Capri — Marina Piccola & the Faraglioni2 hrs from Sorrento
Swim in the shadow of the Faraglioni sea stacks, then stay on after the day boats leave — the Piazzetta at 22:00 is a different island. Overnight buoys are limited and prized.
The classic
Yacht Charters on the Amalfi Coast
Positano from the water at golden hour, a swim in the Faraglioni's shadow off Capri, dinner in a harbour Ischia keeps for itself. The world's most photographed coastline is better from a deck.
The Amalfi Coast rewards arriving by sea more than anywhere else in the Mediterranean. The villages — Positano, Amalfi, Cetara — were built for boats, stacked into cliffs with harbours at their feet, and the coast road above them is a traffic jam from June to September. From the water you skip all of it: anchor below the town, tender in for dinner, sail out before the tour boats arrive.
A week from Naples or Salerno covers the coast itself plus the islands that frame it — Capri for the glamour and the Blue Grotto, Ischia for thermal springs and garden hotels, little Procida for the pastel harbour that starred in every Italian film you have ever seen. Distances are short, seas are settled in summer, and every day ends somewhere that deserves the postcard.
What to look for in the right vessel
Filters we pre-applied to the amalfi coast & gulf of naples shortlist below.
Three islands, one bay
Capri, Ischia and Procida sit within a short sail of each other and of the coast — a natural week-long circuit with no long passages.
Anchor-and-dine villages
Positano, Amalfi, Cetara and Nerano all take dinner tenders. Ask the crew to book — the best tables face the anchorage.
Drama from the water
This is a cliff coastline — waterfalls of houses, grottoes, the Li Galli islets. The scenery is the itinerary.
Food worth the detour
Lemon groves above, anchovies from Cetara below, mozzarella from the plains behind Naples. Provisioning here is a pleasure, not a chore.
Shortlisted vessels
See full vessel directory →Finding the right vessels…
When to go
Amalfi Coast & Gulf of Naples charter season at a glance. Air and sea temperatures are typical daytime values.
| Month | Air | Sea | Crowd | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 22°C | 19°C | Quiet | Coast fully open, lemon terraces in blossom, anchorages empty — the insider's month before the crowds. |
| June | 26°C | 22°C | Moderate | Long warm days, swimmable sea, Capri lively but not yet overwhelmed. The sweet spot. |
| July | 30°C | 25°C | Peak | Hot and glamorous. Positano and Capri anchorages fill by noon — an early start is everything. |
| August | 31°C | 26°C | Peak | Ferragosto: all of Italy is on the water. Spectacular but book months ahead and expect premium berths. |
| September | 27°C | 25°C | Moderate | The connoisseur's week — warm sea, thinning crowds, the light softening over the cliffs. |
| October | 23°C | 22°C | Quiet | Last settled month. Calm mornings, grape harvest ashore, prices easing. Pack a layer for evenings. |
MayQuiet
Air 22°C · Sea 19°C
Coast fully open, lemon terraces in blossom, anchorages empty — the insider's month before the crowds.
JuneModerate
Air 26°C · Sea 22°C
Long warm days, swimmable sea, Capri lively but not yet overwhelmed. The sweet spot.
JulyPeak
Air 30°C · Sea 25°C
Hot and glamorous. Positano and Capri anchorages fill by noon — an early start is everything.
AugustPeak
Air 31°C · Sea 26°C
Ferragosto: all of Italy is on the water. Spectacular but book months ahead and expect premium berths.
SeptemberModerate
Air 27°C · Sea 25°C
The connoisseur's week — warm sea, thinning crowds, the light softening over the cliffs.
OctoberQuiet
Air 23°C · Sea 22°C
Last settled month. Calm mornings, grape harvest ashore, prices easing. Pack a layer for evenings.
Getting there
NAP · Naples International (Capodichino)
15 km to Naples port · 55 km to Sorrento
From marina
30 min to Naples · 75–90 min to Sorrento/Salerno
Transfer
€25–40 to Naples · €90–120 to Sorrento
Taxi cost
Naples is the gateway — year-round direct flights from London, Manchester, most northern-European hubs and the whole of Italy. Charters board from Naples (Mergellina), Castellammare di Stabia, Sorrento or Salerno; Salerno airport (QSR) is a newer alternative that puts you straight on the coast.
Practical info
What you should know
- Berths vs anchoring
- Marina nights in Capri, Positano and Amalfi are among the most expensive in the Mediterranean in peak season. Crewed charters overwhelmingly anchor in the bays and tender ashore — serene, and far cheaper.
- APA & fuel
- Crewed charters run on an APA (advance provisioning allowance) of about 25–35% of the base for fuel, food, drinks and berths, reconciled transparently at the end. Fuel here is modest — distances are short and the boat motors little.
