Surfing in Hossegor is all about fast, hollow beachbreak. One long stretch of sand between Seignosse and Capbreton holds four distinct spots. Les Culs Nus is the most consistent and La Gravière is one of Europe’s most famous barrels. La Nord holds shape up to 6 m in winter, while La Sud is the most beginner-friendly.
SURF SPOTS | FORECAST | SURF SEASON | LESSONS | ACCOMMODATION | EVENTS | PRACTICAL INFO | FAQ
At a glance: Best season: September to November. Level: intermediate to expert, with La Sud for beginners. Water: around 13°C in winter, 21–22°C in August. Nearest airport: Biarritz, about 40 minutes’ drive.
As a surfing destination, Hossegor ticks all the boxes: a beautiful beach, warm water from summer into autumn, consistent swell and sandbanks that regularly kick up two-metre turquoise barrels. Add a dose of French lifestyle, with coffee, croissants, two-hour lunches and lively après-surf. It’s easy to see why surfers like ex-pro Kevin Olsen came here and never left.
Why Hossegor’s Waves Are So Powerful
The secret sits offshore. The Gouf de Capbreton is a submarine canyon whose head lies around 300 m off Capbreton. It plunges to more than 3,000 m deep and runs for roughly 270 km out into the Bay of Biscay. Atlantic swells travel down the canyon without losing energy over a shallow continental shelf, then hit Hossegor’s sandbanks with full force.
Just north of La Centrale, the seabed rises abruptly and focuses the swell into the big-wave peak of La Nord. The result is a stretch of coast that’s often bigger and punchier than its neighbours on the same swell.
La Gravière’s heavy barrels break right on the beach, which makes it a superb spot for expert surfers and spectators alike. That’s what put Hossegor on the competition map. The WSL Championship Tour came here every autumn until 2019. Today the town hosts the Quiksilver Festival in September and the French Surfing Championships in October.
Hossegor is the centrepiece of surfing in south-west France, with Seignosse to the north and Capbreton to the south. Planning the wider trip? Our Hossegor travel guide covers the town, the lake and things to do away from the beach.
Plan Your Surf Trip
Hossegor Surf Spots
Hossegor stays true to its reputation as a challenging surf destination. Ever-shifting sandbanks, big tides, varying swell direction and constantly changing winds mean you can face a huge variety of conditions on a short surf trip.
When it’s on, you’ll get everything from small, punchy wedges to death-defying tubes that either spit you out or close out altogether. The take-offs are fast and steep, there are ramps everywhere, and super-fast sections to pump for speed before an aerial. Hossegor has that ‘you never know what’s going to happen’ factor. Tube sections might stay open for you or they might come smashing down on your head. As a result, Hossegor suits paddle-fit surfers who actively hunt for position and are prepared to go for it on 50/50 take-offs.
There’s a big difference between spots, though. Here’s exactly what to expect, from Les Culs Nus in the north to La Sud by the harbour.
Kevin’s take
Former pro surfer Kevin Olsen gives us his take on Hossegor’s surf spots.
1. Les Culs Nus
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom: Sand. Best tide: All. Wave size: 0.5–2.5 m. Swell direction: W / NW. Lat Long: 43.680053, -1.438660.
A surfer heads in for a sunset surf at Les Culs Nus | © Flickr – chde.eu
Les Culs Nus translates as ‘bare bums’. It’s Hossegor’s official naturist beach, and yes, the scenery can be a bit distracting when you’re trying to focus on nailing the next section! Renowned as Hossegor’s most consistent spot, it has rideable waves from half a metre to over 2.5 m. It works at low tide and high tide, in a westerly or north-westerly swell. Expect a fast, punchy wave with a steep drop that bridges the gap between the classic Seignosse beachbreaks to the north and La Gravière’s bone-crunching barrels.
Kevin’s take:
Located just 500m North of Hossegor central and la Gravière – this gem of a spot can be possibly one of the best places to surf when the swells in the 1-2 m range if the winds are offshore and the tides right expect to get hollow pits from all the direction works best with the North- West swell directions and the lower tide. Early morning session can be best with no crowds.
2. La Gravière
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom: Sand. Best tide: Low to outgoing. Wave size: 0.7–3 m+. Swell direction: W / NW. Lat Long: 43.675620, -1.443375.
