The Most Beautiful Towns to Visit While Sailing in Italy

Discover the top spots around Italy’s coast by Culture Trip’s Sailing Trips.

Those sailing with their trusted sea dogs by their side will be wise to skip the congestion of St Marks Square and opt for the dog-friendly beaches of Grado. Splitting the distance between Venice and Trieste, Lido di Fido’s beach is decked out with sun loungers and drinks for captains and canines. Got some pups onboard of the human variety? Doggie-paddle your way to the Parco Acquatico for waterslide fun.

We’ll meet you in Taranto where the sea meets, well, the sea. The Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo meet here, bringing together pods of dolphins and communities of cetaceans in this colony town originally named for the Roman sea god Neptune. Indeed, the Greeks had the same idea when they called this area home: you’ll also find the Temple Doric here, built to honour Poseidon. Brush up on your history of the area – or buy an Italian copy of The Odyssey – at the Mondadori Bookstore.

The Ligurian city of Genoa has lured your vessel onto its shores for good reason – it’s been a pivotal port for maritime trade for hundreds of years. You’ll find loads of nautical nostalgia at the birthplace of Christopher Columbus including one of the world’s oldest operating lighthouses and sprawling Galata Museo del Mare. A more contemporary catch can be reeled in at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. The slow-cooked local stew burrida is obligatory but if your palate needs something less seaworthy, the local pesto alla Genovese pasta and focaccia will sop up the Ligurian wines at Enoteca Pesce.

Break away from the boot and quietly float over to one of Sardinia’s hidden treasures and take it slow in Castelsardo. You can give your sea legs a rest and do nothing more than soak in the sunset a sandy spot on the spiaggia. If your deck shoes long for land, you’re in luck. Hiking trails will walk you up the cliff tops to the Borgo di Castelsardo where your efforts will be rewarded with a museum, restaurant and all the views you can take in.

Between the ruins of Pompeii and the archaeological museums in Naples, it’ll feel like headwinds and tailwinds are sending your ship all over the Gulf of Naples – where hopefully you can right the course and find calm waters in Baiae. Pull into the port and look down: the sunken Roman city of Baia has been drowning in intrigue for centuries. Jump overboard and visit this underwater archaeological park for an unrivalled ruins experience.

Be warned: the small village of Positano on the Amalfi Coast is dangerous. You may plan to leave the marina for a single limoncello, but you’ll spend hours captivated by the cliffside. Before you get too comfortable with a plate of fried calamari at Il Tridente, let the talented artisan Crescenzo at Creo handcraft a pair of stylish sunglasses from scratch – so you can get back on your ship looking as cool as a captain should.

Trade a night rocking with the sea waves for a night of rocking in Rimini’s nightclubs. This maritime city has strong nocturnal pastimes thanks to shallow waters and deep drinks – nightspots like Pascià are always bumping with young crowds and old spirits. You’ll need plenty of piadina bread to help you get your sea legs back the next morning – especially if you’re trying to secure a speedy passport stamp from San Marino before heading back out to sea.

Step off of the boat at Marzamemi and you’ll see why Sicily deserves a sailing adventure all its own. Trawlers will find a happy home with this hamlet’s history: it was once a prominent base for catching tuna. Although artisanal anglers are the only ones casting nets these days, you’ll still have no trouble spotting menus with fresh tuna and famous tomatoes grown next door in Pachino. Oh, and a white wine and fisherman’s stew at L’Approdo is never a bad idea.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.