Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli)
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Chop, Mixed
- Spot Type
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Range
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) is a sandy, medium-sized beachfront spot with generally clean water and choppy conditions suitable for multiple wind and water sports. For kitesurfing, it’s commonly described as beginner-friendly, with sideshore wind affecting the water surface (chop and small-to-medium wave activity). Wind typically appears in a reliable seasonal pattern from April through November. Thermal winds develop on sunny afternoons, with the most consistent strength in spring and summer; winter can bring more storm-front influence. Reported wind directions include WNW/SE (sideshore) as well as additional seasonal directions (e.g., NW/SW), with sessions often showing light gustiness. Safety is a key consideration: the coastline features artificial rock groynes/breakwaters, and sea urchins are reported near rocky areas. During the summer bathing season, kitesurfing is restricted to designated launch channels and requires maintaining distance from swimmers. Access also involves a private residential consortium, which can make parking difficult without the right permit. Outside of kitesurfing, the spot can be useful for surfing and other board sports depending on conditions. Surf is described as having peeling, moderate-power waves on a sandy bottom (with some rocky patches) and can work across tides, with good results when offshore wind lightens; larger West-origin swells may close out.
- Choppy, clean sandy water with medium beach size
- Reliable April–November season for wind sports
- Multi-sport potential including kitesurfing and surfing
- Beginner-friendly kitesurfing difficulty reported
- Season typically runs from April to November
- Clean, sandy area with choppy water; consistent wind opportunities in spring/summer
- Private consortium access can restrict parking/access and require permissions
- Summer bathing season brings strict launch-channel limitations near swimmers
- Rock groynes/breakwaters create hazards (including sea urchins near rocks)
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- WNW, SE, SW, NW
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Maestrale sea breeze in sunny afternoons (NW thermal); season also includes storm-driven periods in colder months.
- Reliability
- High in spring and summer for thermal winds; moderate in winter for storm fronts.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Reported as light gusts.
- Best Months
- April, May, June, July, August, September
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Mixed
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Small to small/medium waves depending on season and weather.
- Launch
- Medium — Medium-sized launching/landing area; can become narrow during high tide or in summer due to beach concessions.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Spot-level reports easy launch difficulty; another provider rates it moderate with seasonal narrowing of usable sand.
Through the year
Very crowded on summer weekends and good surf days
November to February
By sport
What to expect for each.
Sideshore conditions with chop and small-to-medium waves; summer thermals and winter storm periods can both provide kiting opportunities depending on wind direction.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Freeride/wave sailing possible depending on wind direction; NW thermal supports stronger/consistent sessions.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.5–6.5 m²
Side-shore thermals can be good for foiling; watch depth near rock groynes/bottom irregularities.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters beyond the initial break
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Multiple peaks on a sandy bottom with some rocky patches; suitable for rights and lefts depending on swell/wind.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW, W
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Cleanest with light NE or E offshore winds.
- Bigger Swell
- Can handle larger swells but may close out if too powerful from the West.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Can offer rides up to 100 meters on good SW swells.
- Ride Length Details
- Rides reported up to ~100 meters on good SW swells.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) in the full forecast view.
Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–11 ktsGusts 18 kts
- Direction
- N359°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2411 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.4 m4s period
- Temperature
- 10–21 °C
Over the next 7 days, Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–11 kts, peaking around 11 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 18 kts. The prevailing direction is N. Waves run 0.1–1.4 m with a period of about 4s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Artificial rock barriers (groynes) and breakwaters
- Swimmers in summer months
- Restricted access through private residential gates
- Sea urchins near the rocks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard presence on main public beaches (group-level baseline).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue limited (group-level baseline).
- Emergency Info
- Nearest clinic in Ladispoli; major hospitals in Rome. Universal emergency number: 112.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Local rules around access/launch channels and limited areas during bathing season.
Rules of the spot
During the summer bathing season (typically May 1st to September 30th), kitesurfing is strictly limited to designated launch channels; follow any channel/distance requirements near swimmers.
- Summer launch channels only
- Distance from swimmers required
- Check whether kitesurfing is allowed and whether you need a special permit or local kite organization membership.
- Parking can be difficult if you don’t have a permit; if you can’t access the main area, look for public access paths/parking options.
- Park outside the main consortium gates if you don't have a pass (or use public access paths).
- The spot works best for surfing when the wind drops after a strong SW storm.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Ladispoli
- Nearest Town
- Ladispoli
- Nearest Airport
- Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
- Parking
- Parking is available at Marina San Nicola (note: parking can be difficult without a permit in the consortium).
- Public Transport
- well-connected by the FL5 regional rail line (Ladispoli–Cerveteri to central Rome in ~40–50 minutes)
- Access
- From Ladispoli south on SS1 and get to Marina San Nicola.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Italian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Numerous vacation rentals within the Marina San Nicola consortium and hotels in Ladispoli.
- Food & Drink
- Several beach bars (stabilimenti) are active during the summer season.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at local schools and seasonal beach clubs.
- Gear Storage
- Offered by some local clubs for members.
- Gear Repair
- Basic repairs available in Ladispoli.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli)?
The best overall months at Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) are April, May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli)?
Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) works with WNW, SE, SW, NW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.5–6.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) suitable for?
Marina San Nicola (Ladispoli) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.