Fact File: Mediterranean Yacht Charter Holiday

Yacht Charter Holidays in the Mediterranean: A Fact File

Read the Full Mediterranean Yacht Charter Guide | See the Charter Yachts Available | View the Mediterranean Client Reviews | All Charter Guides

Summer is the Mediterranean yacht charter season and the best time for relaxing on the beaches, spectating regattas and visiting some of the world’s most romantic destinations. The dramatic scenery varies from the picturesque Spanish Balearic Islands to the hot and dry Cylcades Islands of Greece, yet anchorages and marinas are easy to come by that cater to sailing yachts and motor yachts alike.

Things to Consider:

Yachting Seasons & Climate:

Regardless of whether you are chartering in the west or east, summer temperatures in the Mediterranean reach 30°C/86°F which is when the daylight hours are also at their peak. June-August are the driest months and October-January are the wettest.

Clothing to Pack For Your Charter:

What to pack is largely dependent on what time of the year you’re intending on visiting and which side of the Mediterranean you will be on: November through to January tend to be the wettest months and a heavy rain coat should be packed for Western Mediterranean destinations while for the islands in the Eastern Mediterranean a lighter rainproof jacket will do.

Multiple thin layers of clothes are recommended from spring through to autumn and a jacket is recommended for keeping off the wind along coastal destinations after sundown.

Main Ports and Marinas:

Italy: Porto Cervo, Marina Genova Aeroporto, Marina di Portifino, Porto Mirabello La Spezia, Imperia Yacht Marina, Genoa, Viareggio, Naples, Positano, Capri, Anacapri, Positano, Salerno

Croatia: ACI Marina (Dubrovnik, Split and Korčula), Marina Agana, Marina Lav, Marina Baska Voda, Olive Island Marina, Trogir Port, Stari Grad Port, Vis Port

Famous Restaurants & Clubs:

Hotel Eden Roc (Cap d’Antibes), Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Yacht Club Santo Stefano, Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Ristorante La Sponda (Positano), Il Pellicano Restaurant (Porto Ercole), Atlas Club Nautika (Dubrovnik), Malvasija Wine Bar (Dubrovnik), Marvlvs Library Jazz Bar (Split), Teraca Vidilica (Split),

A Must See Attraction:

Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia (Barcelona), Pampelone Beach (Saint-Tropez), Cinque Terre (Italian Riviera), Ravello (Amalfi Coast), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Navagio Beach (Zakynthos)

Best beaches to visit in your yacht:

Balearic Islands: Cala Tuent (Mallorca), Cala Varques (Mallorca), Cala Del Pilar (Menorca), Niu Blau (Ibiza), Illetes (Formentera)

France: Antibes, Cannes, Cap Ferrat, Golfe-Juan, Hyères, Menton, Cannes, Saint-Tropez

Plage de la Garoupe Beach, La Salis, Plage des Ondes, Plage du Ponteil, Plage de la Baie des Milliardaires

Italy: Camogli Beach (Liguria) Cinque-Terre, Spiaggia di Tuerredda (Sardinia), Porto Campana (Sardinia), Scalo Maestro (Sicily), Scala dei Turchi (Sicily), Marina Grande Beach (Positano)

Croatia: Banje Beach (Dubrovnik), Zlatni Rat (Bol), Lucica Bay (Lastovo), Stiniva (Vis), Omis Beach (Omis Riviera), Dubovica Beach (Hvar) and Stara Baska (Krk)

Croatia: Spiaza (Susak), Lovrečina Bay (Brač Island), Zlatni Rat (Brač Island), Kupari (Dubrovnik)

Greece: Navagio Beach (Zakynthos), Myrtos Beach (Zakynthos), Gedaki Beach (Ithaca), Porto Katsiki (Lefkada), Elafonisi (Crete)

Local Yacht Events:

Antibes Yacht Show, Les Voiles d’Antibes, Les Voiles des Saint-Tropez, Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta (Porto Cervo), Rolex Swan Cup (Porto Cervo)

Best time to go:

From May until the end of September the Mediterranean is bursting with regattas, beach parties and music festivals. To have land-based locations and popular beaches to yourselves, avoid visiting in July and August when the school summer holidays take place. The Mediterranean is also a great winter destination, offering a warmer climate to the east and an atmospheric holiday experience among Belle Epoch architecture along the French Riviera.