Where to surf in Italy: 15 regions to ride Mediterranean waves

Those who love and practice it are well aware: surfing is not just a sporting activity but a way of life, a philosophy that involves a deep contact with nature.

A trusting relationship with the sea is fundamental, of course, but also the awareness of having to rely on the mood of the wind, waiting for the perfect wave to carry your board; it's a friendly challenge with the elements but also with oneself in the name of adrenaline, to get a fantastic taste of freedom. 
In short, it is no wonder that surfing is such a beloved and so widely photographed sport, and not only in Australia or Hawaii, but also in our country. Well, yes: even along our coasts there are many places popular among the surfing community, lovely spots where you can use your board in the heart of the Mediterranean. 
Let's put on our suit and wetsuit and take off in searching for places where to surf in Italy and find nice groups to exercise with.

Kissed by libeccio currents, Liguria offers several interesting spots, both sandy and rocky, for surfers of all levels to be attended from March to October.

These include, for example, Varazze, in the Western region, the most challenging and therefore frequented by professionals from all over the world. The over two-meter high waves, indeed, are not recommended for the unskilled, but it is definitely worth going even if only to admire the daredevils on the board.

For those who like sandy grounds, there are the Cinque Terre, featuring the Levanto bay, not far from Sanremo, and the Recco bay, where the waves can be accompanied by a nice slerfa de fugassa, a nice piece of the very famous focaccia with lots of cheese.

Finally, if you are looking for a less beaten spot and glassy waves to enjoy, don't forget Porto di Andora and Diano Marina.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is also popular among destinations where to surf in Italy, thanks to the strength of the bora wind: a succession of perfect waves all year long, especially for the more reckless surfers who don't even fear winter months' cold.

Home spot in this sense is the beach of Barcola, in Trieste, a reference for surfers and windsurfers from Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and beyond, who come flocking here from the first light of dawn. 

Another popular beach is that of Marina Julia, near Monfalcone, where the bora arrives more gently, the water is shallow and the bottom is sandy, good conditions for newbies to learn their first rudiments safely. You'll also find the same friendly terms at Isola delle Conchiglie, opposite the famous Faro Rosso Lighthouse in Lignano Sabbiadoro.

Medium and small tides feature the beaches of Veneto, where the key word is patience: good waves are slow and rare but when they do arrive, especially in spring and fall, they are truly dragging.

Brave the less-than-warm climates off Punta Sabbioni beach, just a stone's throw from Jesolo, a famous vacation destination, or at the Sottomarina spot near Chioggia, caressed by the sirocco.

Take advantage of the sandy bottom and calm waves, which reveal no extreme risks if you are not an expert, and afterward enjoy the exquisite sparkling wines from Veneto to reward you.

A great destination for entry-level surfers, professional gourmets and clubbers, Versilia, a historic vacation destination for Italians, is at the heart of the Tuscan summer. 

Beyond its valleys, its wine and fine meat cuts, Versilia offers evocative settings for quiet but consistent waves. Indeed, surfing locations in Italy include the beaches of Livorno and the province of Lucca, such as Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Marina di Pietrasanta and Lido di Camaiore, perfect spots for inexperienced surfers, who can learn the basics of surfing by attending courses taught by experts at the Aloha Caffè Beach Surf School.

Even Emilia-Romagna is as an ideal area where to surf in Italy, both for experts and newbies.

The Romagna coast provides a number of very interesting spots, such as Porto Corsini, near Ravenna, which has perfect, high and powerful waves for the more experienced, or Cesenatico, Cervia, Marina di Cattolica and Marina di Rimini, which thanks to more moderate wind and sea conditions are perfect for beginner and intermediate surfers.

And after a day spent dominating the tide, you just have to enjoy the sparkling nightlife that makes these places famous, including clubs and discos.

Continuing along the shores of the Adriatic Sea, we arrive in Le Marche, another top region where to surf in Italy.

Here, a bit further south of Ancona, the Riviera del Conero awaits you, embraced by the natural setting of the park of the same name, and its beautiful beaches that over time have become hot spots for surfers. The first one is the famous Portonuovo, perfect for a relaxing swim, windsurfing and kitesurfing, the second is the Spiaggia della Torre, not far from the ancient Torre de Bosis, and the last is the Spiaggia dei Sassi Neri, named after the distinctive color of its rocky coastline.

In Fano you will also find the Spiaggia di Sassonia, an uncrowded but really interesting spot for experienced sportsmen, thanks to the winds that blow and recreate even one-meter waves in summer.

If you're in Rome, admiring the Capital's many museums and sight-seeing, but still feel the lure of the sea, don't worry: just a few kilometers away you'll find the Lido di Ostia, Fiumicino, Fregene and Santa Marinella, well-known seaside resorts beloved by Latium surfers, where even beginners go to learn the basics at the many schools, thanks to a mild climate generating gentle, docile and caressing waves: ideal destinations to leave aside the chaos and heat of the Eternal City and to burn off the generous doses of carbohydrates of the osterias, but also to enjoy delicious fresh fish dishes.

