SurfItalia

Wetsuit guide for the Mediterranean

What thickness to wear, month by month and coast by coast — and why Italian winter water is colder than you expect.

5 min readUpdated 3 August 2026

Wetsuit guide for the Mediterranean

The mistake visitors make

People hear "Mediterranean" and pack a shorty. In January, water off Liguria sits around 13°C — colder than Biarritz, colder than Cornwall in the same week. The sea here is small and it loses heat fast.

Thickness by season

September – October — 20 to 24°C. A 2mm shorty in September, a 3/2 full suit by mid-October.

November – December — 16 to 19°C. A 3/2 with a hood on windy days, or a 4/3 if you feel the cold.

January – March — 13 to 16°C. A 4/3 with 3mm boots. In the north, add gloves and a hood in February and March.

April – May — 14 to 18°C. Start in a 4/3, finish in a 3/2.

June – August — 24 to 28°C. Boardshorts, or a 2mm top if you burn.

North versus south

Sicily and southern Sardinia run 2 to 3°C warmer than Liguria and Tuscany year-round, and the gap widens in winter. A 3/2 that is marginal in Levanto in January is comfortable in Mondello.

Thermal lag

The coldest water of the year is not in December — it is late February and early March, weeks after the coldest air. Plan your spring trip suit accordingly: March water is winter water.

Boots, gloves, hoods

Boots matter more than most people expect, and not only for warmth. Many Italian breaks are entered over rock or cobble: Levanto, Varazze and most of the Ligurian coast are far more pleasant in 3mm split-toes.

Gloves are optional except in the northern Adriatic and the Ligurian winter. A hood buys more warmth per euro than any other piece of neoprene.

Buying advice

Buy the suit that fits, not the brand. A cheap suit that seals at the neck and wrists beats an expensive one a size too big. If you surf Italy year-round, two suits — a 3/2 and a 4/3 — cover everything, and the 3/2 will wear out first.

Care

Rinse in fresh water after every session, dry inside out in the shade, never in direct sun, and never in a washing machine. Neoprene dies from UV and folding, not from surfing.

Spots covered in this guide

LevantoIntermediate

Levanto

Levanto is the best-known wave in Liguria and the traditional gateway to Italian surfing. The wide bay at the northern edge of the Cinque Terre catches south-west libeccio swell and organises it into rideable left and right peaks along the sand, with the cleanest banks usually found towards the northern end near the breakwater. On a mid-sized swell with north-east wind the wave is punchy but manageable — hollow enough to be fun, forgiving enough to progress on.

Best months
Oct – Apr
Consistency
3/5
Crowd
Often crowded
VarazzeAdvanced

Varazze

Varazze is the closest thing Liguria has to a world-class wave. When a strong libeccio swell wraps into the bay, a long, fast right-hander peels off the reef at Il Ponte, throwing sections that regularly draw the best surfers in northern Italy. It is a serious wave: shallow, crowded, and unforgiving of mistakes on the take-off. On smaller days the nearby beach and rivermouth banks offer a far friendlier alternative.

Best months
Oct – Mar
Consistency
3/5
Crowd
Often crowded
ViareggioBeginner

Viareggio

Viareggio is the busiest surf town in Tuscany and the centre of the region's surf culture, with shops, schools and a line-up that fills within an hour of any forecast. The beach runs for kilometres, so peaks shift with the sandbanks and there is almost always space to find your own. Waves are typically waist to chest high and user-friendly, occasionally doubling in size on a big winter libeccio.

Best months
Oct – Apr
Consistency
3/5
Crowd
Often crowded

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