Europe has probably one of the most diverse areas for Kitesurfing holidays. You can look at the map and split it up into five main areas for the best locations. They are the Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean and the Aegean. There is a vast amount of water covered and it has quite a variation in temperatures, wind and local languages.
If you are looking for waves then you will need to be looking at the Atlantic side of Europe. The main locations are Guincho in Portugal, Cornwall in the UK or the west coast of Ireland. You will find many surfing competitions in Portugal and France and some big wave competitions in Ireland. The predominant wind for these countries comes from the West and therefore the swell picks up over the vast Atlantic.
If you want calmer water conditions then the Mediterranean and the Aegean will be the place to look for warmth and sun. The winds here are normally thermal winds which occur when the land cools and the air rushes in. Or it will be formed by the difference in temperatures between sea level and higher grounds, such as in Greece and Turkey. The weather here is warm all year round with most countries’ average temperature not dropping below double figures.
If you want to head north to the Baltic and North Sea regions then it is advisable to wait until the summer months. Although the stronger winds occur throughout the winter, it can get very cold. The main water states that you will find here is deep water and choppy conditions. However, you can find the odd flat water gem on the east coast of the UK and on the Dutch coastline. The most recent World Champions and some of big time riders cut their teeth in these parts.
