surf-holiday.com

Thanks to its numerous sports, cultural and culinary options, Italy offers something for everyone. Especially in the cities there are many fantastic historic sights, all telling stories of the former world power, The Roman Empire.

Besides the cities of Rome and Milan there are several smaller cities such as Venice or Florence, all of which will leave a long lasting impression. But Italy is not just culturally interesting. Nature lovers find due to its diverse topography and vegetation it’s a great place to visit and for sporting travellers there is a lot to offer as well.

Not only is there surfing in Sardinia and other places, but the mountain areas of Italy are also ideal for hiking and climbing. The winter months offer the possibility of skiing in the Alps. As well as the huge volcanoes, the endless sandy beaches and the excellent food, Italy is also renowned for the happy spirit and friendliness of its inhabitants.

Thanks to the influence of the sea and the protecting Alps Italy has a mild and comfortable climate. However the weather can change greatly depending on how far or close you are to the sea or the mountains.

During the winter months it becomes very cold in the mountain areas, but the Neapolitan and Ligurian coasts, however, remain mild. The summer inland is very dry and hot and only in the coastal regions do the sea breezes bring slight relief. The mountain regions are, in the summer months, ideal for hiking and climbing.

It’s advised that the cities are best to be visited in the spring or fall for sightseeing tours. The rainiest and coldest period of the year is from November to February with temperatures between 7 and 14 degrees. During the summer months there is only a small amount of rainfall in Italy and the temperatures are within 25-30 degrees and it warm and comfortable.  

Sardinia is actually the only place where you can find good consistent surfing conditions; the waves however are relatively small.

However on the mainland there are days with good waves but these days are exceptional. Conditions fluctuate quickly and finding the best waves in ever changing conditions takes skill and a flexible time table. Swells arrive as quickly as they go but for a short period excellent conditions can prevail.

You can pack a thin wetsuit or a shorty in the summer as the temperatures lay between 19-24 degrees. Also in the winter the temperatures are with 13-16 degrees which is quite warm.

Best season for beginners: May-October
Best season for advanced surfers: October – February

Crowd factor: Higher on the well-known breaks

A large number of airlines fly regularly from all major European airports to Rome, Naples, Olbia, Pisa, Milano, Genoa, Bologna, Verona, Turin and Treviso. Daily train connections to Italy go from Munich, Basel, Zurich and Vienna.

Also Italy is accessible from most European countries by car. As the Italian highways are privatized they are in excellent condition, unfortunately therefore, you have to pay a toll to drive on them.

Several ferries from Genoa, Livorno, Piombino and Civita Vecchia reach the islands of Sardinia. The ferries dock on the harbours of Porto Torres and Olbia.