Surfing in Sardinia is already firmly established as arguably the best in the Med, mainly thanks to consistent winter conditions and a whole west coast that’s well suited to giving all sorts of waves.
An introduction to surfing in Sardinia
Recently re-thrust into the limelight by Sardinian-borne pro Alessandro Piu and others on the Italian scene, this island on the western side of The Boot is as much on the forefront of Mediterranean surfing as anywhere in the region. We’d even go as far to say that’s it’s got the most consistent swells in this often serenely still sea, with the potential to churn out everything from logger cruisers to charger slabs depending on the time of year and presence of low-pressure storm systems.
The west coast is where the magic happens. That long, wiggling shoreline is perfectly situated for sucking up anything that’s generated by winds or refracted ocean swells in the western Med, and has the topography (think high mountains crashing straight into the sea) to match. What you have to remember is that this is still Italy. Prime conditions don’t happen all that often. When they do, the local rippers will be on point and competing forever drop in.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Italy
Surfing in Sardinia at a glance
The good:
- The most consistent swell in the region
- Good spots on the west coast
- Beautiful scenery
The bad:
- Good conditions are rare – it’s still Italy
- Can get busy
- Hardly any waves in the summer
What’s in this guide to surfing in Sardinia?
Where is Sardinia?
Sardinia is on the western haunch of Italy, separated from its mother country by about 200 miles of open Tyrrhenian Sea. It’s one of the largest islands in the Med – the second-largest after Sicily to be precise – and can be accessed almost equally as easily from the French south coast and the Italian west coast, regions like Tuscany and Liguria.
A guide to the Sardinia surf spots
The Green Coast is the section of shore you’re looking for. It’s a world away from the white-sand beaches of the famous Costa Smeralda, looking more like a part of the Corish Lizard Peninsula – think rugged rocks for point breaks and craggy headlands that rise straight from the Med. It’s also possible to surf anywhere up and down the west coast of Sardinia, which is where the stronger westerly swells will focus in the winter months.
Silver Rock
One of the last breaks on the western shoreline of Sardinia before the land bends around into the more protected North Shore, Silver Rock offers a last hurrah that’s pretty good fun for experienced riders. The rocky under the bottom and the sucky character of the wave reminds us a lot of a Madeiran break. Only works on the strongest of winter storm pulses but when it goes it really goes, forming into a slabby A-frame that has occasionally hollow lefts and rights. When it’s smaller it can still be surfable with an E offshore, but the lefts are usually more fun as the rights can get steep and closey.
Porto Ferro
A large bay that opens up under the shadow of a medieval castle at the far north end of the western Sardinian coast, Porto Ferro gets a lot of onshore action in the winter. That brings a matching variation in conditions. Some places say it’s top for beginners, but we’ve double overhead bombs being dropped in these parts on a windy December morning. We do like it for learners on smaller swells because the on-site surf school (Bonga Porto Ferro) has great reviews. When it is miniature then you’re looking at frothy little leg burners that will tempt better riders to pump the nose plenty. Bigger days see fast and hollow right-handers with steep peaks.
La Speranza
La Speranza is a bit of a diversion from the rest of the west coast that needs heavy power to get pumping. Here, there’s a neat right hander point that likes size but also works on smaller days. It’s not as popular as Porto Ferro a little to the north because it’s not as consistent. In fact, it’s positively fickle but does give a crumbly ankle burner of a ride off the cliffs. Usually deemed not worthy of paddle and the risk of catching the glass on the rocks by the local crews, so you could have it to yourself!
S’Archittu
S’Archittu is famed for its chalk-white cliff scapes and eroded coastline. It’s fantastic in the summer months when you can sea kayak through the arches and the caves. But it’s the winter that feeds the swell through, helping to create a pretty decent right point break that works on anything 3 foot and over. It’s often completely deserted but also comes in as one of the longer rides on the island. Watch for huge days when a sort of outside section bomba forms at the entrance to the bay. That’s a whole other challenge!
