Kitesurf in Italy : all you need to know
Italy, which is not recognized for its kite stays, still has some regions with potential.
If you are planning a kitesurfing trip in Italy, it is better to plan it in the summer.
The major regions for such a stay are Puglia, and Lake Garda.
High Season
Required level
Best suited for
Budget
Spots
Other activities
Why kitesurfing in Italy is a good choice ?
Italy is not currently a mega-developed country in terms of kite. However, just like France, it is a country bordered by coasts and shorelines, so we should find quite a few spots there.
In fact, I decided to address the topic of kitesurfing in Sicily and in Sardinia on separate pages.
Italy is a relatively large country, and you can’t cover all the spots in a single trip. Indeed, a road trip in Italy is a brilliant idea, and allows you to visit the spots region by region.
Best period and spots to kite in Italy
In fact, there are many spots that are not always well known and rarely talked about. It is during a trip to the region that they are discovered!
The three main regions that could be mentioned as the most likely to welcome you for a kitesurfing stay would be:
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- Puglia, such as the San Foca spot (the heel of the boot). Quite a nice spot for a session, but not the ideal place to spend 3 weeks. But it’s worth a look for those who would be in the region and would like to mix family or couple holidays with a small session!
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- Gargano, one of Italy’s most renowned freeride territories, forms the “spur of the boot”! Numerous bays extend in front of a densely wooded landscape. They benefit from an accelerated summer thermal from the northwest from the Foresta Umbra cape, which peaks at 1000 meters altitude.
- Lake Garda, is at least a weekend option for Northern Europeans near the Alps. Lots of wind (especially in summer), mild climate and impressive views of the South Tyrol mountains have allowed the Lake Garda fan club to grow steadily since the 80s. Lake Garda is an easy area for beginners who come with a school, but the narrow sandy beaches and rocky shores require a lot of expertise from kitesurfers. Italians now offer a “lift service” by boat in the middle of the lake from almost all schools and all Garda rental centers. It’s not cheap, but it makes perfect sense around here.
Best season for kite: summer! After all, this is when we are most likely to have good thermals.
Discover the kite spots in Italy
San Foca
Talamone
What we love most
Drawbacks
- Not many people
- Super regions to visit
- Wind not necessarily reliable
- Not ideal for beginners
Our best advices to travelers
How to get there ?
The options are numerous, for the regions of southern Italy, one can easily reach the city of Bari in a few hours, then rent a car and explore the spots in the region. The flight time is only 2h30.
For Lake Garda, one can go to Verona which is 20 minutes away, but flights are usually with a stopover, otherwise one can simply land in Milan and then be 2 hours away by car.
Finally, just for information, the city of Nice is about 13 hours by car from the spot in San Foca, now you can estimate the ideal time for a road trip throughout Italy.
Formalities
- Mandatory vaccines: No specific vaccines required for entry
- Visa requirements: Americans and Britons can stay in Italy for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa
- Electrical adapter: Type C and F electrical outlets, so an adapter may be needed
- Official language: Italian
- Currency: Euro (€)
Additional tips
A destination that can easily be done on a road trip by renting a car or a van on site.
It may not necessarily be a 100% kite trip, but the kitesurfing regions of Italy are beautiful, and simply visiting them freely is magical!
What are the best non kitesurfing activities ?
Outside of kiteboarding, the Puglia region offers many treasures to see. From a natural point of view, the coasts are beautiful with rocky shores pounded by the waves of the Adriatic Sea to vast expanses of olive groves and vineyards that characterize the inland.
There are also cities not to be missed because of their uniqueness: Pogliano a Mare and its cliffs, Alberobello with its typical trullis, or Lecce nicknamed the Florence of the south.
On the side of Lake Garda, we can mention Sirmione (famous for its Roman ruins), Malcesine (chairlift, and great view of the lake), and Riva del Garda (starting point for kiteboarding).