WRITTEN BY
Libby Megson
CATEGORY
Destinations
READ TIME
8 min read
BEST SEASON
May – October
There is nowhere quite like Italy on the water. Whether you’re threading through the sea stacks of the Amalfi Coast, anchoring off a deserted Sardinian cove, or watching Stromboli glow against the dark sky. A yacht charter in Italy is one of the great travel experiences on earth.
Italy’s coastline stretches for over 7,600 kilometres, taking in some of the Mediterranean’s most celebrated cruising grounds. It is a country of extraordinary variety: baroque hilltop towns and black-sand volcanic beaches; Michelin-starred restaurants and fishermen selling the morning’s catch from the dock. No two charters are alike and that’s part of the appeal.
The Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is where many clients begin their Italian charter dream, and it rarely disappoints. The stretch between Positano and Salerno is among the most dramatic in Europe with sheer cliffs dropping into turquoise water, pastel-coloured towns stacked improbably above the sea, and a warm, languid atmosphere that makes it almost impossible to want to be anywhere else.
Positano – arrive by tender in the early morning before the day-trippers
Anchored off the coast, accessible only by water
Positano is the natural starting point. Arrive by tender in the early morning and you’ll find a town of genuine charm: narrow lanes winding up the hillside, the scent of lemon groves, and excellent espresso. From here, the route south takes in Praiano, the emerald Grotto of Smaragdo, and the beautiful fishing village of Cetara.
INSIDER TIP
Best time for the Amalfi Coast
May, June and September are ideal – settled weather and far fewer crowds than July and August. Shoulder season often means better anchorage availability and occasionally better rates too.
Sicily & the Aeolian Islands
For those who want something wilder and more remote, the waters around Sicily and the Aeolian archipelago are outstanding. The seven islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Panarea, Filicudi, and Alicudi — each have their own distinct character.
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Watching Stromboli erupt at night from the water, lava spilling down the Sciara del Fuoco into the sea is not something you forget.
Panarea is the smallest and most glamorous, with a car-free village and an underwater volcanic field you can snorkel directly from the yacht. Salina is the green island: quieter, covered in vineyards, and producing the best Malvasia wine in the archipelago.
Stromboli – the active volcano that erupts regularly, best witnessed from the water after dark
Sardinia
Sardinia’s northeastern coast, the Costa Smeralda – is one of the most sought-after charter destinations in the world. The water here is extraordinary: a shifting palette of aquamarine, turquoise, and deep cobalt, set against granite rock formations and white-sand beaches that give the Caribbean a run for its money.
La Maddalena Archipelago – a national park of protected islands and some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean
Head north to the La Maddalena Archipelago and you’ll find a national park of protected islands, secluded bays, and genuinely world-class anchorages. Cala Granara, Cala Corsara, Cala Portese – these are the places you’ll still be talking about years later.
PRACTICAL NOTE
Provisioning in Italy
Italian provisioning is exceptional. Your chef will source ingredients locally – fresh pasta, local fish, Sicilian pistachios, burrata. The quality of food aboard an Italian charter is frequently one of guests’ most vivid memories of the trip.