When Is the Best Time to Charter a Yacht in Italy?

The short answer: the yacht charter season in Italy runs from May to October. July and August are the hottest, busiest and most expensive months, while June and September give the best balance of warm sea, space at anchor and price. The longer answer depends on which coast you choose and what matters most to you, so here is the season month by month, with prices from our own listings.

Italy’s charter season at a glance

Approximate average sea temperatures around the Bay of Naples:

• May: about 19°C
• June: about 23°C
• July: about 26°C
• August: about 27°C
• September: about 25°C
• October: about 22°C

The Ligurian coast in the north is usually a little cooler, and Sicily a little warmer.

May

The season starts in earnest. Days are warm, the hills are still green and the harbours are quiet, but the sea is cool for long swims. May suits guests who want to explore towns and coastline more than spend all day in the water, and many yachts charge their low or mid-season rates.

June

One of the best months of the year for a charter. The sea warms quickly, the days are the longest of the year, and the summer crowds have not yet arrived. June works well everywhere, from the Amalfi Coast to Sardinia and the Aeolian Islands.

July and August

High summer brings the warmest water, the liveliest harbours and long evenings ashore, but also the highest prices and the busiest anchorages. Many Italians take their own holidays in August, and the days around Ferragosto, the national holiday on 15 August, are the most crowded of all. Book as early as you can: popular yachts are often reserved six to twelve months ahead.

The price difference is real. On our listings, the 48-metre ASLEC 4 is €180,000 a week out of season, €216,000 in low season, €258,000 in July and €318,000 in August. At the smaller end, the sailing catamaran WAVE 50 in Sardinia ranges from €9,500 a week in low season to €16,150 in high season.

September

For many guests this is the best month of all. The sea is still close to its summer peak, the coast is noticeably quieter after the August holidays, and many yachts return to their mid-season rates: the sailing yacht HERITAGE M in Naples, for example, is €52,000 a week in May and September against €58,000 in July and August. Early September is also regatta time in Sardinia, when the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup brings some of the world’s fastest yachts to Porto Cervo.

October

The sea is still warm enough to swim, the light is soft and the coast is quiet. The weather becomes more changeable and the days shorter, and some yachts end their season or leave for the Caribbean, so availability narrows towards the end of the month.

November to April

Between November and April most charter yachts in Italy are laid up for maintenance or cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Some can still be chartered for short trips in good weather, but for a winter holiday at sea, the Caribbean is the better choice.

The best time by region

Amalfi Coast and Capri

This is the busiest stretch of coast in July and August, when the popular anchorages and berths fill up, so June and September are ideal. For a route, see our 7-day Amalfi Coast itinerary from Naples.

Sardinia

Sardinia has some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, but it is also the windiest of Italy’s main charter areas. The maestrale, or mistral, blows from the north-west, sometimes for several days, and is strongest in the north and around the Strait of Bonifacio. Captains plan around it by moving to the sheltered side of the islands. The Costa Smeralda is at its busiest in August.

Sicily and the Aeolian Islands

The southernmost cruising area has the longest season, with warm water well into October. Some anchorages around the Aeolian Islands are exposed, so a flexible route helps on windier days.

The Italian Riviera and Tuscany

The northern coast has a slightly shorter, cooler season. Portofino and the Cinque Terre are busiest in July and August, while the Tuscan islands, including Elba and Giglio, are quieter alternatives.

Weather to plan around

• Afternoon sea breezes are normal in summer and make for pleasant sailing; mornings are often calm.
• The maestrale, or mistral, mainly affects Sardinia and the west coast, as described above.
• The scirocco, a warm, humid wind from the south-east that starts over North Africa, is most common in spring and autumn and can bring haze and choppy seas to the southern coasts.
• Summer heat: in July and August it is often above 30°C ashore, so plan sightseeing for the morning or evening and spend the middle of the day in the water.

Getting the most from peak season

If you can only travel in July or August, a few choices make a real difference. Start from a quieter base than the most famous harbours, plan nights at anchor rather than in the busiest marinas, and ask whether the yacht can start on a weekday: most weekly charters run Saturday to Saturday, but some yachts will begin on another day if their calendar allows.

How far ahead to book

For July and August, booking six to twelve months ahead gives you the widest choice of yachts. For May, June, September and October a few months is usually enough, and last-minute availability does come up, especially at the start and end of the season.

Plan your charter

Whichever month you choose, we can suggest yachts based on the right coast and a route to match. Compare regions and yachts in our guide to yacht charter in Italy, see what to do and eat along the coast and every yacht we list in Italy, or tell us your dates.