Region · yacht charter
Italy.
The Italian Riviera, the Amalfi Coast and Capri, Sardinia and Sicily: four grounds of the Italian summer.
- Amalfi Coast
- Capri
- Naples
- Porto Cervo
- Portofino
- and more
Overview
What to expect.
Italy's charter coast runs on four grounds, each with its own character. In the north, Portofino and the Italian Riviera, between Genoa and the Cinque Terre. South of Naples, the cliff towns of the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri. To the west, Sardinia, with the Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo in the north-east. And to the south, Sicily, with the Aeolian islands off its north coast.
The Amalfi Coast is reached from Naples, with Positano, Amalfi and Capri within a day's cruising. Sardinia's season centres on the Costa Smeralda, with Porto Cervo as its harbour and the La Maddalena archipelago, a national park of granite islands, just offshore; Olbia is the gateway. Sicily is cruised from Palermo, Portorosa and the east coast below Taormina, and Portofino from the harbours of the Gulf of Tigullio. The grounds lie far apart, a full day's passage or more, so a week usually favours one.
The season runs from May to October, and from June to September in Sardinia. August is the peak, when the Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo are busiest and yacht availability is tightest; June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer water and more room at anchor. The September regattas at Porto Cervo draw a large sailing fleet and tighten berths further.
An Italian yacht charter is planned around the ground and run end to end by one advisor: the yachts and crews that know it, the embarkation port, and a day-to-day route set to the coast and the weather. Because Porto Cervo and the Amalfi Coast are among the most sought-after weeks in the Mediterranean, August rewards early planning.
Destinations
Where we cruise in the Italy.
7 destinations curated through our network of brokers, owners and management firms.
Season
When to cruise.
- Best months
- May to October
- Prevailing winds
- Maestrale · light afternoon breeze
- Base ports
- Portofino · Naples · Porto Cervo · Palermo
May to October across Italy, with Sardinia at its best from June to September. The Amalfi Coast and Capri are most rewarding in June and September, the Costa Smeralda peaks in August, and Portofino's season runs from May to September.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the best time for an Italian yacht charter?
- From May to October, and from June to September in Sardinia. June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer water and fewer boats; August is the peak, when Sardinia and the Costa Smeralda are busiest.
- Should I choose the Amalfi Coast or Sardinia?
- The Amalfi Coast (Positano, Amalfi and Capri) is a dramatic mainland shoreline of cliff towns; Sardinia (the Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo and La Maddalena) is a run of granite islands and coves. They lie a long passage apart, so a week usually favours one, and a longer charter can take in both.
- How far ahead should an Italian charter be arranged?
- Six months is comfortable for a standard summer week. August and the September regatta weeks at Porto Cervo tighten yacht availability and berths, so earlier is safer for those.
- How do you reach an Italian charter?
- Naples serves the Amalfi Coast and Capri, Olbia serves Sardinia and the Costa Smeralda, Genoa serves Portofino, and Palermo and Catania serve Sicily. The advisor arranges the transfer to the yacht.
- What is there to do on an Italian charter?
- The cliff towns and the island of Capri on the Amalfi Coast, the granite coves and the La Maddalena national park in Sardinia, the Aeolian islands off Sicily, and Portofino and the Cinque Terre on the Riviera, with the harbour towns of each. The route is built around the ground, the anchorages and the weather.
- What does an Italian yacht charter cost?
- As a guide, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week in the Mediterranean, a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000, and yachts above 50 metres from around EUR 250,000, quoted individually. The Advance Provisioning Allowance, VAT for the cruising area and gratuity bring the week to roughly 130 to 150 percent of the base rate, with August in Sardinia at the top of the range.
- What size of yacht suits Italy?
- The full range, from smaller motor yachts for the Amalfi Coast and the Riviera to superyachts for a full Sardinian week. Berths at Porto Cervo are the main constraint in peak weeks, so the yacht's size is matched to the harbours on the route.
Plan your charter
Guides and charter services.
Elsewhere
Other cruising grounds.
Plan a charter
Plan a charter in the Italy.
A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.