mark Durbano, who have a combined six decades of surfing experience to their back and know the beaches of the Ericeira coast like the back of their hand. Group session tend to be small and highly focused, with both theory and etiquette briefings to get things started.

• Location: Cantabria, Spain
• Best for: Authentic vibes, culture, and escaping the crowds

Skip the crowds of the Portuguese Algarve and the Hossegor beaches by swapping a southern PT surf holiday with a jaunt to Spanish Cantabria.

Welcome to northern Spain, where the lush Picos de Europa roll down to meet the uber-consistent swells of the Bay of Biscay.

It’s a prime location for the top-rated Latas Surf House, a chilled lodge where you can book onto this 8-day package to get six days of guided surfing on the local beaches.

It caters to solo travelers, couples, and families with their mix of dormitory beds, double, and single rooms. The experience includes breakfast every day and unlimited access to the on-site surf equipment (the beach is about 10 minutes’ walking from the stay itself, so you can head down and practice whenever you like). Teachers are all ISA Level 1 or 2 qualified.

Perhaps more than anything, it’s the location here that stands out. This is no big beach resort with surf camps and surf rentals everywhere. Instead, you’ll be based in the charming village of Loredo, a bijou clutch of cafes and tapas joints that’s slow-paced and authentic. The waves are good and the lifestyle is authentic and slow.

• Location: Corralejo, Fuerteventura
• Best for: Couples

There’s something undeniably soothing and calming about checking into a Dreamsea stay. These guys have created some of the most serene and stylish surf camps in the world since setting the ball rolling with their cliffside pad in Uluwatu.

And while the OG of the brand has become something of an Instagram bunny fav, this new outlet on the sun-splashed Canary of Fuerteventura is well worth a look in.

It channels the Spanish vibes of the Atlantic isles with whitewashed walls and palm-speckled gardens, offering plenty of chillout spots and cozy nooks and crannies for that R&R post surf. Room options run from dorm beds to romantic doubles, each with bright and breezy bathrooms with walk-in showers.

They have an on-site surf rack filled with everything from shorties to big beginner foamies, an in-house instructors ready to take you to both the west and east coasts of the isle (they’ll know which is working). Book it as accommodation only and then piece together a plan when you get on the ground in Fuerteventura. Easy.

• Location: Moliets, France
• Best for: Escaping to nature

Star is our top pick in the whole of France for 2025. Why? Lots of reasons.

But we’ll make a special mention of the setting. There’s nowhere that does glamping surf camps quite like the French Atlantic, and this is one of the finest of the bunch.

It’s set over a small patch of pine forest on the Moliets coast, with endless beach peaks that are great for beginners breaking through the trees.

You’ll bed down in lux belltents that have raised beds and memory foam matteresses and chill out together in hammock areas in the woodland. There’s even an al fresco bar and hangout space where they run regular music nights and firepits to get everyone gelling.

The camp runs between April and October and offers a three-tier surf course that caters to beginners and improvers but also more advanced surfers.

The package includes 5x yoga classes too, along with all your breakfasts and lunches, and four dinners throughout the weeek. Not bad for under $700 per person!

• Location: The Azores, Portugal
• Best for: Mixed-ability groups

Last but most certainly not least on our round-up of the very best surf camps in Europe, Azores Bagus. This is – for us at least – the leading surf option in the Azores island chain. It’s one of the original surf camps in the archipelago and hits a lot of the right notes…

There’s a stylish lodge to return to after sessions, complete with lush gardens and communal hangout areas. The design throughout is hip and boho with a undercurrent of the local vernacular. Group sizes are inevitably small, since the place can only accommodate 10 people at one time. And all instructors are ISA qualified.

They’re great at running multi-level groups that put intermediates and beginners on the same spots. That’s something that the Azores really lends itself to – whitewash in front, green bombs out back – but it means that this is a great choice for couples or groups that want to surf together but have different skills coming into the camp.

• Location: Newquay, England
• Best for: UK surf staycations

The guys down at Cornish Wave Surf and Adventure now offer awesome five-day surf and wild camp packages that are especially perfect for staycationing couples and families in the UK.

They’ll give you a real experience in the salt-washed southwest county, with a handful of guided surf lessons that take place on the reliable waves of Newquay, the self-proclaimed surf capital of England and the home of Boardmasters.

It’s really tailored towards beginners and groms. For example, it all begins with a practical session on the waves on Newquay’s main beach before a theory lesson in pop-up physics and proper technique back at the campsite (more on that below).

This also happens to be the only surf camp on this list that’s based under canvas. Yep, your accommodation here will be in large two-person bell tents in a gorgeous woodland glamping patch in middle Cornwall.

There’s loads to keep the little ones busy there, from scavenger hunts in the woods to survival courses. For the adults, it promises to be a romantic escape from the big city at the very least.