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Yacht Charter Italy

An Italian yacht charter has got to be at the top of every sailor's bucket list! With its stunning beauty and fun sailing, an Italy yacht charter on the Mediterranean Sea is sensational. Search to find your ideal yacht, with or without a Captain and Crew, or read on for more inspiration

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Types of boat to hire

Temperature

The climate as a whole is warm between May and October, but it can get fiercely hot (36°C +) in July and August. If the Scirocco is blowing, expect temperatures to stay high even at night.

Average Winds

Similar to Croatia, the Italian sailing areas are subject to four primary winds, the Maestral/Mistral (NW), the humid Scirocco (S), the rainy Libeccio (SW), and the cooling Tramontana (N). Most of the time, the winds sit in the perfect F3-5 bracket

Currency

Italy, like most Mediterranean yacht charter destinations, is part of the Eurozone, and so the Euro (€) is the only currency you'll need when in Italian waters.

When To Go

The sailing season in Italy is from May to October. The high season is in July and August, when marina fees can get very high. Our favourite time to sail in Italy is September, when the sea is still warm but the marinas and towns are relaxed and quiet.

Best towns to start a yacht charter in Italy

These are Borrow a Boat's pick of the top charter towns across Sardinia, Sicily, the Tyrhennian Sea, and Italian Adriatic Sea. Select from sailing yachts, catamarans or motor yachts and enjoy fine food, fine weather, wonderful culture and sensational national parks!

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Cinque Terre italy

Best Sailing Areas in Italy

There are four main areas for yacht chartering around Italy and these are mostly around the country's west coast:

  • Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast
  • Tuscany
  • Sicily and Aeolian Island chain
  • Sardinia and Costa Smeralda

In all four you can both explore the mainland coastline or go island hopping to other destinations like the Tuscan Islands or the Aeolian Island group, and even (if the sometimes beefy winds of the Strait of Bonifacio don't put you off) crossing to Corsica from Sardinia.

You will pay similar yacht rental fees to other countries in the region. Outside of school holidays, you will often find that marina fees are lower than in Croatia or Greece in some cases. That means you can afford to find your away around the towns and cities you visit with their restaurants and bars that you may wish to stay in a while.

naples and mount vesuvius

Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast

Backed by the infamous Mount Vesuvius volcano, the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast is a stunning sailing destination. At the southern end is the Sorrento Peninsula and just offshore of that the island of Capri.

Moving to the northern end of the Bay of Naples are the islands of Ischia and Procida that are very welcome to sailors. Naples itself is a big, buzzing city in its own right with a great culture to explore and taste.

Browse yachts in Naples

Portoferraio, Elba, Tuscany Italy

Tuscany

The Tuscan archipelago and the Tuscan Islands are among the most popular sailing boat destinations on the Italian coast. Yes, its fine wines are a draw but so are its towns and villages that are jaw-droppingly pretty. Pisa and Florence are cities not to be ignored!

The Tuscan archipelago islands of Capraia, Elba, Giglio and Giannutri are easily accessible by sea and with their marinas are great for an evening's rest from the sailing of the day.

Find a boat in Tuscany

Capriccioli beach in Costa Smeralda, Sardinia

Sardinia and Costa Smeralda

Sardinia, blessed with an emerald coast and the gorgeous La Maddalena national park, is possibly the world's top charter destination. With ports and marinas quite evenly spaced along the sailing area, you can go for a shorter or longer day at sea and still have somewhere to relax for the evening.

Monohulls and catamarans sit shoulder to shoulder with luxury charter yachts and even the odd mega yacht off the sumptous Sardinian coast.

The east coast with its sandy beaches is more sheltered and is one of the best holiday areas in the whole of Italy. The west coast is more exposed but its rugged coastline will keep you looking in wonder for hours on end.

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Aeolian islands Italy yacht charter

Sicily and Aoelian Island chain

The island just off the 'toe' of southern Italy has its own mythos thanks to the Mafia that used to reign supreme there.

The island has a deep and fascinating human history going back thousands of years. Visit the Aeolian Island archipelago and the Aegadi islands as you explore this beautiful archipelago

Browse boats in Sicily

bow of yacht anchored la maddalena pink beach italy

Why Charter in Italy?

