Windsurf spots in North Sardinia
North Sardinia is the island's windsurf heartland. Porto Pollo offers reliable Mistral and flatwater lagoons, while Santa Teresa, Costa Smeralda and Stintino add wave and freeride options. Check live wind, webcams and the forecast for every spot below.
Porto Pollo
Europe's top flatwater & bump-and-jump spot. Lagoon (Sottovento) + wave side. All levels. Steady Mistral May–Sept.
Wind: 15–40 kn · NW, W, N — Sports: windsurf, kite, wing, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: school, rental, food, WC
Rules: Separate kite (west) and windsurf (east) zones; marked swimming areas are off-limits; school zone vs free zone. Follow signage and lifeguards in season.
Caution: Very crowded in peak season — keep strictly to the zones. Current in the channel between the bays; shallow sandbanks.
Punta Sardegna
Cape near Palau. Wind indicator for the Bocche di Bonifacio Mistral channel.
Wind: 15–40 kn · NW, W — Sports: windsurf, kite, wing — Level: advanced
Rules: Cape over the Bocche di Bonifacio strait, ~1 km from Palau — more a Maestrale (Mistral) indicator than a launch beach; most riders use the organised Porto Pollo zones nearby. Within the 200 m bathing strip keep clear of swimmers.
Caution: Granite rocks and a strongly funnelled, gusty Mistral in the Bocche di Bonifacio; exposed open-water cape, not for beginners.
La Sciumara (Palau)
Palau town beach, small spot. Beginner-friendly on light Mistral days.
Wind: 8–20 kn · W, NW — Sports: windsurf, kite, SUP — Level: beginner — On site: school, rental, food, WC
Rules: ~500 m town beach between Palau and Porto Rafael, facing the Maddalena archipelago, with windsurf/kite schools on site; works in light to moderate Maestrale (Mistral). Keep clear of the swimming area in summer.
Caution: Shallow, gentle seabed suited to families and beginners; can get crowded with bathers in summer.
La Maddalena
Bridge Palau–Caprera. Wind funnel effect visible in Mistral.
Wind: 15–40 kn · NW — Sports: windsurf, kite — Level: advanced
Rules: The Palau–La Maddalena channel (and Palau–Caprera bridge) lies inside the La Maddalena National Park; the strait funnels and accelerates the Maestrale (Mistral), so it is mainly a wind/scenery indicator — most riders launch from Porto Pollo. Park navigation/access rules apply.
Caution: Channelled, gusty Mistral with strong current in the strait, boat and ferry traffic, granite rocks — exposed, advanced conditions.
Baja Sardinia
Panoramic view of the Maddalena archipelago. Perfect Mistral indicator.
Wind: 8–18 kn · NW — Sports: windsurf, kite, SUP — Level: beginner
Rules: Bay near Arzachena facing the Maddalena archipelago, served by water-sports operators; conditions come mainly with Maestrale (Mistral) from NW and Scirocco from the south. Within the bathing strip keep clear of swimmers.
Caution: Sheltered tourist bay that gets very crowded with bathers and boats in summer; some outcropping rocks.
Cannigione / Mannena
Flat sandy beach in the Arzachena gulf. Sheltered beginner spot.
Wind: 8–22 kn · W, NW — Sports: windsurf, wing, SUP — Level: beginner — On site: school, rental, food, WC
Rules: Flat sandy gulf beaches near Cannigione/Mannena; Tanca Manna beach hosts a long-established windsurf/SUP/wing school with courses for all levels. Many beaches here are partly sheltered from the Maestrale (Mistral).
Caution: Sheltered, flat and beginner-friendly; partly shielded from the Maestrale so wind can be light, and the seabed deepens quickly off Mannena.
San Pasquale / Culuccia
Culuccia peninsula near Porto Pollo. Wave/flat mix, less crowded.
Wind: 12–30 kn · W, NW — Sports: windsurf, kite, wing — Level: intermediate — On site: school
Rules: Coast near the Culuccia peninsula and Porto Liscia/Porto Pollo, working mainly in W/NW Maestrale (Mistral); a wave/flat mix, with the organised kite and windsurf zones of Porto Pollo nearby. Kitesurf only via the official Porto Liscia kite zone (launch corridor beyond the 200 m bathing zone); the Culuccia peninsula itself is private/protected.
