Yacht Charter Sicily
Just a short sail across the Strait of Messina from the tip of southern Italy, Sicily is an island bursting with archipelagos and cultural riches.
What’s on this pageHighlights
Sailing in Sicily
When sailing in Sicily you can explore sleepy seaside towns, stunning landscapes, fiery volcanoes and chic cities, as well as the Aeolian and Egadi islands. This sheer diversity makes Italy’s largest island an ideal destination for your sailing vacation.
Your Sicily yacht charter will begin from our marina base in the quaint town of Portorosa, just a 15-mile sail away from the history and rugged natural beauty of the seven Aeolian Islands, which include Lipari, Vulcano, Salina and Stromboli with its active volcano.
Hire a boat in Sicily and you can spend hot summer days swimming in warm Mediterranean waters, tasting delicious food and discovering the Roman ruins. On the northwest coast, you can sail the Egadi Islands of Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo.
Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, on the eastern side of the island, is hard to ignore, while archaeology buffs will love the early 14th century town of Agrigento. And no yacht charter in Sicily would be complete without spending time in Palermo’s incredible markets.
If you’re sailing Sicily, you’ll need a sailing license recognized by the local port authorities. Or you can hire a skipper. Read our guide to sailing qualifications for more information.
Choose charter type below to see available charters options
Easy crewed
Fully crewed
Cabin cruise
SailShare
Aqualodge
Motor Yachts
Things to do in Sicily
Explore Lipari on a motor scooter
Ride up to the Old Church of Quattropani to catch the sunset and you’ll be treated to an amazing panorama taking in nearly all the Aeolian Islands.
Dive in the clear waters of Panarea
Panarea is a fantastic diving spot and many local companies can organize dives to Spinazzola Rock, La Nave Rock, the Llanishen shipwreck and other locations. So make sure you visit while sailing the Aeolian islands.
Watch the volcano on Stromboli erupt at night
During your Aeolian islands boat charter, explore Stromboli’s black lava beaches and watch for eruptions from the safety of your vessel. Go ashore to experience the narrow streets and white houses in the town itself.
Climb to the rim of a volcano
Drop anchor in Porto di Ponente, then go ashore to climb to the rim of the crater.
Visit the Neolithic village of Capo Graziano
Located in the southern part of the island of Filicudi, Capo Graziano houses the ruins of about thirty oval huts and is one of the most important sites of Aeolian archaeology.
Enjoy rich culture at Cefalù
Head to the north of the island on a yacht charter in Sicily and see the cultural riches at Cefalù with its mosaics, imposing cathedral and a museum full of historic relics.
Don’t miss the capital city of Palermo
Browse the street food stalls, enjoy a coffee and cannoli in a piazza, explore the narrow streets and their treasures, or treat yourself to a night at the opera.
Weather insights
When is the best time to visit Sicily?
The best time to visit Sicily is between summer and fall. The summer has the hottest and driest months, when the island is also the most crowded. Charters in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall can be a great way to miss the crowds while still enjoying good sailing weather.
The temperature in Sicily in summer is on average around 86ºF. The sea temperature in Sicily in summer can be as warm as 78º F.
What are the sailing conditions in Sicily?
The sailing conditions for yacht charters in Sicily depend on the season in which you are sailing.
In the spring the winds are NW-SE, force 2-3. In the summer the winds are light NW-NE, force 1-2. Fall winds are NW-SE, force 3-4.
Sailing Sicily with Dream Yacht Charter
Yacht charter Sicily
Sailing in Sicily introduces you to exciting archipelagos on its Italian coast, wonderful food and an exciting vacation.
Sicily skippered charters
If you can’t sail, hire a skipper and see the best of Sicily from the water. Your skipper will sail you and your guests while you enjoy the views.
Sicily sailing itinerary
Take a look at our Sicily sailing vacation suggestions
Useful information for yacht charters in Sicily
How do I get to Sicily from the US?
You can fly to Sicily from the US through many different European countries, including the UK, France and Italy. Most major airlines have regular connecting flights to Sicily from many cities in the US.
Fly into three different airports in Sicily. From our base, Catania Airport is 93 miles away, Reggio Calabria Airport is about 40 miles away and Palermo Airport is 124 miles away.
We can help arrange airport transfers to our base.
Where is the island of Sicily?
Sicily is located in the Mediterranean, just south of the coast of mainland Italy. It’s the largest island in the Mediterranean and approximately 100 miles north of Tunisia.
What language is spoken in Sicily?
The language spoken in Sicily is Italian, but French and English are also spoken.
What is the currency for Sicily?
The currency in Sicily is the Euro.
What are the customs restrictions for Sicily?
As long as you stay in the EU while sailing in Sicily, you do not need customs clearance.
What documents do I need to sail Sicily?