A true stand up barrel at La Gravière in Hossegor | © Flickr – chde.eu
Undoubtedly one of the world’s best beachbreaks, La Gravière is a tube hound’s dream. Fast, hollow and heavy-lipped, the wave sucks sand up off the bottom and slams right on the beach. Add powerful rips and protective locals to the mix and you have a gnarly spot for expert surfers only. La Gravière works best on a dropping tide and holds shape well beyond 2.5 m, with winter pits of 3 m and more. On an incoming tide it’s prone to close-outs, and at high tide there’s nothing to ride except a punishing shorebreak.
Kevin’s take:
Now this is my all time favourite. When it works (you need to check the banks and conditions) this wave had legendary status and the world’s best surfers come here to get the same ride. Speeding hollow sand spitting barrels on the beach. Now add the biggest most dangerous shore break you have ever seen. This is La Gravière at its best. Expect heavy surf conditions super close to the beach. Very tidal surf spot.
3. La Nord
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom: Sand. Best tide: All (locals favour low). Wave size: 1.5–6 m. Swell direction: W / NW. Lat Long: 43.666755, -1.440622.
Surfer going huge at La Nord in Hossegor | © Flickr – Laurent Guerin
Hossegor’s big-wave spot, La Nord breaks just north of La Centrale and can hold shape up to 6 m. When the swell tops 3 m, it’s one of the only surfable spots on this stretch of coast, as the Gouf de Capbreton focuses the swell onto its sandbank. La Nord hosts the annual Rip Curl Challenge La Nord, a paddle-in big-wave contest. French chargers such as Benjamin Sanchis and Eric Rebière surfed its early editions. In January 2026 Kyllian Guerin won it for the second year running. Only paddle out here if you can handle double-overhead surf and strong currents. Park on Boulevard de la Dune by Plage Centrale.
Kevin’s take:
One of the most respected waves in Hossegor. The wave in front of Hossegor Central breaks out front and way out there when it’s 2m and bigger. Very big and late drops expect to go and get your longer board as the paddle out can be brutal and the currents are incredible and can be like a raging river at times. Freaks me out. Very tidal surf spot and can be crowded at times, but the surf is best at low tide with light winds.
4. La Sud
Spot type: Beachbreak. Offshore wind: Easterly. Bottom: Sand. Best tide: Mid (stops working at high tide). Wave size: 0.5–2.5 m. Swell direction: W / NW. Lat Long: 43.660283, -1.443435.
Four surfers share a wave at La Sud in Hossegor | © Flickr – David
South of La Centrale towards the harbour is Hossegor’s most sheltered spot. Beginner-friendly La Sud is popular with surf schools and kamikaze first-timers, and it’s absolute pandemonium in the height of summer. The wave at the southern end of the beach has a softer take-off that appeals to longboarders. The peaks throw lefts and rights, and when the banks line up, long lefts run back towards Plage Centrale. It switches off at high tide. Out of season, when it’s too big further north, La Sud draws the intermediate crowd.
Kevin’s take:
Just to the South of Hossegor you will find La Sud located just near the harbour and works on most days if the swell and the sand banks are good. If the swells are large this could be your first option to catch a couple waves if everything else fails. When the sand banks are good the lefts running towards Hossegor plage can be long and fun. It is perfect for surf school and learner surfers, but can still be very surfable when the swells are large in Seignosse. Gets very crowded in summer.
Hossegor Surf Forecast & Report
Check the Hossegor surf report before you load the car. The widget below shows the three-day forecast for Les Culs Nus, with swell height, period and direction, wind and weather. For a live look at the banks, our Hossegor surf cam page streams the beaches. Surf-forecast.com also has separate break forecasts for La Gravière and La Nord.
Hossegor surf forecast courtesy of surf-forecast.com.
Hossegor Surf Season: When to Go
Hossegor is one of France’s most consistent surf spots, and you’ll get a wave here whatever time of year you come. That said, conditions vary hugely between seasons.
- Spring: Moderate waves, good for most levels. The water starts to warm up from April (around 14°C).
- Summer: Warm water (21–22°C in August) and smaller waves, ideal for beginners. Flat spells are most likely now.
- Autumn: The best swells, fewer crowds once August is over and water still around 21°C in September. Prime time.
- Winter: Big, heavy waves for experts with serious paddle fitness. The water drops to 12–14°C.
In July and August the waves are small and fun, but the main peaks along the beach are packed with travelling surfers. When it’s on, you’ll still get a punchy wave at La Gravière and Les Culs Nus. But these peak summer months are when you’re most likely to hit a flat spell. You’d have to be seriously unlucky, though, to get no waves at all during a week in Hossegor, even in the height of summer.
May and June are great months for a surf trip to Hossegor. The hectic winter swells and big spring tides have calmed down, but there’s still good push in the waves. The water’s getting warmer and the tourists have yet to arrive.