Caution: Open and exposed to a gusty Maestrale; the Culuccia peninsula is private, limiting shoreline access.
Santa Teresa Gallura
Northern cape town. Full Mistral channel through Bocche di Bonifacio.
Wind: 15–45 kn · W, NW, N — Sports: windsurf, kite, SUP, surf — Level: all levels — On site: school, rental, food, WC
Rules: Northern cape town fully exposed to the Maestrale (Mistral) channel; Rena Bianca offers flat water and can build a wave with Ponente (W) and Maestrale (NW). Schools and rentals in town. In the bathing strip use launch corridors and keep clear of swimmers.
Caution: Strong, gusty Maestrale and an exposed channel; Rena Bianca is a Blue Flag town beach, very crowded with bathers in summer.
Capo Testa
Sardinia's northernmost point. Extreme Mistral, wave spots for experts.
Wind: 20–50 kn · NW, W, N — Sports: surf, windsurf, kite — Level: advanced — On site: school
Rules: Sardinia's northernmost point, on the isthmus — two spots either side of the road. In strong NW Maestrale (Mistral) the wind is partly blanketed inside the bays, so sail out for steady wind and up to ~3 m wave; SW/W turns it side-/cross-onshore with a sheltered clean sand break.
Caution: North-side spot is rock-framed with a rocky bottom — watch for sea urchins; in Mistral there is no beach to land downwind (drift east), dangerous and expert-only.
Santa Reparata Bay
Bay between Capo Testa and Santa Teresa (Rena di Ponente). Clean 0.5–3 m waves on sand in Ponente and Libeccio; Mistral is blocked by the cape.
Wind: 8–20 kn · W, SW — Sports: windsurf, kite, SUP — Level: beginner — On site: rental
Rules: Bay between Capo Testa and Santa Teresa, with Rena di Ponente and Rena di Levante; the Maestrale (Mistral) is blocked by Capo Testa's hill, so it works best in Ponente (W) and Libeccio (SW). Keep clear of swimmers.
Caution: Wind-shadowed from the Maestrale so it can be light; gentle waves on sand with little current, but busy with bathers in summer.
La Liccia / Rena Majori
Wave spot on western Gallura. Onshore wave in Mistral.
Wind: 12–35 kn · NW, N — Sports: surf, windsurf, kite, SUP — Level: intermediate
Rules: Works best in strong Maestrale/Ponente (W–NW); the bay splits into two coves divided by a rocky peninsula. The main beach is busy with bathers in summer, so launch with care.
Caution: Mixed sandy-rocky seabed and rocks on the dividing peninsula; strong downwind current and fast-breaking shorebreak.
Vignola Mare (Aglientu)
North-coast wave beach with river mouth. One of the few northern spots that works in E/NE; big swell in strong Mistral.
Wind: 12–35 kn · NE, E — Sports: surf, windsurf, kite, SUP — Level: intermediate — On site: school, rental
Rules: Sideshore-from-the-right and strongest with E/NE/SE winds, which are reinforced inside the bay; also rideable in W/Maestrale but gustier. With strong Maestrale the wave breaks ~150 m out near the offshore rock.
Caution: Granite rocks interrupt the sand and an offshore rock sits in front of the beach; strong shorebreak in bigger conditions.
Badesi (Li Junchi)
Long sandy beach, wave spot with onshore Mistral.
Wind: 12–35 kn · NW, N — Sports: surf, windsurf, kite, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: school, rental, food, WC, camping
Rules: Long exposed beach break working all year on Maestrale (NW); summer is often flat. Best surf with NW swell and offshore SE wind. Suitable for beginner and advanced kiters alike.
Caution: Open exposed beach with strong Mistral and shorebreak; no major underwater obstacles but watch the rips.
Isola Rossa / La Marinedda
Popular surf/windsurf spot, half-moon bay. All levels.
