7 Top Spots to Learn Kitesurfing in Europe
From French beaches to Mediterranean islands, discover the best spots to practise kitesurfing in Europe! Whether you're seeking gentle breezes for your first lessons or challenging waves to test your skills, these spots promise unforgettable experiences that will leave you craving more.
Kitesurfing is frequently referred to as one of the most exhilarating water sports on the planet. In contrast to windsurfing or surfing, kitesurfing uses a kite to harness the wind's power, enabling riders to glide across the water's surface quickly. Beyond the thrill of the ride, kitesurfing fosters a deep connection with the natural world, you will learn to read the wind, tide, and waves to master this dynamic sport.
The numerous windsurf schools in Europe will be pleased to have you here to learn the basics of kitesurfing like how to set up your gear, understand basic meteorology, start and handle the kite, as well as other skills. From the adrenaline rush of your first successful water start to the serene moments of gliding across crystal-clear waters, this sport offers an unparalleled blend of excitement and challenge. Discover the best kitesurfing spots in Europe that will make you want to come back for more...
Wissant, France
One of the best kitesurfing spot in France is probably the Bay of Wissant located in Nord-Pas-de-Calais on the Opal Coast not far from Calaisa. Because of the predominant north-westerly winds that blow across the English Channel, Wissant enjoys steady and dependable winds which makes it a truly exceptional destination for watersports adventures. With consistent breezes that provide enough power for riding and maneuvering, these winds are perfect for kitesurfing.
Kitesurfing in Wissant gives you the chance to test your skills on flat, shallow waters, providing a gentle environment for novices to learn the ropes. The winning combination of wind, waves, and natural beauty caters to all skill levels, from beginners looking to master this sport to seasoned pros seeking challenging conditions. The kitesurfing schools adapt their courses to all levels and provide all the necessary tools so you can begin in good conditions!
- The best season to kitesurf in Wissant is from March to September
Kos, Greece
If you want to enjoy beautiful sandy beaches and turquoise waters in an adventurous way, kitesurfing in Kos is made for you! Apart from its five-thousand-year rich history and culture, Kos is a paradise to practice watersports, due to the great “Meltem” wind, a dry northerly wind that occurs from late May to late September, mainly in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean.
The island's numerous kitesurfing schools and rental facilities further enhance the learning experience, with experienced instructors on hand to provide expert guidance and equipment tailored to suit beginners' needs. A private course or a group course are your options, the instructors will run a course for two hours, while small group courses last for three hours. Since learning to kiteboard is not easy at first, group lessons cannot include more than two participants at a time because it would decrease the course's quality. Beyond its favourable wind and water conditions, Kos's laid-back atmosphere, stunning scenery, and vibrant culture add an extra layer of allure to the kitesurfing experience, ensuring that learners not only develop their skills but also create unforgettable memories in one of Greece's most captivating destinations.
- Best season to go there for kiteboarding: from June to September.
Sardinia, Italy
With nearly 2000 kilometers of coastline, the wind almost always blows! Sardinia is a watersport lover's paradise with its beaches and constant breezes which makes it one of the windier regions of Italy and considered as one of the best kitesurfing spots in Europe. As Sardinia has four main winds depending on the time of year, the best kitesurfing beaches are in the south of the Island, in Cagliari, Porto Pino, or Porto Pollo. We would recommend the beach of Porto Pino which is one of the most beautiful beaches of Sardinia, with a stunning white sandy beach, a turquoise sea, and high white dunes.
If you want to book a kite camp or kiteboarding beginner courses in Sardinia, you have many choices! If you think too much and don't know which one to choose, kitesurfing in La Caletta offers a beginner's course that focuses on three modules. You'll be able to find a 3-day beginner's session for total immersion, where you'll have a theoretical course. You will also learn how to drag your body in the water for two to three hours, allowing you to become proficient with kite control in nearly real-world conditions. You'll also practice the water start with the kite at your feet and your first turns with the left and right winds!
- The best season to go there for kitesurfing is from June to September.
