The Italian Riviera by yacht: Portofino and the Cinque Terre
A short, steep coast of fishing villages, Portofino and the five Cinque Terre villages, with short days at sea. June and September are the best months. It suits couples most, and joins the French Riviera easily.
Italy's Ligurian coast east of Genoa is short and steep: fishing villages in deep inlets, terraced hills, and the five villages of the Cinque Terre. This is a week of towns and swimming stops more than beaches. It sits next to the French Riviera, so the two join easily on a longer trip.
Why go, and whom it suits
Couples and honeymoons
A good fit. There's Portofino at dusk, dinner in Camogli or Portovenere, and short days at sea.
Families
It works with children who like walking into villages and swimming from the yacht. Sandy beaches are few.
Friends and celebrations
Portofino and Santa Margherita have a smart, social summer. The scene is smaller than on the French Riviera or the Costa Smeralda.
Less good for: anyone who wants a different island every day, or long sandy beaches.
What's there
Genoa
The usual start, with an old port and the airport close by.
Camogli
A fishing town with tall painted houses on the water.
San Fruttuoso
An abbey in a cove reachable only on foot or by sea. The Christ of the Abyss statue lies in the water offshore.
Portofino
The famous small harbour. Berths are few and expensive; the Portofino marine protected area bans anchoring over its seagrass and runs seasonal mooring buoys at San Fruttuoso and Punta Chiappa.
Santa Margherita Ligure and Paraggi
A larger town and a small bay for swimming.
Sestri Levante
Two bays, one of them the Baia del Silenzio.
The Cinque Terre
Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, on a coast that is a national park and a marine protected area. The protected area's mooring buoys are for boats up to 24 metres, so a larger yacht anchors outside and you visit by tender or on foot between villages.
Portovenere and Palmaria
A village at the mouth of the Gulf of La Spezia, and the island opposite.
Lerici
A castle and a small harbour on the other side of the gulf.
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When to go
June and September: the best months, with fewer people walking the Cinque Terre paths.
July and August: busy on shore, and the villages full of visitors.
May and October: pleasant, and good for walking.
Cost
The charter fee is each yacht's own weekly rate, shown "from" on her page.
- VAT is added at Italy's standard rate, 22%, and the charter contract states the VAT charged on your charter.
- APA: budget up to 40% of the charter fee; whatever is not spent is returned to you.
- Berths: Portofino's are few and expensive, so many yachts anchor or berth in Santa Margherita instead.
- One-way weeks to the French Riviera can add a delivery fee.
For the whole picture, see what a crewed charter costs, line by line.
A sample week
- Day 1 — Genoa to Camogli. Board in Genoa and take a short run east to Camogli for dinner ashore.
- Day 2 — San Fruttuoso and Portofino. A swim and the abbey in its cove, then round the headland to Portofino in the evening.
- Day 3 — Paraggi and Santa Margherita. A morning swim in Paraggi's bay, and the afternoon and evening in Santa Margherita.
- Day 4 — Sestri Levante. The Baia del Silenzio, and a quiet evening.
- Day 5 — The Cinque Terre. Along the five villages: Monterosso and Vernazza by tender, and the path between them if you want to walk.
- Day 6 — Portovenere and Palmaria. The church on the rocks, a swim off Palmaria, and dinner in Portovenere.
- Day 7 — Lerici or La Spezia. Across the gulf to disembark, then the drive to Pisa or Genoa airport. Or go back to Genoa.
The yacht and the weather decide the real route. A southerly sea makes some of the open stretches uncomfortable, and the captain adjusts.
The yachts
Most of the yachts we show in Italy are mid-size and large motor yachts; a few are sailing yachts and catamarans. Many also cruise France, so a Riviera-to-Riviera week is easy to arrange.
The yachts on this site are a selection, not the limit of what we arrange: ask about any yacht, of any size.
Practical questions
Rene GaspersicYour broker
Where does the charter start?
Usually Genoa, or La Spezia and Lerici at the other end.
Which airport?
Genoa, or Pisa for La Spezia. Nice is also within reach for a Riviera-to-Riviera week.
Can we stay overnight in Portofino?
Sometimes. The berths are few and costly, and many yachts anchor or berth nearby.
Can the yacht anchor at the Cinque Terre?
In places only. The coast is a marine protected area with zones, and its seasonal mooring buoys are for boats up to 24 metres. Larger yachts stay outside, and you visit the villages by tender.
Can we combine this with the French Riviera?
Yes. A one-way week from Genoa towards Monaco and Nice, or the reverse, works well.
Is it busy in summer?
On shore, yes, especially the Cinque Terre in July and August. At sea it is calmer.
Is it good for children?
For children who like villages and swimming from the yacht. It has few sandy beaches.
Do we need fixed dates to enquire?
No. A month or a season is enough to start.
Talk to a broker
Tell us roughly when, how many of you there are, and what the week is for: a family summer, a honeymoon, a birthday with friends. Dates and budget can stay loose. We come back with a short list of yachts that fit, say plainly what each one is like, and stay your contact from the first email to the last day on board.
Rene Gaspersic
charter broker
Email info@soretoyachting.com · Phone +44 7342 933198 · WhatsApp +44 7342 933198
What a week costs here
Every quote shows the three lines in full, before you decide.
The weekly rate on each yacht’s page. "From" is her lowest season.
An advance for fuel, food, drinks and berths, spent on your instructions and settled at the end.
Set by the country the charter starts in, added to the fee.
Plan
The Italian Riviera by yacht: Portofino and the Cinque Terre.
Two short steps. Dates and budget can stay loose. We reply personally, by email, phone or WhatsApp.