San Vincenzo
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, Mixed
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
San Vincenzo is a Tuscany beach spot where wide sandy launches pair with a dependable summer thermal wind regime. Wind is reported as thermal, with the Northwest sea breeze (Maestrale) being especially common in summer afternoons, and typical on-spot wind speeds commonly range from roughly 12–25 knots. For kitesurfing, the sandy seabed and generally obstacle-free conditions support freeride and small-wave riding. During the summer bathing season (June–September), access is managed with designated launch channels, and kitesurfing is restricted to swimmer-free areas—so planning your launch location and timing is essential. Surfing is described as a reasonably exposed beach break with consistent surf, often noted as mostly flat in summer. Waves can offer lefts and rights, and the best wave direction is reported for southwest swells; wind strongly affects quality, with onshore winds creating chop and East/Northeast winds tending to groom the swell. Wave power is reported as moderate overall. Across the year, water temperature ranges from around 13–15°C in winter to about 25–27°C in summer. Crowd levels are sometimes crowded in general, with very busy conditions reported for July and August and quieter conditions in the winter months. Rescue availability is limited, and local hazards can include swimmers in summer and rocky groins near the town center.
- Reliable summer thermal NW sea breeze (afternoons)
- Long sandy beach with easy launch and generally obstacle-free seabed
- Southwest swells can produce surf with lefts and rights
- Long sandy coastline with easy launch conditions
- Reliable summer thermal wind for kitesurfing and wind sports
- Reasonably exposed beach-break surf with lefts and rights on southwest swells
- Onshore winds can create chop and reduce wave cleanliness
- Summer bathing season brings strict launch-channel rules and swimmer hazards
- Some hazards near town-center rocky groins
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NW, SW, S, W
- Offshore directions
- E, ENE, NE
- No-go directions
- E, ENE, ESE, NE
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Northwest sea-breeze (Maestrale) is very common in summer afternoons; winter relies more on frontal systems.
- Reliability
- Good during spring and summer for thermal winds; winter relies on frontal systems.
- Gust Factor
- 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
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Surf conditions described as consistent; summer often mostly flat for surf.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Spot-level physical conditions are described as chop for wind and small-wave conditions.
- Launch
- Medium — Beach launch; Rimigliano area to the south is noted as particularly spacious.
Through the year
Very crowded with tourists in July and August; quiet and spacious in winter.
Rain is most frequent in November and December.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Suitable for freeride and small-wave riding with a sandy seabed and no obstacles; most kiters head south toward the Rimigliano area for more space.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Excellent for freeriding and bump/jump; Northwest thermal wind is reported as very reliable for larger sails.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Sandy bottom and steady thermal winds make it suitable for wingfoiling; noted as an emerging spot.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Classic Tuscan beach break offering lefts and rights on southwest swells; exposed beach-break setup.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SW, W
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Onshore winds create chop; East/Northeast winds groom the swell.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out when swell exceeds 2.5 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Reported as reasonably exposed with pretty consistent surf.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Summer can be mostly flat; otherwise it can be reasonably exposed with consistent surf.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Short — Quick peaks; works best when wind turns offshore (East).
- Ride Length Details
- Quick peaks; typically best when winds turn offshore from the East/Northeast.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for San Vincenzo in the full forecast view.
San Vincenzo wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–15 ktsGusts 27 kts
- Direction
- NNW335°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2415 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–2.5 m4s period
- Temperature
- 11–22 °C
Over the next 7 days, San Vincenzo is forecast for daytime winds of 2–15 kts, peaking around 15 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 27 kts. The prevailing direction is NNW. Waves run 0.1–2.5 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
- Swimmers in summer
- Rocky groins near the town center
- Buildings in the town center can create turbulence close to shore
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is limited; summer patrolling by the Italian Coast Guard is reported.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number: 112. Nearest major medical facility referenced as Ospedale Civile di Cecina.
Rules of the spot
Strict regulations apply during the summer bathing season (June–September). Kitesurfing is only allowed through designated launch channels; no kiting in swimmer zones.
- Summer launch channels required
- No kiting in swimmer zones
- Use authorized launch channels in summer (June–September).
- Park near Rimigliano Coastal Park to reach the most spacious kite launch areas.
- Libeccio (SW) winds can bring messier waves and stronger side-on conditions.
- Avoid launching too close to the town-center buildings where turbulence can develop.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Livorno
- Nearest Town
- San Vincenzo
- Nearest Airport
- Pisa International Airport (PSA)
- Parking
- Paid parking in town; blue zones or park lots near the Rimigliano forest.
- Public Transport
- rail access (train connections to San Vincenzo area noted)
- Access
- Take S1 and exit to San Vincenzo (SS1 Aurelia highway).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Italian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous campsites, hotels, and apartments in and around San Vincenzo.
- Food & Drink
- High variety of restaurants and bars along the beachfront and town center.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental available at local surf shops and the sailing center.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage offered by local nautical clubs and some seasonal sport centers.
- Gear Repair
- Basic repairs available at nearby shops in the marina; basic kite/sail repairs available through local schools, with major repairs possibly requiring travel to larger cities.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A Tuscany coast base that combines beach time with natural dune walks around Rimigliano and easy excursions into Etruscan heritage and wine-country cycling.
A protected coastal forest park with pristine dunes and walking trails running parallel to the sea.
Etruscan Coast jewels from Livorno to Piombino headland.
An ancient Etruscan city and necropolis overlooking one of the most beautiful bays in Tuscany.
Tower of San Vincenzo and coastal fortifications.
World-famous cycling and tasting routes through the vineyards of the Super Tuscan wine region.
The harbor area features numerous seafood restaurants and lively bars overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Bathing establishments and beach services along the coast.
A popular amusement park located in nearby Marina di Castagneto Carducci.
Fine sand beaches with clear water and Blue Points services.
Dog beach with special dog sections.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at San Vincenzo?
The best overall months at San Vincenzo are May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are April, May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at San Vincenzo?
San Vincenzo works with NW, SW, S, W winds. Offshore directions are E, ENE, NE. No-go directions are E, ENE, ESE, NE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at San Vincenzo?
Recommended equipment sizes at San Vincenzo: Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is San Vincenzo suitable for?
San Vincenzo suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.