Italy Yacht Charter

Live la dolce vita on an Italy crewed yacht charter, with captain, chef and crew looking after you while you savour scintillating views of the Sardinia's famous Costa Smeralda or southern Italy's fabulous Amalfi Coast.

Collect your perfect luxury charter yacht from any of the many great Italian bases, from the Ligurian sea bases of Cinque terre and La Spezia, just along from the French riviera, to the Tuscan islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

• Currency: Euros
• Language: Italian, though English is widely spoken
• Pilot Guide: Italian Waters Pilot by Rod and Lucinda Heikell
• Marine fees: In high season it's roughly 3 Euros per foot of yacht
• Normal Starting Day: Saturday
• When to visit: Season is May to October with the best time being June to September
• Tipping Etiquette: Service is often included and indicated on the bill. If unsure, add a few euros

Sardinia

The Costa Smeralda (aka the Emerald Coast) is a place that everyone has to see at least once in their lives. It's a wonderful sailing experience for bareboat charter, with superb winds all season long, and a brilliant mix of long and short passages available, with anchorages, busy towns and fantastic beach clubs just around the corner.

The charming harbour of Portisco is the ideal place to begin your chartered sailing holiday. Sail leisurely to the stunning Maddalena Archipelago, a group of islands between Sardinia and Corsica. Here you will find secluded bays and creeks, white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, ideal for snorkelling and swimming.

Naples and the Amalfi Coast

Famous for its candy coloured houses, Procida makes an idyllic starting point to explore the stunning Amalfi coast and nearby islands of Ischia and Capri. Alternatively save yourself the ferry ride and start from the historic Castellammare di Stabia in the Bay of Naples just a 20 minute taxi ride from Naples airport.

Cruise along the stunning coastline dotted with picturesque villages and towns clinging giddily to the cliffs. Gentle winds make for perfect line-of-sight sailing in these sheltered waters, so it’s easy to relax and appreciate the views as you enjoy sailing the Amalfi coast.

Sicily

Sicily is one of Italy’s most beautiful sailing destinations, full of mountainous coastline and incredible volcanic islands. Begin your trip in Portorosa and head towards the extraordinary Aeolian Islands. This archipelago of volcanic islands is named after the Aeolus, the Greek god of wind, who has taken kindly to the region, with moderate NW breezes the summer norm.

Known as the ‘seven pearls of the Mediterranean’, you will discover a world of active volcanoes, Roman ruins, beautiful beaches and inviting crystal clear waters - perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Sicilian food is rightly famous around the world.

Each island has its own identity and attractions – from the pumice beach on Lipari and the Grotta del Bue Marino on Filicudi to the spectacular bay of Cala Junco in Panarea and the still-smouldering volcano on Stromboli.

Bareboat: Yes, in order to bareboat charter a yacht in Italy and any other Mediterranean destination, you will need to hold at least an RYA Day Skipper licence, ASA 104 license, International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or equivalent qualification.

Skippered or Crewed charters: No, the beauty of a skippered yacht charter is that you don’t need a licence to take to the water, as you will have a professional skipper on board who will take care of all of the sailing, whisking your private yacht around the sumptuous Adriatic.

The cost of a yacht charter can vary enormously, from a small bareboat yacht in shoulder season, to a peak season August superyacht charter in Italy. There’s no definitive answer to how much an Italy yacht charter costs – as it all depends on the yacht you charter and what you do once you’re there.

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There are yachts of various shapes and sizes around to fit every taste and budget, from cozy monohulls to spacious catamarans, and from stripped-out racing yachts to lavish fully-crewed superyachts.

And it’s not even as simple as just picking the right boat – the cost can vary enormously depending on a number of factors, from where you go, to when, and what you get up to.

The size of your group will influence the per-person cost, but also the type of boat you should charter – if you’re a small family, then a small bareboat may be perfect. Larger groups may prefer the added space of a catamaran charter

Here is an example of the probable extra costs you’ll need to budget for in Italy:

• Final cleaning: can range from €80 to €250

• Outboard engine: €80-120 per week
• Bed sheets: roughly €15 per set
• Towels: roughly €5 per person
• 10GB Wifi: roughly €30 per week
• National Parks fees – €5 - €30

Build your perfect Italian yacht charter here