Beginner's Guide to Surfing in Taiwan
Want to try surfing but not sure where to start? This guide covers three things: where to go, how to tell whether today is worth paddling out, and how to stay safe. All of it maps to real Taiwan surf spots.
Where beginners should surf
The friendliest spots for beginners in Taiwan are sandy beach breaks: the bottom is sand, so falls don't hurt much, and the waves are easier to read. On the North Coast, Baishawan, Jinshan, and Fulong are close to Taipei and beginner-friendly along the whole stretch. In Yilan, Wushi Harbor and Wai'ao are the most popular spots to learn. On the west coast, Zhunan, Cijin, and Yuguangdao are quieter with simpler waves.
Reef and point breaks are less forgiving. Spots like Dulan in Taitung and the reef breaks in Hualien are better left until you can stand up confidently, not as your first stop.
How to tell if today is good
Whether conditions are good comes down to four things:
- Wave height: knee to waist high (roughly 0.5 to 1 m) is best for beginners. Bigger waves hold you under.
- Period: short-period waves (under 8 seconds) are choppy and hard to ride; longer periods are cleaner and more organized.
- Wind: offshore wind (blowing from land to sea) grooms the wave face clean; onshore wind (sea to land) mushes it up.
- Tide: every spot has its own best tide. Too low or too high, and the wave can vanish or turn dangerous.
Safety basics for beginners
- Know your limits: if it's too big, too crowded, or the current is strong, get out. No day's waves are worth an injury.
- Spot a rip current: a calm-looking band of water flowing seaward is a rip. If it pulls you out, don't fight straight back; swim parallel to shore until you're out of it, then come in.
- Don't surf alone: at least keep someone on the beach who can see you.
- Sand beats reef: start on sandy spots. Reef or rocky bottoms hurt when you fall.
- Check the score first: ShouldISurf flags dangerous conditions like sneaker waves and strong currents, so look before you decide.
Season: when Taiwan suits beginners
Taiwan has surf year-round, but the character changes. From roughly October to March, the northeast monsoon makes waves on the north and east coasts bigger and more consistent, better for those with some experience. Beginners are safer picking low-wind days and sheltered spots in this season.
Summer waves are usually smaller, which is good for working on basics, but waves spike and turn dangerous around typhoons, so skip those days.
Use ShouldISurf to build a daily habit
Instead of guessing from a wall of numbers, open ShouldISurf each day: it scores all 39 Taiwan spots by today's conditions, picks the most beginner-friendly ones and the safe hour window, and flags dangerous days. Start by following the spot nearest you.
Beginner-friendly regions
FAQ
- Where should I surf for the first time?
- Pick a sandy beach break, like Baishawan or Fulong on the North Coast, or Wai'ao in Yilan. Sand bottoms don't hurt much when you fall and the waves are easy to read. Avoid reef and point breaks.
- How do I know if today suits beginners?
- Check wave height (knee to waist is best), period, whether the wind is offshore, and the tide. ShouldISurf scores these four things daily and tells you straight away whether the spot suits you today.
- Is surfing dangerous?
- Most beginner accidents come from waves that are too big, reef, or rip currents. Choose sandy spots, pick small days, learn to spot a rip, and don't surf alone, and the risk drops a lot.