Beach
both
Level 4/10

Sopelana

Biscay, Spain
🌀Strong rips👥Crowded

Sopelana is Bilbao's go-to surf beach—a cliff-backed stretch of sand easily accessible by metro from the city, where multiple peaks offer options for surfers of varying abilities. The convenience of urban access means crowds, especially given the region's passionate surf culture, but the beach is long enough to find space. The dramatic cliff backdrop adds visual drama to every session, while nearby cafes and changing facilities provide creature comforts. For visitors to Bilbao seeking a surf fix, Sopelana delivers reliable waves within easy reach of the Guggenheim.

3-Day Forecast
Tue
17
47
Fair
3.2m
@16s
15km/h
Wed
18
80
Firing
2.0m
@15s
11km/h
Thu
19
63
Fair
2.1m
@15s
15km/h
+7
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Today's Conditions

Swell
3.2m
NW(317°)
Score: 6/25
Period
16s
Long period groundswell
Score: 22/25
Wind
15km/h
SE(141°)
Score: 7/25
Weather
18°C
0.0mm0%
Windswell Component
0.1mESE@1s
Secondary Swell
0.2mENE
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
morning

Location & Conditions

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0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
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Showing forecast for today

Tide Times

2:55 am
High tide - 1.07m
9:03 am
Low tide - -2.00m
3:18 pm
High tide - 1.08m
9:13 pm
Low tide - -1.92m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

47
Fair
Components
Swell Direction23/25
Swell Size6/25
Swell Period22/25
Wind7/25
Raw Score58/100
Adjustments
🤢 Wind History-11
Adjusted Score47/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score47
🤢 Morning Sickness

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
NW (315°)
Direction range
285° - 350°
Size range
0.6m - 2.5m
Ideal size
1.9m
Height multiplier
0.97×
Ideal period
12s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
S (180°)
Offshore range
140° - 220°
Best window
morning

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
low to mid
Optimal range
0.3m - 1.8m

Water temp

15°C

Wetsuit

4/3mm fullsuit

Difficulty

4/10

Crowd level

7/10

Access: Metro accessible from Bilbao.

Best Season

Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar

Secondary: Apr, Sep

Winter best. Close to Bilbao.

Getting There

Airport
BIO
Drive time
20 min
Data quality
verified

Strike Log

Community Discussion