- VAT
- Italian charter prices normally include VAT; a portion may be reduced when the itinerary spends time in international waters. Your quote states the treatment — ask if it isn't clear.
- Provisioning
- A genuine pleasure on this coast: lemons and limoncello above, Cetara anchovies and colatura below, buffalo mozzarella from the plains behind Naples. Crews provision to your menu; flag any dietary needs at booking.
- Tipping
- The Mediterranean norm is 5–15% of the charter fee for good service, in cash (EUR), handed to the captain at the end to share with the crew.
Anchorages within reach
Where most week-long itineraries from this port actually go. Sail times are approximate, in fair conditions.
Positano1 hr from Sorrento
The vertical village that defines the coast. Anchor off the beach, tender in for an aperitivo, and watch the cliffs turn gold. Book dinner ahead in season.
Nerano — Marina del Cantone45 min from Sorrento
The sheltered bay Neapolitans keep for themselves, and the home of spaghetti alla Nerano. Calm overnight water and two legendary waterfront kitchens.
Li Galli islets1 hr 15 min
The private archipelago said to be Homer's Sirens, once owned by Nureyev. You anchor off, not ashore — the swimming and the setting are the point.
Ischia — Sant'Angelo2 hrs 30 min from Sorrento
The green island's prettiest corner: a car-free fishing village, thermal springs and a slower night than Capri. Morning baths at Sorgeto before you sail.
Procida — Corricella2 hrs from Naples
The pastel harbour from a dozen Italian films. Tiny, unspoilt, and the lunch stop everyone remembers — moor off and tender into the fishermen's quay.
Onshore
What to do the day before boarding and after disembarking, plus a short list of restaurants worth the walk.
Day before charter
Base yourself in Sorrento for the easiest boarding — a clifftop town with ferries, restaurants and a short transfer to most marinas. If you fly into Naples the night before, an evening in the historic centre (Spaccanapoli, a true Neapolitan pizza at Da Michele or Sorbillo) is worth the detour.
Day after disembarking
Most flights leave Naples in the afternoon, so a Saturday morning gives time for a last swim. With a spare day, Pompeii and Herculaneum are 30 minutes from the coast, and Vesuvius makes a half-day. Sorrento's lemon-grove lanes are an easy final stroll.
Where to eat ashore
- Lo Scoglio (Nerano)Seafood
The Marina del Cantone institution — zucchini spaghetti, raw seafood, tables on stilts over the anchorage. Book weeks ahead in July–August.
- Da Adolfo (Positano)Beach trattoria
Reached only by boat from Positano — grilled mozzarella on lemon leaves, house rosé in ice buckets. A red fish flag on the beach marks the shuttle.
- Il Riccio (Capri)Michelin seafood
Above the Blue Grotto, with a famous "temptation room" of desserts. The upscale Capri lunch — reserve a sea-view table.
- Ristorante Il Ritrovo (Montepertuso)Amalfi mountain
Above Positano, a cooler-evening alternative when the coast is hot — garden setting, a shuttle from town, honest Campanian cooking.
Or consider another port
Same coast, different starting line — the brief case for each alternative.
Sardinia & La Maddalena →
Swap cliff villages for the clearest water in the Med and the Costa Smeralda's glamour — a wilder, more anchorage-driven week.
Sicily & the Aeolian Islands →
Trade the crowds for volcanoes — Stromboli by night, Panarea's scene, Salina's calm. Fewer boats, bigger drama.
Tuscany & Elba →
Gentler and greener, with Elba's beaches and the Tuscan archipelago — the easiest Italian ground for families.
Frequently asked questions
For amalfi coast & gulf of naples.
Where do Amalfi charters start?
Most start from Naples (Mergellina or Molo Beverello), Castellammare di Stabia, or Salerno — all within an hour or two of the first anchorage. Naples has the best flight connections (NAP); Salerno puts you on the coast immediately.
When is the best season?
May, June and September are the sweet spot — warm sea, open restaurants, and space to anchor. July and August are spectacular but busy: expect crowded anchorages off Capri and Positano and book well ahead.
Is it good for first-time charterers?
Yes — distances are short, there is always a sheltered option, and every day has an obvious highlight. A crewed charter removes the only real complexity, which is mooring etiquette in busy village harbours.
Capri or Ischia overnight?
Do both. Capri for the evening scene once the day boats leave — the piazzetta is a different place at 22:00. Ischia for a slower night and morning thermal baths. Procida is the lunch stop everyone remembers.
Ready to find your charter?
Take our 5-question matcher to get a personalised shortlist, or chat with us on WhatsApp if you'd rather just ask.