So what's on offer for someone taking a boat rental in Italy? Fine food and fine people with a heavy dash of fine culture hardly spoil some great coastal views and towns.

The weather in the sailing season between May and October is just perfect for yachting with winds sitting in the F3-5 bracket most of the time. All of this in bright sunshine that lights up the sea to a gem-blue colour.

The nightlife? Italians know how to party in style! Letting off steam ashore is a must-do as you explore this great nation by sea. As a package that makes Italy one of the top yacht charter destinations in the world.

The yacht charter Italy process is manageable and easy. If you have the sailing qualifications for a bareboat yacht charter you can book online at Borrow A Boat and after paying a security deposit can cast off on your charter yacht reasonably quickly on arrival.

For those on a skippered yacht charter, you have even less to worry about as the skipper of the luxury yacht charter takes care of that!

There are a variety of boats to hire too - you could wish to hire a catamaran, a monohull yacht or a motorboat charter. There are about as many options for yacht hire in Italy as there are sailing holiday budgets.

From its 3,000 years of civilisation and culture to its modern-day flair, Italy is a great place to visit. Whether its wines and food or the beautiful scenery, you will not be disappointed in what you see, feel, smell and taste.

The sailing conditions are among the best in the world so a week or two exploring the coast of this fantastic country is something not to be missed. What are you waiting for? Hire a yacht in Italy using Borrow A Boat today!

Bareboat, Skippered or Crewed Yacht?

You don't need to know how to sail to rent a boat in Italy as you can go for a skippered boat rental where the skipper can get you wherever you want to go. If you're more confident and have the relevant licences, you can go for a bareboat rental. Skippered charters are available on nearly all boats as an optional extra.

When using Borrow A Boat you can filter all boat searches to be with or without skipper depending on what you are looking for, and below we cover some of the main points to consider for your boat hire.

bareboat sailing

Bareboat Yacht Charter Italy

Bareboat charters offer qualified and experienced sailors the ultimate freedom to explore Italy as they want, when they want.

You are the captain, you plan the route, and you are ultimately responsible for the safety of the boat and all of your crew.

For skilled sailors, a bareboat charter is lower cost and gives more privacy for you and your charter guests.

Many sailors prefer to helm the boat and choose their own course, and provided you have the knowledge and relevant qualifications you can skipper (typically up to 54 feet/16.5 metres in length) yourself.

If you want to sail without a skipper (bareboat yacht charter) then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or the ASA 104 Bareboat certificate.

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Skipper sailing yacht charter

Skippered Yacht Charter Italy

A skippered yacht charter or crewed motor yacht will cost you a little more but you get the peace of mind of having someone aboard who knows the waters and can get you safely to all the destinations you want.

Where it comes to a skippered boat hire for your sailing holiday, the skipper will also know some of the best places to go to meet your needs.

Want lots quiet sandy beaches for a barbecue? How about the best Taverna in the area? The skipper will know all this as well as where to land for the best afternoon, grazing on antipasti and a glass of crisp Soave.

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superyacht charter sardinia

Crewed Yacht Charter Italy

A fully crewed yacht charter provides absolute luxury. The captain and deck crew are responsible for handling the navigation of the yacht, while the interior crew look after your every need, preparing gourmet meals and refreshing drinks and providing the highest level of service to help you enjoy a spectacular holiday.

Sample local culture and entertainment alongside organised activities or simply relax in luxuriously appointed cabins and salons, before exploring dive and snorkel sites in your limousine tender.

Your captain and crew will take care of all navigation, organisational, catering and housekeeping. Leaving you and your guests free to relax knowing that you will receive first-class service and attention from embarkation to the day you leave.

Our unrivalled network of global yacht brokers ensures we have access to an extraordinary range of luxury charter yachts and superyachts - of every size and fitout.

We take care of every detail of your charter and ensure that you and your party's requirements are fulfilled.

Browse Crewed Yachts

catamaran-sailing-boat-in-Maddalena-Archipelago,-Sardinia,-Italy.jpg

Do you need a licence to charter in Italy?

If you are on an Italy crewed charter or skippered yacht charter, you do not need a license to sail a yacht. This is also the case when you are renting a small motorboat without a cabin for a day trip around the local islands or beaches.