Sa Mesa Longa
There’s a very shallow reef system running along the sandbanks of Sa Mesa Longa main beach. It can harness hefty winter swells of 10-14 feet into a pretty gnarly A-frame that gives tubular right handers. This peak is actually sheer quality, reminding us a little of Margaret River Main Point when it’s properly firing. Don’t wait around for it to work, though. It’s rare that you see it at its finest.
Capo Mannu
Capo Mannu – remember the name! This is the height of the Sardinia surf scene, a place that’s now etched into the minds of surfers all over the Mediterranean Basin. As the rocks of the Sardinian coast crumble into the Med, they angle perfectly to offer right hander sets on W-SW windswells. They are more organized and cleaner than pretty much anything on the island, and, if you can catch the pocket, you’re looking at rides of 50-100m on a good day. Thing is, Capo Mannu gets busy, both because of its rep but also because it’s close to the town of Oristano.
Piscinas
There’s a barreling right on big days beneath the cliffs at Piscinas, roughly midway between Buggerru and Capo Mannu. There’s also a left on the A-frame peak but it gets shallow fast and runs into a rock shelf.
Buggerru
Home to one of the longest running surf schools in Sardinia and the Soul Wave surf shop, Buggerru is up there with Capo Mannu among the royalty of surfing in Sardinia. Once a small mining town, the place is hemmed in by coves and sandy beaches. They host everything from whitewash rollers for complete beginners to rocky wedges that get hollow during winter storms. It’s got the best consistency on the island and we’d recommend making this port of call numero uno if you’re unsure where to surf in Sardinia.
Goroneddu
There’s a good set of lefts that break under the lush cliffs at Goroneddu. They are more accessible from the cities on the south coast and also tend to be nice and mellow but also busy. These work best when there’s not much wind and the main hazard has to be the jagged reef that’s underfoot.
Maresciallo
Maresciallo has the benefit of angling slightly southwest into the Med to make the onshores that bring the swells actually cross shore. The result is some of the most reliably right hand sets on the island. It’s all reef here at the rocky south end of the isle, so for good intermediates and up only. Also, expect a tough walk over the stony beach to the break. Best done with reef shoes.
Pipeline
We’ve no idea why this spot on the south side of the island gets to be the namesake (or close to it) of the North Shore legend. It’s hardly ever hollow and big enough to barrel. What it does do is mellow chest high rights that are fun to ride on high-volume boards. Often filled with loggers and very chilled waves.
Where to stay when surfing in Sardinia?
Sardinia’s got plenty of hotel options – this was a vacation mecca long before it was a surf destination, after all. Here, we’ve picked out three that put you super close to the famous spots of the west coast.
Albergo Residenziale Menhirs
Spacious studios and suites with a touch of Sardinian luxury and charm await at Albergo Residenziale Menhirs. After sessions on the nearby breaks of Capo Mannu, you can return to a glistening pool surrounded by patio terraces and wildflowers. Pretty lovely indeed!
ALELCA DOMO
This stunningly decorated pad on the edge of Buggerru main beach gets you real close to the wedgy breaks there. It’s also top to return to, what with stylish minimalist interiors and large terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Agriturismo S’Incant’e Sinis
Agriturismo S’Incant’e Sinis is a true escape to nature. Nestled between the farm fields a touch inland from the breaks of Capo Mannu, it’s done up like a rustic Italiano farmhouse. The spot is very peaceful and quiet and the food is all made in house, fresh and local. You will need a car to get to the waves though.
Step-by-step guide to planning your [yoast_kw] trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the [yoast_kw]…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Sardinia?
Come surfing in Sardinia during the winter months. Strong storms roll throughout the western Med like clockwork, gathering power on the edges of Africa before pushing north and closer to the island. That can generate wind swells and even some distant groundswells when the pressure is low enough, sending sets of 5-15 feet over Sardinia way. Sadly, all that’s almost always accompanied by onshore winds, which are westerlies, so any morning that has swell and an E wind is gold dust at Capo Mannu and Buggerru. Summer sees the island change COMPLETELY. Gone is any trace of swell; replaced by lapping waters of pure sky blue – more swimming pool than the salty sea!
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