September and October are the best time of year for most surfers. Early September is still warm enough for boardies, and by October you’ll want a 3/2. The waves are picking up in size and the summer hordes have gone home. September also brings the Quiksilver Festival, and the French Surfing Championships run in October, so there’s a good vibe in town.
November through to April is when you can expect big, heavy barrels, a lot of water moving around and ever-shifting sandbanks in powerful spring tides. You have to be paddle-fit to surf Hossegor in winter, or you’ll spend a whole lot of time duck diving and very little riding waves. If you’re on form, the rewards are huge, and you could be tucking into the wave of your life.
Winter is also when Rip Curl runs the La Nord Challenge big-wave surfing competition, with a waiting period from 1 November to 1 April. At any time of year you’ll want a changing robe for getting in and out of your wetsuit in the car park.
Seasonal quick reference: Jun–Sep: water 19–23°C, 2 mm shorty, or boardshorts in the warmest weeks. Oct: 16–19°C, 3/2. Nov–Dec: 14–17°C, 4/3. Jan–Mar: 12–14°C, 5/4 with boots, plus gloves and a hood on cold days. Apr–May: 13–17°C, 4/3.
Surf Lessons in Hossegor
With beginner-friendly La Sud and a coastline full of sandbanks, Hossegor has plenty of options for tailored surf lessons. Schools cover everything from your first pop-up to reading the barrels at La Gravière.
Qualified instructors guide you through the basics of paddling, standing up and riding waves, then move you on to more complex manoeuvres. Lessons usually include board and wetsuit hire, and options range from private sessions to group classes. Expect to pay around €40–48 for a group lesson of 1h30 to 2 hours, and from around €165–195 for a five-session course.
Eric Lafargue runs Ki Surf School, listed on GetYourGuide as Hossegor Surf Coaching. He’s been a state-qualified surf coach since 2002, so you’re in good hands. He teaches at Hossegor, Seignosse or Capbreton, depending on where the waves are best. He speaks English, German and Spanish as well as French. Group lessons cost around €40 for two hours and private coaching around €80 for 1h30.
Book a lesson with Eric at Hossegor Surf Coaching
Hossegor Surf Club, by Plage Sud, is the town’s long-established club school, with group lessons from around €45 and five-day courses from around €185. ESCF Darrigood Surf School teaches right on La Gravière beach, with 1h30 lessons from around €48. Most schools open from early April to early November. New to surfing? Our learn to surf guides will get you ready before your first lesson.
Places to Stay
There’s lots of good accommodation for surfers close to the beach in Hossegor.
You’ll find everything from uber-cool surf camps to campsites near the beach and swanky hotels to villas to rent. Here’s a selection of our favourite places to stay in Hossegor:
Surf Hostel Hossegor
Jo & Joe Hostel
Hotel 202
202 Avenue du Golf, 40150 Hossegor, France. Tel +33 (0)5 58 43 22 02
Surf Camps & Surf Houses
Looking for a Hossegor surf camp? Koala Surf House on Avenue des Hippocampes is a small surf house with boards included in your stay. Just up the coast, Natural Surf Lodge in Seignosse is a surf camp in the pines with lessons, yoga and accommodation, open from April to October. Many Hossegor surf schools also team up with local campsites and surf houses on lesson-and-stay packages, so it’s worth asking when you book.
Find More Accommodation
Use the map below to search for hotels, apartments, guesthouses and campsites across Hossegor.
Hossegor Surf Competitions & Events
Quik Pro France 2019 | © KIRSTIN
For years the Quiksilver Pro France was a highlight of the pro surfing calendar. The WSL Championship Tour came to Hossegor every autumn until 2019, when Jérémy Florès won the last CT edition. The event returned once as a Challenger Series contest at Les Culs Nus in 2021. It hasn’t run since, and there’s no WSL tour event in Hossegor in 2026.
La Gravière was always the preferred venue for the Quik Pro, for the quality of the waves and how close they break to the beach. Sitting between Les Culs Nus and La Nord, it’s still a favourite. Its sandbanks produce heavy peaks, radical drops, quick in-and-out barrels and ramps made for aerials. When the banks shift, the action often moves north to Les Culs Nus.
Hossegor’s competition calendar today:
- Quiksilver Festival by Swatch (September): A free festival across Hossegor, Seignosse and Capbreton, running every year since 2023. Invited pro and freesurfer teams battle it out in themed heats, alongside concerts, skating and films. The 2026 edition ran from 19 to 27 September, with the final at La Nord.