You do need a license if you are on a bareboat yacht charter, here are some examples of sailing qualifications:

International Certificate of Competence (ICC): This is issued on request by your European sailing authority and you should automatically qualify with certain national sailing qualifications.

RYA Qualifications: If you have the following qualifications you will be able to take a bareboat charter out of Greece, these include Day Skipper (sail or motor endorsement), Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster.

American Sailing Association (ASA): The ASA 104 Bareboat certificate is commonly accepted.

US Sailing: The International Proficiency Certificate is widely accepted and The Bareboat Cruising Certificate is also accepted in many cases.

anchorage in la maddalena sardinia italy

Best times to hire in Italy

The sailing season in Italy is from May to October. Outside of the high season in July/August, you will find many marinas have enough room to meet demand and will often be cheaper than Greece or Croatia.

In some parts of Italy's sailing meccas, the prices rocket in July/August and you may end up paying hundreds of Euros for the last available berth if you're lucky enough to get one!

As such the best times to sail in Italy are during school term in September or October when the sea is still warm but the marinas and towns relaxed and quiet. If you want Italy at full throttle in the maximum heat of summer the high season may well be for you!

pink sand beach la maddalena sardinia italy

The Climate

The climate as a whole is warm between May and October though even in May it can get a bit fierce and the heat is legendary in July and August - don't bring your woollies as you won't need them!

Let's first look at the winds. The Maestral (Mistral) can reach the Bay of Naples and west coast of Sardinia at most times of the year. By the time it reaches Italy it has lost much of its gusto though do be aware of it funnelling through the Strait of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica - things can get interesting.

The hot, humid southerly Scirocco can make things extremely uncomfortable at night in southern Italy and around Sicily. Expect temperatures to hardly dip at night from the high 30s in the day. Orange hued fog (coloured by Sahara Desert sand) is another issue, adding to the discomfort!

Similar to the Scirocco is the Libeccio, a south-westerly wind that can also bring heavy rain and the orange muck from the Sahara. This is a common enough wind in Tuscany and Sardinia.

To the north around Venice is the Tramontana falling off the Alps. This is stronger at night, but brings cool air as respite from the heat of summer.

In July and August however, many of the winds seem to take a rest for the year. You could end up motoring for much of your sailing holiday!

Cinque Terre italy

How much does it cost for an Italy Yacht charter?

The cost to hire a yacht depends on what you want and when you want to use it.

For a superyacht expect to pay €20,000 a day and up even at the low season - far more in July/August. You can still pay €5,000 a day for a well-appointed bareboat motor cruiser. For a good sailing catamaran, these can cost upwards of €2000 a day. At the other end of the scale, a small sailing monohull that sleeps up to six will cost around €100 a day in low season.

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Frequently asked questions
Is Yacht hire in Italy Legal?

The yacht charter industry is a mainstay of Italian tourism. As long as the company and yacht meet international and national regulations it is perfectly legal to rent a yacht in Italy.

What kind of Yachts can I hire in the Italy?

You can rent almost any type of yacht from a superyacht sailing yacht to a motor cruiser to a modest but comfortable sailing monohull. Check out Borrow A Boat to see what is on offer!

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht?

You should consider your preferred sailing location, how much you can afford and whether you have the sailing qualifications to bareboat charter or need a skipper amongst other things.

What are the best times to hire a Yacht in Italy?

The busiest time to hire a yacht is in the July/August high season. It is cooler, cheaper and less crowded in September and October but the sea still retains the warmth of summer.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Italy?

Yes, you will have to pay a deposit on making the booking with the yacht charter company. Before heading out to sea you will pay a refundable security deposit on the yacht with a credit card but this can be replaced with insurance that you can buy ahead of the trip.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

As ever, if at sea and in danger you should call the Coastguard for help via Ch16 on VHF. If you can make it into port safely do so and call the yacht charter company for advice on a number they will give you.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht in Italy?

Are you bringing children? They will influence what you do and when you go. Bring cash as things are often cheaper if paid for this way. Look at the weather forecast for the week ahead of your trip to get an idea of what to expect weather-wise.

Do I need a visa to visit Italy?

If you are from within the European Union, Switzerland, Norway or Iceland then you will not require a visa. Many other countries like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have tourist visa exemptions for up to 90 days in the country. If in doubt, check with the Italian Embassy website in your country.

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