Wind: 12–35 kn · NW, W — Sports: surf, windsurf, SUP, kite — Level: all levels — On site: school, rental, food, WC
Rules: Sheltered half-moon bay good for all levels; works best with NW swell and offshore SE wind. Home of the Marinedda Bay Open surf contest (late Aug–mid Sep) — expect crowds and event closures then.
Caution: Rocks and algae on parts of the seabed; rips and persistent current with onshore wind. Surrounded by red granite rocks.
Valledoria / La Ciaccia
Classic wave spot at Coghinas river mouth. Flatwater in lagoon, wave outside.
Wind: 12–35 kn · N, NW — Sports: windsurf, kite, surf, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: school, rental
Rules: Two options: the flat, shallow Coghinas river mouth/lagoon (ideal for beginners, safe in most winds) and the wave at sea outside. Works best in Maestrale/Ponente (NW/W); functions almost year-round except July–August.
Caution: The outside wave spot suits advanced riders (current, loops). The lagoon is enclosed and shallow — low hazard for learners.
Castelsardo / Lu Bagnu
Sandy Ampurias beach at Castelsardo. Sideshore NE is the reliable direction, boosted by summer thermals; Mistral brings windswell.
Wind: 12–30 kn · NE — Sports: surf, windsurf, kite — Level: intermediate — On site: food, WC
Rules: Exposed Ampurias/Lu Bagnu beach break that only works occasionally — mostly flat in summer. Most surf comes from windswell with Maestrale (NW); best wave direction is NW.
Caution: Crystalline seabed dotted with flat rocks; family beach that gets crowded in summer.
Stintino / La Pelosa
Caribbean-style beach, shallow turquoise water. SUP/wing beginners. Restricted access in summer.
Wind: 8–20 kn · NW, SE — Sports: SUP, wing, windsurf — Level: beginner — On site: WC
Rules: La Pelosa enforces a daily visitor cap and paid booking (€3.50, under-12 free) from 1 Jun to 30 Sep; reservation required via the official portal. Beach towels directly on the sand are banned (mat mandate, €100 fine).
Caution: Very shallow turquoise water — easy to stand; crowded and heavily protected in summer.
Le Saline / Ezzi Mannu
Huge flat beaches south of La Pelosa. Top Stintino windsurf hotspot.
Wind: 12–35 kn · SW, W — Sports: windsurf, kite, wing, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: school, rental, food, WC
Rules: Huge flat beaches (Le Saline/Ezzi Mannu) south of La Pelosa; the dedicated Kitezone Le Saline sits between the old tuna tower and the former salt-pan wetlands. Optimal onshore wind favours windsurf, kite and sailing.
Caution: Generally calm, shallow and crystal-clear — family-friendly; currents can form with strong NE wind, so take care on those days.
Platamona (Sassari)
8 km beach in the Gulf of Asinara. Onshore wave/bumps in Mistral.
Wind: 12–30 kn · NW — Sports: surf, windsurf, kite, SUP — Level: all levels — On site: school
Rules: Long 8 km+ beach in the Gulf of Asinara that becomes a windsurf/kite gathering point with Maestrale (NW) and strong Ponente. Works with W/NW/N/NE swell; right-handers up to ~1.5 m. The launch is near the old Military Outpost.
Caution: Waves break over sand and stay moderate — beginner-friendly for waves; onshore chop and bumps in Mistral.
Cala Pischina
Expert wave spot between Rena Majore and Vignola Mare. Long, mast-high lefts at the rocky point in Ponente/Libeccio; brutal in pure Mistral. Not for beginners.
Wind: 20–25 kn · W, SW — Sports: windsurf, surf, kite — Level: advanced
Rules: Reef/wave spot for experts. Works best in Ponente (W, sideshore from the left) and Libeccio (SW, side-off); pure NW Mistral brings the swell but is nearly full onshore and a hard beat to the point. The wave is a left breaking in front of the right-hand promontory (Rocky/Bomba Point).
Caution: Rocks lie dangerously close under the surface at the point — they show in the wave troughs; a very strong current pulls out of the cove, dangerous in the deeper middle of the bay. Small, rocky rigging area. Only a summer kiosk and chemical toilets; no services off-season. 'Pischina non perdona.'