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
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Excellent food & wine
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Picturesque villages
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Stunningly scenic anchorages
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
The simplest, hassle-free way to charter a crewed private yacht.
Fully crewed
Your own private yacht for an all-inclusive luxury sailing vacation.
Cabin cruise
Reserve a private ensuite stateroom on a modern catamaran.
SailShare
Low package rates for island-hopping aboard a sailing yacht.
Aqualodge
Get closer to nature on the perfect self-catering Caribbean holiday.
Power Catamaran
Cruise faster and see more on the perfect charter boat.
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
Sicily 7 Days
Other Itineraries
7-day itinerary Sicily
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 FAQsWhat is the cancellation policy for Sail Share?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits.
Our Sail Share cabin cancellation fees are:
- More than 90 days before original embarkation date: 25% of the charter fee
- 89 – 60 days before original embarkation date: 50% of the charter fee
- 59 – 30 days before original embarkation date: 75% of the charter fee
- Fewer than 29 days before original embarkation date: 100% of the charter fee
How flexible is the itinerary for a Sail Share charter?
Our yacht itineraries are designed by our destination experts and are set to showcase the best of the destination’s highlights. They are set and not flexible, even if you book all the cabins.
What happens if the weather changes while sailing on a Sail Share charter?
The skipper may decide to change the itinerary if there is bad weather.
Can I choose which cabin I want when I book a Sail Share?
Choose a double cabin with shared bath, or private bath for an additional fee.
Are there child or age restrictions for Sail Share?
Minimum Age: 16 years old
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Absolutely amazing! Fred + Isabelle were so accommodating and did so much for us. Isabelle’s food was incredible. Thanks so much!
Laura
Exumas CabinExcellent. Very professional and great service!
Thomas
Antigua BareboatJust what we needed coming out of a year of lockdown, to see new places and connect with nature. Highly recommended for your next sailing adventure!
Johan
St. Martin BareboatExcellent cruise and very good stay. Skipper attentive, very pleasant and very professional.
Maxime
Guadeloupe SkipperedJust returned from another fantastic sailing week at your base in Pula and I would like to thank everyone involved for making this possible on such short notice and without any problems.
Mathias
Croatia BareboatThe marina itself is a perfect starting point with great facilities! The Lagoon 42 was in good condition and the skipper was amazing and very knowledgeable of the area.”
Jonathan
Spain SkipperedWhat an AMAZING experience. We’ve just returned from a week long skippered charter from Corfu, sailing around the beautiful islands of the Ionian. Paxos, Antipaxos and Corfu Old Town were beautiful and the secluded bays we had the pleasure of visiting thanks to our local skipper, Nicholas, were simply overwhelming. Fly and flops are no longer for us – we’ll be chartering with DYC for the foreseeable future.
David
Greece SkipperedOur group of 10 had an AMAZING time in French Polynesia from May 21-28, 2022! The food was amazing, our captain and chef, husband and wife: Henry and Mehee (sp), were incredible and the whole experience on board was a dream! We can’t wait to book another trip through DYC
Katie
Tahiti Crewed PremiumDYC provided a great sailing experience for my extended family on 2 monos out of Scrub Island. The boats were in great shape and preformed perfectly and the staff were friendly and helpful. Having worked for a number of charter companies over the years DYC is one of the best.
Charlie
British Virgin Islands BareboatBaja is my favorite place now. There was something for everyone: sailed under northerlies with mostly calm evenings, snorkeled, fished, bummed it on the sandy beaches, enchanted by pelicans feeding, greeted by the barking sea lions and explored the Ispiritu Santo island geology. DYC La Paz base provided competent professional support with a well provisioned and maintained boat. We were nourished well by an onboard cook arranged with DYC freeing us all for more play. A vacation and an adventure connected with nature.
Taiyoko
Mexico Crewed PremiumAll staff were fantastic and made our trip very memorable. Incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food was amazing. The service throughout the trip was always first class!
Tommy
Thailand CabinAbsolutely recommended. Perfect service and set up. Will charter again and will recommend Dream Yacht Charter anytime.
Zahradnik
Turkey BareboatI just returned from 3 weeks of amazing sailing with my family on one of your catamarans in Sardinia. I would like to express my thanks to our skipper Simone and Daniela, our hostess.
Giles
Sardinia BareboatFor a first cruise as a skipper, the Mediterranean is great. The Dream Yacht Charter service is too!
Thomas
France BareboatWe had an incredible trip and actually got engaged on the first night of our sail! We will certainly be back one day. Thank you for getting us ready for our charter. We were definitely beginners but he gave us a very thorough but very easy to follow training and it gave us a lot of confidence.
George
AustraliaThe on board experience was way beyond our expectations. Isabelle provided exceptional three course meals. We could not believe her creativity and delicious meals. Thomas was an excellent skipper. He was always on the lookout for our needs. Thanks guys!” Spira, New Caledonia bareboat with crew charter
Spira
New Caledonia BareboatYet again another fantastic sail with another great crew. Thanks again to a great captain and cook. Was totally fantastic.
Connie
Seychelles Easy CrewedIt’s always a pleasure sailing with DYC in the UK. Great team, great boats, great sailing. Very flexible and work hard to make your trip a success. Many thanks.
Derek
Brittany CabinUnforgettable spots to snorkel and beaches. Very experienced crew. Highly recommend.
Simone
No Country Selected Bareboat Cabin
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