Kastamonu sits on Türkiye's Black Sea coast, where a north-facing shoreline catches short-range swell and turns a handful of beaches and points into rideable waves. This is not a big-wave destination, but when a northern pulse lines up the coast offers approachable surf for beginners and intermediates alike.
The waves here work best on swell arriving from the northern quadrant, anywhere from the northwest through north to the northeast, which suits an exposed Black Sea coastline facing open water in that direction. A southeast wind blows offshore across these breaks, cleaning up the faces and holding shape. Tide is rarely a dealbreaker, since the spots run through high, mid, and low water, so timing usually comes down to swell and wind rather than the clock.
Expect a mix of setups. Roughly half the surf spots in Kastamonu are beach breaks over sand or boulder bottoms, while the rest are points, giving you both easy peaks and longer, more predictable walls depending on where you paddle out. Wave size stays modest, with most breaks coming alive from around one to four feet and one setup holding into the six-foot range on a bigger day, so it favors small to medium swell rather than heavy conditions.
The surf is spread across small coastal towns including Guble, Haciahmet, Kaslica, and Memiskoy, so a session often means exploring the coastline rather than crowding a single lineup. Notable spots include Hardi, Rivermouth Jetties, and Yali Restaurant, covering both the beach and point options in the area. Beginners will find gentle, forgiving peaks on the sand-bottom beaches, while intermediates can chase the points when the swell has more push.
Overall, Kastamonu rewards patience and a willingness to move around. Watch for a northern swell paired with that offshore southeast wind, keep expectations tuned to small, clean surf, and you will find plenty of uncrowded water to enjoy along this stretch of the Black Sea.
