Best time to kitesurf Kos – Marmari

The best time to kitesurf at Kos – Marmari is June–August, the well-known local wind season, with water around 24°C.

Marmari, South Aegean, Greece

Sports: Kitesurfing, Wingfoiling, Windsurfing, Parawing

Best time to go: June–August

Marmari is a resort village on the north coast of Kos, in the Dodecanese, about 15 km west of Kos town, with a long sandy beach and large hotels behind it. The islands of Pserimos and Kalymnos lie opposite, and the channel between them funnels and accelerates the summer meltemi, so Marmari is often windier than the rest of the coast.

The meltemi blows from the north-west to west, side-onshore, mainly from June to August, with May and September as shoulder months; July and August are usually the windiest. It is often light in the morning, picks up around midday and drops at sunset, and 20 knots or more are common in the afternoon. Close to the beach the water is flat, and further out small waves roll over a sandbank, up to about 1.5 m on strong afternoons, which is good for jumping. Because the wind blows onshore at an angle, you are unlikely to drift out to sea.

Marmari is mainly a windsurf spot: several centres on the beach, such as the Marmari Windsurfing Centre and Fun2Fun, teach beginners and rent gear. Since 2011 kiting has not been allowed in front of the wide main beach, which became a swimming zone. The kite zone was moved downwind to a stretch of beach only about 10 m wide with trees behind it, where launching and landing are tricky, so it suits experienced kiters; ask a local school about the current rules before rigging. The water is warm in summer: boardshorts or a shorty in July and August, a thin wetsuit early and late in the season.

Month by month at Kos – Marmari

January: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 19°C, air 16°C (nights 12°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 26 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 13; a day can have both
February: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 18°C, air 15°C (nights 11°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 25 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 8; a day can have both
March: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 17°C, air 17°C (nights 12°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 7; a day can have both
April: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.1 m, water 18°C, air 20°C (nights 15°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 6; a day can have both
May: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 0.9 m, water 20°C, air 24°C (nights 17°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 4; a day can have both
June: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 23°C, air 29°C (nights 22°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 1; a day can have both
July: 14 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 24°C, air 32°C (nights 25°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, almost no rain
August: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 26°C, air 31°C (nights 25°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 31 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 1; a day can have both
September: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 0.7 m, water 25°C, air 28°C (nights 23°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 2; a day can have both
October: 4 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 8 knots, waves 1 m, water 24°C, air 24°C (nights 19°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 30 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 4; a day can have both
November: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.2 m, water 22°C, air 21°C (nights 16°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 28 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 11; a day can have both
December: 6 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 9 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 20°C, air 18°C (nights 14°C), sun (6+ hours) on about 27 days, rain (1+ mm) on about 11; a day can have both

Kitesurfing in Greece: June, July, August

When is the best time to go kitesurfing, wingfoiling, windsurfing & parawing at Kos – Marmari?

June–August, the well-known local wind season (weather models underestimate the local winds here).

How warm is the water at Kos – Marmari?

17°C to 26°C over the year: boardshorts, no wetsuit needed in the warmest month, a 4/3 full suit in the coolest.

How windy is Kos – Marmari?

About 88 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in July.

Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).

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