- Championnats de France de Surf (October): France’s national surfing championships were held in Hossegor, Seignosse and Capbreton in 2024 and 2025. The 2026 edition runs from 17 to 25 October at Plage Sud, Les Estagnots and Santocha.
- Rip Curl Challenge La Nord (1 November to 1 April): A paddle-in big-wave contest that only runs when La Nord is truly firing. The 2026 edition ran on 17 January, and Kyllian Guerin took the win for the second year in a row.
- Quiksilver & Roxy Junior Pro (July): A WSL European junior qualifying event held at Santocha in Capbreton in early July.
Practical Info
Getting There
Biarritz airport (BIQ) is about 40 km south of Hossegor, roughly 40–45 minutes by car. Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) is about 160 km north, around 1 hr 40 min. By train, the TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Dax takes about 3½ to 4 hours, and Bayonne is another option. The nearest local station is Labenne, around 11 km away, with a bus link to Hossegor.
A car makes life much easier. You can check Seignosse, Hossegor and Capbreton on one dawn patrol and head for whichever bank is working. Compare prices on our car hire in France page.
Parking
Parking in the town centre is paid from 10am to 7pm between 1 May and 30 September. There are free car parks a few minutes’ walk from the centre. Parking along Boulevard de la Dune, behind La Sud, La Centrale and La Nord, fills up fast on summer mornings. Driving north along the coast from Hossegor town, there’s loads of free parking at the Les Estagnots, Les Bourdaines, Le Penon and Les Casernes beaches.
Surfboard & Wetsuit Hire
You don’t need to travel with a board. Hossegor Surf Club hires softboards from around €40 a day, hardboards from €50 and full wetsuits from €30. ESCF Darrigood at La Gravière charges similar rates. For cheaper hire, Surf’In Landes on the seafront has boards from around €14 a day. If you’re buying, read our wetsuit buying guide first.
Surfing Rules & Safety
Lifeguards watch the main beaches from June to September, and surfing is banned inside the red-and-yellow-flagged bathing zone. Stay outside the flags or you’ll be called in.
The bigger risks are natural. Hossegor’s shorebreak is notoriously powerful, especially around high tide at La Gravière, and can slam you onto hard-packed sand. Baïnes, rip currents that run out through gaps in the sandbanks, are strongest from mid to low tide and on a falling tide. Watch the water for ten minutes before you paddle out, and if you’re not confident in heavy surf, stick to La Sud.
Summer in Hossegor: French Beachbreak Surfing
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Hossegor Surf FAQ
Hossegor is better known for heavy, hollow barrels than gentle learner waves, but beginners can still surf here. La Sud, near the harbour, is the most sheltered spot and where most surf schools teach. Summer (June to August) brings the smallest waves and warmest water. Leave La Gravière and La Nord until you’re an experienced surfer.
September to November is the best time for most surfers, with consistent swells, offshore mornings, fewer crowds and water still around 17–21°C. Summer suits beginners best. Winter (November to March) brings the biggest waves, which are for experienced surfers only.
Yes. September is one of the best months to surf Hossegor. The first autumn swells arrive and the summer crowds thin out. The water averages around 21°C, so you can surf in a shorty or even boardshorts early in the month. The Quiksilver Festival also takes place in September.
The sea averages around 13°C from January to March, rising to about 17°C in May, 21–22°C in July and August, and around 19°C in October. Bring a 5/4 with boots in winter, a 4/3 in spring and late autumn, and a 3/2 or shorty in summer.
On most days Hossegor’s beachbreaks serve up waves of 1–2 m. La Gravière regularly throws barrels of 2–3 m in autumn and winter. La Nord, Hossegor’s big-wave spot, holds shape up to about 6 m thanks to the Gouf de Capbreton submarine canyon.
Stay near Plage Centrale or along Boulevard de la Dune to walk to La Nord, La Gravière and La Sud. Surf Hostel Hossegor and Jo&Joe are good budget options, and Hotel 202 is a boutique choice near the lake. There are also surf houses and camps in Hossegor and neighbouring Seignosse.
Please leave a comment below if you need specific advice for your surf trip to Hossegor, or if you have any recommendations to help us improve this guide. Happy holidays!
[…] France’s Hossegor are fantastic to surf on; the beach is beautiful while the water is warm, and the sandbanks regularly kick up two-metre turquoise barrels! Look to tick this one off your bucket list. Although it may not be one of the warmest countries to […]
[…] a narrow offshore canyon ensures incoming swells are large and consistent, while next-door Hossegor boasts a famous shore-tube-break which can near 6 m of perfection, depending on the shifting sand bar & season. The later has […]