Kitesurf in Sicily : all you need to know
Sicily, is an exceptional destination for kitesurfing, but not only! It’s a kite trip to do at least once in your life. Personally, one of my favorite destinations, with its top Lo Stagnone spot, ideal for beginners.
The best period for kitesurfing extends from May to September.
High Season
Required level
Best suited for
Budget
Spots
Other activities
Why kitesurfing in Sicily is a good choice ?
Sicily is an ideal destination for spring and summer: easily accessible, it is affordable in terms of price, offers great conditions for kite surfing and allows for a mix of sightseeing and sailing.
It is a very beautiful island, very rich from a cultural, gastronomic point of view and with absolutely magnificent landscapes. The island is large, but the main kite surfing area is located in the west, near Marsala.
You can either stay on the west side, enjoy 100% kite surfing and visit the agricultural region of this part of the island. Or choose to mix a week of kite surfing in Marsala and a week of sightseeing in the north of the island for example (Marsala / Palermo / Cefalu / Taormina …). In reality, the possibilities are multiple.
Best period and spots to kite in Sicily
The Lo Stagnone Spot
The main kitesurfing spot in Sicily is Lo Stagnone, located next to the city of Marsala.
The kite spot of Marsala (or more specifically Lo Stagnone) is the main spot in Sicily. It is located in the west of the island, about 1 hour from Palermo. The spot is below the small village of San Leonardo, 15 minutes from the city of Marsala.
It’s a huge bay, protected by islets that almost close it off. The water is flat (about 1m deep on average), with a bit of chop when the wind is strong. The bottom is very far out (it’s a mix of seaweed and sand, not really white sand like in Greece), which makes learning and progressing very easy.
The wind is constant and regular, blowing up to 30 knots in the summer (in July / August) – you often have to add 6 to 8 knots to the windguru forecasts in season, because it’s thermal. Generally, it starts to blow around mid-May, with obviously ups and downs.
There is really a lot of space to evolve and progress.
There is a small beach at the edge of the spot, with no less than 17 schools today in the area. You can take lessons or rent gear there. Access to the spot may be chargeable (for 5€ you can enjoy the compressor, the beach boys and a chill-out area).
Discover the kite spots in Sicily
Marsala
What we love most
Drawbacks
- Perfect for families
- Authentic and Natural
- Easy to access
- Very hot in the middle of summer
- Not much on the spot itself
Our best advices to travelers
How to get there ?
Travel time: 2h30 to Palermo
Direct flight: yes
Time difference: UTC+1
Airlines: Vueling, Iberia…
Main airports: Palermo, Trapani
Flight price: 150 / 400 €
Formalities
- Mandatory vaccines: None
- Visa requirements: No visa required for stays up to 90 days for Americans and Britons
- Electric adapter: Type F electrical adapter needed
- Official language: Italian
- Currency: Euro
Additional tips
For a kite trip in Sicily, you will need to rent a car, it is essential. Cars can be easily rented upon arrival at Palermo airport, then it is a 1-1.5 hour drive to Lo Stagnone. The car will allow you to move around the spot for various activities other than kiteboarding, and especially to go shopping, as there is not much around the spot.
You must be able to withstand the heat when coming to Sicily in the middle of summer (July-August). Be careful not to leave your kite on certain black tarps that schools provide, as it could explode…
What are the best non kitesurfing activities ?
Outside of kitesurfing, Sicily is a very culturally rich country, with cities well known for their history, such as Syracuse, Palermo, or Catania. On this side of the island, you can also go on excursions to Mount Etna, this mythical volcano.
To the west of the country, in the Lo Stagnone region, there are fewer impressive cities to explore, it is more of an agricultural region with outdoor activities. Don’t miss a visit to the perched town of Erice to admire the view and stroll through the streets.
There are plenty of hikes in this area along the sea, with breathtaking views. But don’t make the mistake, like I did, of starting such an endeavor at 11 am in July…
Finally, if you really have no luck with the wind, you can take the ferry to go cycling around the island of Favignana, it will be an opportunity to discover exceptional beaches.