Best Greek Islands for Windsurfing and Kitesurfing

If the word "Meltemi" brings more joy than trouble and calm seas bore you, then surfing is the verb you love the most! The Greek islands, often swept by winds and with crystal-clear waters, are an additional reason for happiness. Let's see where it's safest, most fun, and most beautiful to release adrenaline on the waves of the Greek sea. Below is a brief description of the Greek islands best suited for windsurfing and kitesurfing, listed in alphabetical order.

Corfu (Ionian Islands)

Where: beaches in the central area. There are surf centers that are not too crowded. The wind in Corfu is great but usually lasts only a few days followed by about a week of calm: keep this in mind.
Chalikounas: typical for kitesurfing, shallow waters suitable for beginners.
Issos: suitable for beginners in the morning, stronger wind in the afternoon (3-5 Beaufort, up to 7 with a mistral).

When: from May to September, as after that (until the end of the year) the winds, when they come, are very strong.

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Crete

Where: eastern coast beaches for windsurfing, anywhere for kitesurfing. There are surf centers on the northern coasts, while they are much rarer on the southern coasts.
Kouremenos: strongest winds (up to 7-8 Beaufort).
Ammoudara: ideal for beginners, long sandy beach.
Elounda and Papadiokampos: only for experienced windsurfers, very strong winds.
Elafonisi, Falassarna, Agia Marina, and Platanias: suitable for everyone in windy months.
Paleochora, Sougia, Sfakia, Plakias, Kalamaki, Komos, Messara, and Lendas: for those who love surfing in less crowded waters.
Ierapetra: a great spot.

When: from May to October for windsurfing, all year round for kitesurfing.

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Karpathos (Dodecanese)

Where: south of the island, near the airport. Keep in mind that the Meltemi in Karpathos is no joke, almost always 30 knots, almost never absent: only for experts! There are some equipped centers.
Paradise Bay: very windy, only for experts.
Gun Bay: very windy, only for experts.
Chicken Bay: less windy but gusty, suitable for less experienced, safe.

When: from June to September.

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Kos (Dodecanese)

Where: multiple spots for surfing, all different, and for kitesurfing, it's a true paradise for both wind and sea. There are several surf centers. Not being too windy, it is also suitable for beginners. With the Meltemi, things change!
Mastichari, Marmari, Tigaki: very popular, shallow waters, suitable for beginners.
Kohilari: less crowded, constant winds.
Psalidi: guaranteed wind.
Kefalos, Agios Stefanos, Lambi: other popular spots with equipped centers.

When: from May to September.

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Lefkada (Ionian Islands)

Where: among the Ionian Sea islands, it is the most suitable for these sports. There are several equipped centers. Here the wind is a constant thermal type with a gradual increase from early afternoon, perfect for kitesurfing.
Vassiliki: very popular with both windsurfers and kiters, both beginners and especially experts (as the winds change direction rapidly in the afternoon), venue for competitions.
Agios Ioannis: suitable for beginners, very popular, constant wind, venue for competitions.
Laguna: for beginners, weak wind, on the mainland.

When: potentially all year round as the climate is quite mild.

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Limnos (North Aegean)

Where: you can surf almost everywhere and at any level of experience. There are surf centers. It's an island where the wind is almost never absent (4-6 Beaufort).
Keros: not crowded, shallow waters, suitable for everyone.
Gomati: ideal in winter, high waves.
Kalliopi: suitable for everyone, shallow waters.

When: from June to September. In spring and autumn, the wind blows all day from the south and high waves can be expected.

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Naxos (Cyclades)

Where: the western area is the most popular. There are some equipped centers for windsurfing or kitesurfing by both beginners and experts.
Mikri Vigla: best beach on the island, very popular with kiters, safe, crowded but almost always with regular winds (maximum 7 Beaufort in the late afternoon).
Glyfada: a good place, quieter.
Pirgaki: suitable for those who love surfing alone.
Chora, Agia Anna: suitable for beginners.

When: from May to September.

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Paros (Cyclades)

Where: the southeastern part of the island is the most suitable. The winds blow from the north and there are equipped centers for surfing. Enthusiasts of these sports, both experts and beginners, flock to the suitable spots of this island, which has now reached international fame as the venue for famous windsurfing and kitesurfing competitions. There are several surf centers.
Golden Beach: the most famous, shallow waters, also suitable for beginners.
New Golden Beach: for experts, venue for competitions.
Pounta: especially for kitesurfing, in windsurfing you can reach Antiparos.
Tsoukalia: quite challenging due to the presence of rocks.
Parikia, Chrisi Akti, Nea Chrisi Akti, Santa Maria: other spots for these sports.

When: from May to September.

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Rhodes (Dodecanese)

Where: southern coast beaches. There are surf centers.
Prassonissi: great windy spot (3-5 Beaufort, maximum 7), suitable for both experts and beginners. Also suitable for surfing with waves up to 3 meters.
Ialyssos: always windy, suitable for everyone.
Theologos: suitable for beginners in the morning and experts in the afternoon.

When: from April to October.

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Santorini (Cyclades)

Where: the best area is near the airport, but generally it is only for experts. There are surf centers.
Kamari: strong and constant wind, only for experts.

When: from May to September.

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Tinos (Cyclades)

Where: the eastern coast of the island is the best. Tinos is a great place for surfing if you want to choose a Cycladic island (maximum wind of 5 Beaufort). There is an equipped center.
Kolibithra: safe, also for beginners.
Livada, Agios Fokas, Kionia, Agios Romanos, Ormos Yannaki: good spots for windsurfing.

When: from May to September.

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