Expert-verified surf spot database with detailed swell/wind parameters, hazards, and travel information
Capo Mannu is arguably the best wave in the Mediterranean—a series of reef and point breaks on Sardinia's wild west coast that come alive when mistral storms blow from the northwest. The setup offers multiple options: hollow reefs, workable points, and occasional barrels. Summer is flat, but autumn through spring delivers surprisingly powerful swells. The Italian surf scene is small but dedicated, and Capo Mannu is its crown jewel. Mediterranean surfing's hidden treasure.
🇮🇹 Med's best wave • Sardinian reefs • Mistral magic
Works best with swells from 290° (WNW). Workable range: 260°-330°.
Ideal size: 2.3m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 3.5m.
Needs at least 8s period. Ideal: 12s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 90° (E). Offshore range: 45°-135°. Best window: morning.
Autumn-spring mistral storms produce best waves. Flat in summer.
Shallow reef sections. Cold water in winter (14°C).
Swell direction must be within the workable range AND within the spot's coastal orientation. A south-facing beach cannot receive north swells, no matter the size or period.
Offshore wind (blowing from land toward ocean) grooms the wave face. Onshore wind (blowing from ocean toward land) destroys wave quality. Wind tolerance varies by wave type.
Varazze is the Italian Riviera's most reliable surf spot—which is to say it works maybe 20 days per year when winter storms in the Gulf of Genoa generate local swells. The wave is a fun, punchy beachbreak that draws the entire Ligurian surf community when conditions align. The Mediterranean setting, Italian coastal charm, and novelty factor make sessions memorable despite the inconsistency. This is Mediterranean surfing reality: you chase forecasts obsessively and celebrate when it actually happens.
🇮🇹 Italian Riviera surf • Winter storms only • Mediterranean rarity
Works best with swells from 235° (SW). Workable range: 200°-270°.
Ideal size: 1.8m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 2.5m.
Needs at least 9s period. Ideal: 12s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 30° (NNE). Offshore range: 350°-70°. Best window: both.
Winter storms only. Mediterranean inconsistency.
Beach town access. Tourist infrastructure.
Levanto is where the famous Cinque Terre coastline meets the improbable world of Mediterranean surf culture. This small beach town catches rare winter swells from Ligurian Sea storms and transforms into Italy's most scenic surf spot when conditions align. The waves are inconsistent and fickle, but the setting—dramatic cliffs, colorful villages, world-class Italian food—makes the wait worthwhile. Combine a surf check with hiking the Cinque Terre trails, and you've found the ultimate Mediterranean adventure.
🏔️ Cinque Terre surf • Italian drama • Rare perfection
Works best with swells from 240° (WSW). Workable range: 210°-280°.
Ideal size: 2.0m. Too small below 1.2m, too big (closeout) above 2.8m.
Offshore wind from 20° (NNE). Offshore range: 350°-60°. Best window: both.
Winter only. Cinque Terre proximity adds appeal.
Beach access in tourist town. Near Cinque Terre.
Fiumicino is Rome's unlikely surf escape—a beachbreak near the capital's airport that works occasionally when Tyrrhenian Sea storms generate rideable swells. The wave itself is nothing special, but the proximity to Rome and the novelty of surfing near ancient civilization's heart give it appeal. Water quality can be questionable near the Tiber River mouth, but dedicated Roman surfers don't have many alternatives. This is Mediterranean surf pragmatism: you surf what's available when it's available.
🏛️ Rome's surf outlet • Airport beach • Ancient meets ocean
Works best with swells from 260° (W). Workable range: 230°-300°.
Needs at least 8s period. Ideal: 11s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 80° (E). Offshore range: 40°-120°. Best window: both.
Inconsistent. Water quality concerns near river mouth.
Beach access from airport area. Urban setting.
San Benedetto del Tronto represents the extreme challenge of Adriatic Sea surfing—a beach that might see rideable waves 10 times per winter when rare Bora wind storms generate short-period swells. The Adriatic is a tiny, enclosed sea that simply doesn't produce consistent surf, but determined Italian surfers on the east coast chase every hint of swell with religious devotion. When it works, the novelty and uncrowded reality make it worthwhile. This is surf culture at its most dedicated and optimistic.
🌊 Adriatic improbability • 10 days per year • East coast optimism
Works best with swells from 80° (E). Workable range: 40°-120°.
Ideal size: 1.5m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 2m.
Needs at least 6s period. Ideal: 9s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 280° (W). Offshore range: 240°-320°. Best window: both.