Three Unexpected Places You Can Surf On The Mediterranean This Winter

The Mediterranean Sea. We all know it for its shimmering surface in the summer, Aperol spritz sipped on her shores, and white curtains blowing in the wind of charming old-world towns and cities. We are talking olives and sardines and not a worry in the world. But what about in winter? The Med has been known to deliver more than just anchovies onto the hungry surfer’s plate, with more and more waves being surfed along its winding coastline.

Some areas are more well known than others, with bustling surf communities in well-established places like Italy, or the odd spotting of big names like Caroline Marks taking on beachies in Greece. While there is risk attached to traveling to the Med to surf, given low consistency and often here today, gone tomorrow swells, there is also a chance of high reward with some quality waves from west to east. And worst case scenario, that spritz and plate of sardines will be waiting for you regardless of the surf.

Below are three suggestions of where to surf on the Med this winter. There are many more to be discovered, but these could be a place to start.

Corsica

The island of Corsica is a mountainous French-owned island located southeast off the coast of Nice. Known in the summertime for its glittering waters and world-class swim spots, in winter it actually catches some of the swells that cross the Mediterranean and collide with its western coast. With a mixture of reefs, points, and beach breaks, Corsica is a picturesque winter surf getaway. Corsica is a relatively difficult place to move between regions once you’re there due to the mountain range that isolates the east from the west so we suggest getting a flight into Ajaccio, renting a car and taking it from there. 

As with everywhere on the Med and particularly because it is an island, the wind swell can disappear as fast as it arrives, so it is the kind of trip that takes all hope but no expectation. On the plus side, there are a host of other things to see and do on the island if you get skunked: tasting wine, snowboarding, or hiking dramatic coastlines if that is your thing.

Italy

Probably the best known of the Mediterranean surfing destinations, Italy has a coastline of almost 8,000 kilometers. The island of Sardinia, which sits just south of Corsica, has a longer and more exposed western coastline, meaning it is more consistent than its northern francophone counterpart. While good conditions are still infrequent, it is recognized as the premier surf location in the Med. With a well established surf community it can get busy, but 

A flight into Alghero or Cagliari will take you closest to the surf, rent a car and head to the west coast. The Costa Verde is the most well known surf region, with rugged black rocks and headlands that provide a variety of setups in the windswept winter months. 

East of Sardinia, on the mainland, there are also a few breaks in the region of Liguria along the Italian Riviera. Think quaint colored buildings stacked into the hillside, luxurious Instagram-filter towns like Portofino, and a selection of A-frames and jetties from Genoa to Levanto. Renting a car and driving further south down this coast past Tuscany and Rome, there are multiple setups and a thriving surf community that you will find along the way. Maybe not your typical heavy European winter surf trip like you might have on the Atlantic, but there is a different charm to surfing in this part of the world.

The Mistral, a strong northwest wind that blows off the southern French mainland and out into the Mediterranean, is responsible for the pockets of surf found in this region.

Lebanon

Way on the other side of the Med, Lebanon has a small but dedicated surf community. Wind swells can travel down from the north and by the time they hit Lebanon’s 220-kilometer long coastline they actually carry some power. There are a few surfing hubs here, with the surfing capital considered to be Jiyeh, located 24 kilometers south of Beirut. Along this coast it is possible to find uncrowded A-frames and beach breaks that offer a side of Lebanon that’s far from the headlines.

In a country that has been rocked by different iterations of violence and civil war since the 1980s, surfing is a special place where people from different communities have a chance to connect. An easy flight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and with a huge array of delicious food to try along the way, Lebanon is an off-the-beaten-path Mediterranean surf destination.