A valid passport is the only travel document American, English, Canadian and members of EU countries need for a yacht charter in Sicily.
You will need a sailing license recognized by the local port authorities, or you can hire a skipper. Read our guide to sailing qualifications for more information.
How do I get around Sicily?
Trains, buses, car rental companies and taxis are all readily available. If you want to explore inland during your yacht charter in Sicily, we can advise you on the public transport system when you arrive at our base.
What is the Wi-Fi like in Sicily?
Generally, Wi-Fi in most cities and towns in Sicily is good. You’ll find plenty of Wi-Fi hotspots at bars and restaurants and hotels. You can also purchase Wi-Fi from our base.
What regulations are there in Sicily?
There are some regulations to protect bathing areas near beaches when you go in and out of marinas. Be sure to read up on these rules before you embark on your Sicily and Aeolian Islands yacht charter.
Where can I find weather forecasts in Sicily?
You can find Sicily-specific weather forecasts on the Windfinder website and LaMMA.
What provisioning is there in Sicily?
There is plenty of choice for provisioning in Sicily. Please refer to the base guide.
What baggage can I take on my Sicily sailing vacation?
Please only take soft bags, as large suitcases take up too much room on board.
What is the electrical current in Sicily?
The electrical current in Sicily is 220V.
What is the dialing code for Sicily?
The dialing code for Sicily is +39.
FAQ
See all our FAQsWhy should I book with Dream Yacht?
Dream Yacht Worldwide is now the world’s leading yacht charter company and offers you:
- A diverse fleet of yachts with a wide variety of models and manufacturers to suit every type of sailor.
- We have 40+ exciting destinations and we’re a pioneer in finding new sailing grounds.
- You can be assured of our commitment to customer service excellence.
- You’ll receive a warm and friendly welcome from our base teams who will share regional tips, recommendations and advice.
- We’re also a trusted seller of new and used boats and an innovator in charter management options – sailing is our business.
What licenses do I need to hire a yacht and sail myself?
The skipper of a yacht has primary responsibility for the safety of the crew and yacht at all times. Many destinations require just relevant experience demonstrated by a sailing resume.
To charter in the Mediterranean, it is mandatory that you hold a sailing license recognized by the local port authorities for bareboat charters in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Malta, Montenegro and Turkey. Other destinations that require a license include Madagascar, Seychelles, Thailand, Brazil and Sweden. For Belize, the port authority will issue a certificate of competency and an application is made on arrival.
You must take your proof of competency and original certificate with you on your charter. We advise you to contact our team about your qualifications and destination requirements before booking.
By accepting the yacht contract you are confirming that you and/or members of your crew are capable and competent to sail the yacht in the conditions and cruising area of the charter. We reserve the right not to hand over the yacht if, after inspection, it is the opinion that the charterer is not, or may not be competent to be in charge of the vessel.
What is a skippered yacht charter?
A skippered yacht charter is when you rent one of our boats for you and your guests and a professional skipper sails it for you. No sailing experience is needed.
You will need to choose a yacht with a cabin for your skipper to sleep in as they are responsible for your yacht for the duration of your charter. We will find the skipper for you once you have found your perfect destination and yacht.
You will need to pay for your skipper’s food. You can invite the skipper to dine with you on board or out at a local restaurant.
What is the difference between crewed and by the cabin charters?
Our by the cabin charter charters offer exciting destination tours on a set itinerary crafted by our destination experts. You can book a double cabin and private bathroom and will share the boat with other guests who have booked the other available cabins. You will be looked after by a professional skipper and hostess with itineraries ranging from three to 11 nights. There is a set menu and included meals and drinks vary depending on location.
Can you tell me about your yachts?
Our super premier yachts are less than 12 months old from their first charter date, while premier yachts are less than three years old from their first charter date. Our yachts are well maintained and undergo regular, scheduled technical inspection.
In case of emergency, you can rely on our hotline, at any time, seven days a week. If you experience a technical failure affecting major and important parts of the yacht, we will repair the failure within four hours of receiving your call during working hours (8am to 5pm). If you lose more than four hours (during working hours), we will compensate you for one full day. If the repair takes more than one day, we will provide you with a similar boat or compensate you on a pro-rata basis. If restrictions to this guarantee apply in specific areas, this will be detailed during the charter check-in at the base.
Do I need insurance for my bareboat charter?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits. Please make sure you have personal travel insurance that covers sailing.
We will insure the vessel throughout the charter with first-class insurers against all risks, to provide permission to charter as under contract terms and to cover third-party liability.
The following options are available in limited locations:
- Security Deposit: This varies on the size of the boat and when the boat is returned without damage it is refunded.
- Damage Waiver: The charterer agrees to pay a non-refundable damage waiver at the time of booking, as well as a reduced damage deposit on embarkation that is refundable upon completion of the charter should no damage occur.
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