This study investigates the relationship between decadal changes in solar activity and sea level extremes along the European coasts and derived from tide gauge data. Autumn sea level extremes vary with the 11 year solar cycle at Venice as suggested by previous studies, but a similar link is also found at Trieste. In addition, a solar signal in winter sea level extremes is also found at Venice, Trieste, Marseille, Ceuta, Brest, and Newlyn. The influence of the solar cycle is also evident in the sea level extremes derived from a barotropic model with spatial patterns that are consistent with the correlations obtained at the tide gauges. This agreement indicates that the link to the solar cycle is through modulation of the atmospheric forcing. The only atmospheric regional pattern that showed variability at the 11 year period was the East Atlantic pattern. Key Points Sea level extremes vary with the 11 year solar cycle at Venice, Trieste, Marseille, Ceuta, Brest, and Newlyn The analysis of a model indicates that the solar influence on sea level extremes is through the modulation of the atmospheric forcing The EA pattern is the only regional pattern related to sea level extremes that showed variability at the 11 year period