Region · yacht charter
Italy.
The Amalfi Coast, Capri, Sardinia and Porto Cervo: Tyrrhenian and Sardinian cruising during the European season.
- Amalfi Coast
- Capri
- Naples
- Porto Cervo
- Portofino
- and more
Overview
What to expect.
Italy’s charter cruising runs on two grounds that sit a passage apart: the Amalfi Coast, on the Tyrrhenian mainland south of Naples, and Sardinia, the island to the west. Both belong to the European summer, but they cruise differently: the Amalfi Coast is a dramatic mainland shoreline of cliff towns, Sardinia a run of granite islands and white-sand coves, and a charter usually favours one or takes both across a longer brief.
The Amalfi Coast is reached from Naples, with Positano, Amalfi and the island of Capri within a day’s cruising, and the Li Galli islands and the Gulf of Naples around them. Sardinia’s season concentrates on the Costa Smeralda in the north-east, with Porto Cervo as its harbour and the La Maddalena archipelago (a protected national park of granite islands) just offshore. Olbia is the gateway for the Sardinian ground. The two grounds are not close: a full day’s passage or more separates them.
The season runs May through October. August is the peak, when the Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo are busiest and yacht availability is tightest, and June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer water and the routing open. The September regatta weeks at Porto Cervo draw a large sailing fleet and tighten berthing further.
An Italian yacht charter is run end to end by one advisor: the shortlist of yachts and crews for the Amalfi or Sardinian ground, the embarkation from Naples or Olbia, and the day-to-day routing 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 in particular rewards early commitment.
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–October
- Prevailing winds
- Maestrale · light afternoon breeze
- Base ports
- Porto Cervo · Naples · Portofino
Late May through September. The Amalfi Coast and Capri are at their best in June and September; Sardinia and the Costa Smeralda peak through August.
Northern Tyrrhenian (Ligurian Sea, Portofino) opens slightly earlier and stays comfortable into October.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the best time for an Italian yacht charter?
- May through October. June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer water and lighter crowds; 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 sit a passage apart, so a week usually favours one, or takes both on a longer brief.
- How far ahead should an Italian charter be arranged?
- Three to six months for a standard summer week. August, and the September regatta weeks at Porto Cervo, tighten yacht availability and berthing, so earlier is safer for those.
- How do you reach an Italian charter?
- Naples is the gateway for the Amalfi Coast, a short transfer to the embarkation point; Olbia serves Sardinia and the Costa Smeralda. 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 ground, and the granite coves and the La Maddalena national park on the Sardinian ground, with the coastal towns and harbours of each. Itineraries are built around the ground, the anchorages and the weather.
- What does an Italian yacht charter cost?
- As a guide, a crewed yacht in the 30 to 50 metre range runs from around EUR 100,000 to EUR 400,000 per week, with the advance provisioning allowance and gratuity additional. Sardinia’s peak weeks sit higher; the advisor sets out the full figure before anything is signed.
- What size of yacht suits Italy?
- The full range, from smaller motor yachts for the Amalfi Coast to superyachts for a full Sardinian week. Berthing at Porto Cervo is the main constraint in peak weeks, so the 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.