Europe’s ultimate surf destination has just been crowned – and it might surprise you
When you picture world-class surfing, your mind probably jumps to Hawaii, Bali or maybe Portugal’s mighty Nazaré. But according to the brand-new 2025 Surf Index by hospitality group Accor, the crown of Europe’s surf capital actually goes to… Spain.
The hospitality group crunched the numbers across hundreds of surf spots, using criteria like wave quality, spot density, lesson prices, water and air temperature, and infrastructure. The result? Spain snatched the crown, with Portugal sliding into second and France rounding out the top three.
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Spain scored especially high for beginners: its resort towns are packed with ISA-certified surf schools, lifeguards patrol most beaches in high season, and even in autumn the water sits at a balmy 18°C. Portugal and Italy also made the list for newbies, while some eyebrow-raising entries included Belgium and Germany — not exactly tropical, but apparently surfable (and with great beer to recover afterwards).
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For pros chasing something meatier, Spain still reigns, but the UK landed a surprise second place thanks to Thurso East in northern Scotland, famed for its heavy barrels. Portugal and France followed close behind.
Taghazout, Morocco
Interestingly, so did Morocco. While not in Europe, Accor included the North African nation due to its proximity, and its legendary Atlantic swells, affordable lessons, and surf towns like Taghazout Bay and Imsouane.
From mellow Mediterranean rollers to monster Atlantic waves, the verdict is clear: Europe (and its near neighbours) are giving the traditional surf meccas a serious run for their money.
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