Epic European Surf Breaks: A Quick Look

Unstad Bay, Norway

Type of wave: Beach break, left and right point break.

What makes it special: Well inside the Arctic Circle, Unstad offers dramatic, mystical scenery. Surfers don 6mm wetsuits in an elemental battle against extreme cold amidst stunning fjords and ancient rock formations.

Thurso, Scotland

Type of wave: Right reef break.

What makes it special: Known for its elusive yet immaculate barrels, Thurso captivates with powerful, precise swells that lure surfers in search of adrenaline and photographic perfection.

La Gravière, France

Type of wave: Barreling beach break with rights and lefts.

What makes it special: Hossegor's La Gravière is Europe's surfing epicenter—fast, barreling waves that shred all different styles and ages of surfer. The waves here are legendary in nature, challenging even the most experienced.

Staithes, England

Type of wave: Left-hand reef breaks on shallow reefs.

What makes it special: England's best kept secret, the scenic Staithes offers up something unique in the world of surfing: fast, powerful waves, supplied by Arctic groundswells and hit with offshore winds. The bleak scenery adds to the sense of adventure as it makes you feel absolutely in a much more exotic location.

Nazaré, Portugal

Type of wave: Right- and left-hand beach break, from 3ft to 50ft-plus.

What makes it special: The monstrous waves of Nazaré call for worldwide attention, especially Praia do Norte, where swells rise up to incredible heights. It is the Mecca for big-wave surfers and any observer out there, simply making one realize just how tiny humans are against the power of the ocean.

The very same European surf spots over not just feature inspiring waves but some unique cultural and natural landscapes, which alone make them worthy of visiting a destination for any surfer around the world.