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
Thu
30
59
Fair
0.9m
@18s
10km/h
Fri
1
75
Good
1.3m
@15s
10km/h
Sat
2
75
Good
1.0m
@12s
7km/h
+7
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Today's Conditions

Swell
0.9m
NW(315°)
Score: 10/25
Period
18s
Long period groundswell
Score: 15/25
Wind
10km/h
NNW(328°)
Score: 9/25
Weather
16°C
0.0mm24%
Secondary Swell
0.3mNW
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
morning
AM: 13 km/h SW|PM: 10 km/h NNW
Similar wind — morning has better tide for this spot
Low tide at 10am (-2.0m)

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

4:04 am
High tide - 1.21m
10:04 am
Low tide - -1.96m
4:25 pm
High tide - 1.16m
10:21 pm
Low tide - -2.00m
Times shown in spot-local time.

Strike Score Breakdown

59
Fair
Components
Swell Direction25/25
Swell Size10/25
Swell Period15/25
Wind9/25
Raw Score59/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score59

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°

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