 

Although, according to experts, good waves are rare, even in Abruzzo it is possible to get the board out. with plenty of patience and awareness of mild weather and tides, Abruzzo surfers know that local beaches mean a rather gentle and mellow activity - not ideal if you're looking for adrenaline and high thrills, but perfect for a quite relaxing activity.

Among the places where to surf in Italy regarding this area, you'll find Acquabella in Ortona, Porto beach in Vasto and Chiesetta beach in Fossacesia, all in the province of Chieti.

In the Teramo area you will also find the coastline of Silvi Marina, at the Paloma Beach spot, and Alba Adriatica, which is perfect for kitesurfing.

For only 35 kilometers of coastline, Molise has the shortest stretch among the regions where to surf in Italy, but that's more than enough to have fun on the waves.

So grab your board and head to the region's most popular seaside destinations, such as Termoli, Campomarino and Petacciato, which become interesting spots thanks to the intense winds that cause interesting swells, long and constant waves.

For windsurfing and kitesurfing afternoons in another popular destination, Vasto, you'll find Rio Vivo beach, also perfect for a lively and challenging ride.

Among a focaccia and a plate of orecchiette, don't forget to get excited in the beautiful sea of Apulia, which is full of spots to surf. Specifically, among the best places where to surf in Italy, we suggest you to target the Gulf of Gargano, in Capo Vieste, a reference especially for kitesurf lovers, who can practice it even if they are beginners, thanks to the constant winds and the availability of several schools on the coast.

Another popular location for Apulian surfers is the free beach of Scialmarino, which offers gentle, moderate winds for easy, low-intensity workouts free from the chaos of tourists. 

Other locations include Frassanito beach in Salento, with rocky bottoms recommended for experts, and the beautiful La Strea Lagoon in Porto Cesareo, probably the community's favorite. Indeed, thanks to its shallow waters and sandy beaches, it allows beginners to surf safely, assisted, even here, by the delightful sirocco breeze.

Basilicata also hides some of the most interesting spots where you can surf in Italy; right under the "heel" of the peninsula, on the Ionian Sea, you will in fact find the Metaponto beach, a free space surrounded by sand dunes and pine forest, where you can take your first steps on the board or practice if you are already surfing, thanks to the medium-sized waves - free from those big resorts chaos.

If, on the other hand, you are a pro, we recommend Pisticci beach, which gives very high and challenging waves and it is therefore perfect if you need to test your skills and experience a thrill. 

Not only art and good food, but also a lot of water sports: Campania does not offer a lot of surfing spots, but it does give some suggestive and wild, mostly rocky corners, suitable for those who have mastered the board for a long time (a little less for beginners). 

Among the beaches where to surf in Italy's south, that of Capo Miseno in Bacoli, not far from Naples, is one of the most famous and popular, offering perfect waves from May to November, thanks to the mostly mild climate. 

In the province of Caserta, within the Castel Volturno Nature Reserve, you can admire the Ischitella coastline, home of medium and small swells from the west that allow non-experts to exercise, taking advantage of welcoming and rather conciliatory water. 

In one of Salerno's most famous resorts, Palinuro, you will find Le dune beach, in the heart of the Cilento National Park, which allows you to ride beautiful high and continuous waves particularly in the autumn months, thanks to swells coming from the west.

Since the 1990s, a very rich community of surfers has been meeting every year on the coasts of Calabria, both on the Ionian and Tyrrhenian sides. 

This region, with its 800 km of coastline, is in fact perfect territory for dominating the waves, especially in Gizzeria Lido, Capo Suvero, Squillace and Roseto Capo Spulico; surfers give these beaches affectionate nicknames, as with their loved ones. 

Lots of groups of boarders meet in these places from April to October, like a kind of hippie tribe, to sleep in campers or trailers near the beach, so that they wake up very early and immediately have, from the first light of dawn, the sea to ride in front of them.

Getting the wind blowing from every direction, Sicily is a safe haven for those who want to be in the water testing themselves while admiring beautiful views.

Endless coastlines and spots to explore, between a fresh granita and an arancina, Sicily is one of the surfing areas in Italy where you can organize a real surfing tour, propelled by sirocco and mistral winds and immersed in fabulous scenery.

Explore the beach of San Leone, the coast of Menfi, where you can meet the sweet sea turtles nesting there, or the beautiful Isola delle Femmine and Cefalù, world-famous resorts where it is customary to surf until sunset.

We conclude our overview with Sardinia, the wind island par excellence, because thanks to the strength of the mistral it holds the rating of the most consistent, glassiest, fiercest and most frequent waves: in short, with the breeze in your face you will be sure to have an intense and electrifying experience with your board. 
A true paradise for surfers, for lovers of nature and wild sea, Sardinia boasts many spots, from Marinedda to Isola Rossa, from Capo Mannu to Porto Ferro bay, places where you can savor the energy of waves and breathtaking sunsets and experience a convivial and relaxed atmosphere.
Other interesting places are La Speranza, near Alghero, Buggerru, Piscinas and S'Archittu.