The best cities for surfing

With 42 beaches, the city of Florianópolis in the south of Brazil is the surf capital of the country. In addition to the many top surfing spots, Florianópolis offers great clubs and bars for a fabulous night out. Of course it will make it more challenging to hit those early waves at sunrise!

Brazil’s most famous cocktail is the caipirinha. Order the best caipirinha in Florianópolis at Box 32, an institute in ‘Floripa’. Club Pacha, where world-famous DJs spin their tunes, is perfect for dancing. If jazz music is more your style, open-air bar Boteco Zé Mané is the place to be. Preserve that relaxed surf vibe and attend one of the many beach parties in Florianópolis.

Surf paradise Hanalei Bay with its charming village of Hanalei lies on the island of Kauai, one of Hawaii’s most unspoilt islands. In addition to white beaches and perfect waves, a lively fish market, colourful wooden houses and green mountains all add to the charm of this picturesque town.

Visit the Kilauea fish market for fresh fish. Every day, fishermen arrive with their catch of the day so you can enjoy delicious fresh fish tacos, a local speciality in Hawaii. Find peace and quiet in Kauai’s lush green hills which are covered in beautiful flowers. This island certainly lives up to its nickname The Garden Island! Don’t miss the opportunity to take a helicopter ride over the breathtakingly beautiful Na Pali Coast; the sparkling blue water and colourful rocks are incredible. End the day with dinner at the excellent Tahiti Nui Restaurant. This local hang-out serves delicious dishes such as Angus grilled rib eye, accompanied by local Polynesian music. Fun fact: a scene from The Descendants with George Clooney was filmed here.

The Basque city of San Sebastián offers great surfing. A strong wind and natural wind tunnels create powerful high waves. But the city has so much more to offer than just being a surfing paradise. San Sebastián is known as the culinary capital of Europe. In 2015, the city boasts 16 Michelin stars.

Awarded with 2 stars, restaurant Mugaritz is also number 6 on the 2015 list of the 50 best restaurants in the world. In addition to many upscale restaurants, the city also has around 150 bars that serve pintxos - tapas on a skewer. Perfect to snack on with a beer or a glass of wine. Another fun food fact is that San Sebastián features around 200 cooking clubs where mainly men come together to cook. It is not the woman who rules the Basque kitchen, but the man.

American Santa Cruz, also known as Surf City, has a long surf history. In 1885, brothers Kawananakoa were the first to brave these waves on a surfboard. Today, the city has made a name for itself as one of the best surf towns in the world. And Santa Cruz has a lot more to offer than just great waves. The town lies in a beautiful area and is home to the oldest amusement park in California: Beach Boardwalk. The park celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007. Looking for nature activities? Near Pogonip University in Santa Cruz lies Pogonip Park with sequoia forests, meadows and rivers where you can go hiking, biking and boating. For the most beautiful stretches of sand, head to Natural Bridges State Beach and Seabright State Beach, with rugged rocks and wide strips of coastline.

Read more about surfing and the best surf destinations on surf.klm.com