La Palmyre, France
Bonne Anse Bay is the region's best-known spot for windsurfing, kitesurfing, wingfoiling and stand-up paddling, as a huge sandbank protects the spot from the Atlantic swell. Kitesurfing in La Palmyre is a perfect place to learn how to sail in France! If you're planning a holiday in the region, give kitesurfing a try and make the most of the ideal conditions for learning or improving in complete safety. Just 15 minutes from Royan, the bay works with all wind directions, except North and North-East.
As beginners will find all the space they need for great sailing, a generally calm stretch of water, and, above all, a shallow sandy bottom that's perfect for learning. We advise you to choose the rising tide because the currents can get very strong when Bonne Anse empties at ebb tide. At low tide, the bay reveals superb sandbanks and heavenly panoramas. Know that the wind is between 8 to 20 knots during summer! Ideal for kitesurfing novices who want to start little by little...
- The best season to go there for kitesurfing is from May to October.
Naxos, Greece
Located in the South of Europe, the kitesurfing spot in Naxos has perfect wind conditions and is favourable to wind sports like kitesurf! Naxos is a Greek island located on the Mikri Vigla Bay, thanks to the Venturi effect between Parthena island and the nearby mountains the wind speed is perfect. The "Meltem", is to say the thermal wind from the North, comes down from the Bosphorus across the Aegean Sea and other Greek Islands. Mikri Vigla's beautiful beach is situated in a bay under the wind, so the right (north) side-side onshore wind direction makes this bay a very safe place to start kitesurfing.
You will enjoy a 2-hour session where you can choose from a private course with 1 person or even 6 hours for beginners to intermediate: you can opt for the option that suits you the best. You will receive your internationally recognized IKO kitesurfing card after completing the IKO level 3 program, which takes about 6 to 8 hours!
- The best season to go there for kitesurfing is from April to October
Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
Off the coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean, Fuerteventura is the second-biggest island in the Canary Islands archipelago. Fuerteventura has long been regarded as one of the most wind-reliable year-round kitesurf holiday locations within a short flight from Paris and London.
Fuerteventura is divided into 2 main areas: North and South of the island. The wind in the island blows side-shore to port at a consistent speed of 15 to 25 knots between mid-March/April and mid-September/mid-October, creating a fairly level area in front of the center. It begins to fade in October, and then the North Atlantic lows bring sporadic big waves and winds that range from a 5 to a 6 on the Beaufort scale during the winter.
The region of Corralejo, in the North, is the most developed part of the island, and mostly famous for waves, and the region of Sotavento in the South (around Costa Calma) is a very arid area, and yet gathers the flat and windiest spots. Kitesurfing in Fuerteventura offers a variety of good wind and water conditions depending on the time of year and location: from super flat shallow lagoons to full-on wave sailing spots.
- The best season for kitesurfing in Fuerteventura: from April to September
Tarifa, Spain
Tarifa is one of the world’s meccas for kiteboarders, for all kitesurfers. Located in the South of Spain, in Andalusia, Tarifa is a coastal town south of Cádiz, very close to Africa, and has the distinction of being the most southerly point on the European continent. A curious fact about Tarifa is that even with just 18,000 inhabitants, it has more surf shops than Maui in Hawaii, it makes it one of the best kitesurfing spots in Europe! The wind blows almost non-stop due to the straits of Gibraltar, the strait forms the perfect wind tunnel between the two continents – perfect for the wind-powered water sport enthusiasts who flock there year round.
The kitesurfing spot in Tarifa has become the European center of this watersport because of the two powerful winds that influence the region's climate: the Levante from the east and the Poniente from the west. It's not for no reason that the city is called the wind capital of Europe... If you opt to learn kitesurfing in Tarifa, you will be surrounded by qualified staff who offer in-depth instruction and monitor your progress while adapting their courses to your level and confidence!
- The best season to go there for kitesurfing: is from April to September
Slide into new adventures...
If you enjoyed this selection of the best kitesurfing spots in Europe, you should check all of our kitesurfing sessions around the world! But you're still unsure and don't know where to start. We've put together a list of things you need to know before you pack your bags, learn the reasons why you should start kitesurfing!
Do you want to spend more time on water? Of course, surfing can suit you! Both kitesurfing and surfing are water sports that proper introduction, patience and passion! Try your hand at some of the world's best surfing spots!