Amalfi Coast & Sicily Yacht Charter Guide

Discover Italy’s beautiful Amalfi Coast and the glamorous islands of Capri and Ischia with a Northrop & Johnson yacht charter

Best known for its picturesque coastline and gourmet cuisine, the Amalfi Coast has attracted visitors to its shores for centuries. Today its glorious culture, artistic heritage and vibrant culinary scene make it a firm favorite for a summer yacht charter.

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1

NAPLES TO ISCHIA (16 NAUTICAL MILES)

Step on board your charter yacht in the lively city of Naples and cruise across the bay to the volcanic island of Ischia. Known as the “Island of Wellbeing,” Ischia has been a Mediterranean holiday destination for aristocrats since Roman times and still attracts a gentile crowd. Experience the island’s thermal springs in their natural, unrefined environment to the south of the island where you can lie in pools of thermal water carved out of rock. Anchor in the bay of Punta Molino for an afternoon of watersports before stepping ashore early evening for a stroll around San’t Angelo.

DAYS 2 & 3

ISCHIA TO CAPRI (16 NAUTICAL MILES)

Cruise to the west of Capri for a choice of secluded anchorages before heading to the main town for an aperitif on the Piazzetta. During the summer the island is a victim of its own charms as visitors arrive in flocks. Thankfully, aboard a superyacht you can enjoy a vast array of watersports around the islands more secluded anchorages. Spend a few days anchored off the glamorous island, stepping ashore to enjoy its many offerings as the crowds depart late in the afternoon.

DAY 4

CAPRI TO SORRENTO (16 NAUTICAL MILES)

Cruise back across the bay to the pretty peninsula of Sorrento. Take a stroll through the Museo Correale di Terranova’s terraced walkways and embrace the views over the Gulf of Naples. Wander around the charming pedestrian lanes, exploring little boutiques and restaurants as you go. Take a detour to the Excelsior Vittoria’s “Bosquet” terrace and bar for a limoncello or dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant. The guestbook boasts many famous names including Sophia Loren and Luciano Pavarotti.

DAY 5

SORRENTO TO POSITANO (17 NAUTICAL MILES

Tender ashore to the dramatically perched town of Positano and discover the pretty cobblestone streets that attract a glamorous, affluent crowd. Cliffside houses tumble down to the sea in a cascade of pastel colors making the town the most picturesque and photogenic along the Amalfi Coast. Take the tender to the Treville Beach Club in Laurito Bay or step ashore and drive the hairpin bends to the Michelin-starred Il San Pietro de Positano.

DAYS 6 & 7

POSITANO TO AMALFI TO PANAREA (120 NAUTICAL MILES)

Another day, another colorful town. Boasting past glories as a maritime state, Amalfi offers a day of cultural exploration. Despite being no larger than neighboring Positano or Ravello, in its heyday Amalfi was a major seaport and the whole coastline was named after it. At the hub of the historic center is the Piazza del Duomo which sits in front of the immense 11^th century St. Andrew’s Cathedral. While away a few hours discovering the cathedral’s Baroque interior before strolling the exclusive boutiques that line the piazza. Overnight to the Aeolian Islands.

DAY 8

STROMBOLI & PANAREA (30 NAUTICAL MILES)

A Mediterranean paradise, the archipelago of seven Aeolian Islands – Stromboli, Panarea, Salina, Lipari, Vulcano, Filicudi and Alicudi – have escaped mass development. Spend the day at anchor off the active volcanic island of Stromboli. The island has many bays and inlets that are perfect for watersports. Cruise on to the stylish island of Panarea and step ashore to the rustic and chic Hotel Raya for an evening of dancing under the stars.

DAYS 9 & 10

PANAREA TO TAORMINA, SICILY (67 NAUTICAL MILES)

Cruise through the Messina Straits to Taormina. Strategically located between Europe and Africa, the island has been a magnet for visitors ancient and modern for millennia, all of whom have left their mark. With an abundance of Greek and Roman architecture and myriad natural wonders, the island has enduring appeal. Spend the next few days overdosing on Sicily’s vibrant lifestyle, natural beauty and Sicilian culture.

Charter Experience

Famed for its vertiginous landscape, gourmet cuisine and picturesque coastline, travelers have long been attracted to the Amalfi Coast’s glorious culture, artistic heritage and vibrant culinary scene. Depending on where you cruise, you can enjoy Michelin-starred restaurants and authentic trattorias. Further south, the volcanic Aeolian Islands and Sicily reveal some of the most dramatic landscapes and fascinating historical sites in the Mediterranean. Spend a few days either end of your Italian itinerary discovering these Mediterranean marvels.

From the historical city of Naples and the chic islands of Capri and Ischia across the bay to Positano, the Amalfi Coast provides the perfect backdrop to a truly indulgent charter. Step aboard your yacht in the lively, bustling epicenter of Naples and cruise across the bay to Capri. Every bit the island for the jet set, the island also has an unassumingly intriguing side that adds to its beauty and charm. Known as the “island of wellbeing”, neighboring Ischia is famous for its thermal springs and therapeutic spas – the perfect antidote to Capri’s glamor.

Back on the mainland, Ravello is all about its romantic views and charming medieval passageways. In fact they have inspired some of the great figures of classic music and literature across the centuries. Inland the ancient city of Pompeii remains awe inspiring. Further along the coastline the iconic cliff face of Sorrento shimmers beneath the dormant yet still formidable Mount Vesuvius. Across the Gulf of Salerno, the charming town of Positano and off-lying Li Galli archipelago offer a stunning anchorage. Further south the Aeolian Islands and Sicily can easily be combined with an Amalfi coast itinerary. The islands have the air of a place where time has stood still.

Beautiful and intoxicating, Italy’s glamorous Amalfi Coast remains as popular as ever.

Location Highlights

Shop for local artisan wares in Positano
Take in the scenery from Sentiero Degli Dei Lemon Point
Take in an Amalfi Musical
Swim Capri’s idyllic Blue Grotto
Explore Villa Cimbrone in Ravello
Browse the shelves at 3 Denari, Positano
Take a hair raising ride up to Anacapri and the gardens of Villa San Michele, Capri
Purchase made-to-measure Capri pants from La Parisienne, Capri
Watch the spectacular sunrise over the Faraglioni rocks, Capri
Anchor at Li Galli, where some say Homer’s Sirens lived
Discover the Valley of the Temples, Sicily

Expert Advice

Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, just the names conjure up the romantic beauty of the Amalfi Coast that has enticed generations of visitors and continues to be a favored destination of jet-setters and honeymooners. The best way to visit these fascinating locales, all within an hour’s cruising of each other, is on your own private yacht. Gaze up at the lemon groves clinging to the terraced cliffs, explore the ancient villages perched on the hillside, discover some of the best cuisines in the Mediterranean and plunge into the glittering blue waters.