Boat hire in La Spezia

Last updated on 13 October 2026

In La Spezia, Filovent offers sailing yachts from 11 to 14 m (Oceanis, Dufour, Bavaria) and skippered Lagoon catamarans for hire, departing from La Spezia, Mirabello and Fezzano.

La Spezia, at the head of the Gulf of Poets, is a direct departure port for Portovenere, Lerici and the Cinque Terre. The Gulf of Poets, where the charter bases are located, shelters anchorages between Portovenere, the island of Palmaria and Lerici. In the 19th century, the town became a major naval base with the construction of its military arsenal. It’s a good base for a yacht charter in Italy along the Ligurian Riviera.

• Distance to Portovenere: about 6 nautical miles (roughly 11 km)
• Distance to Monterosso al Mare: about 15 nautical miles (roughly 28 km)
• Sailing season: from April to October
• Price: from €2,100 per week

Types of boats for hire in La Spezia

The bases in La Spezia, Mirabello and Fezzano offer three types of boats:

• The monohull: this is the most common boat in the area, with sailing yachts from 11 to 14 m (Oceanis, Dufour, Bavaria, Sun Odyssey). It offers a true sailing experience and remains the most affordable way to sail in the gulf.
• The catamaran: spacious, stable and comfortable, it suits families and groups of friends. In La Spezia, Lagoon catamarans are hired with a skipper. To compare the models available across the country, see our offer to hire a catamaran in Italy.
• The motorboat: fast and practical, it lets you visit several coves in a single day and reach Portofino or the Cinque Terre without depending on the wind.

Services available for your boat hire in La Spezia

Depending on your experience and the type of holiday you are looking for, two options are available from La Spezia:

• Bareboat hire: you skipper the yacht yourself and set your own route. This is the most affordable option. It is reserved for skippers who hold a boating licence and can demonstrate sailing experience, set out in a sailing CV.
• Skippered hire: a professional handles the navigation and manoeuvres. No licence is required for the crew, and the skipper knows the sheltered anchorages and restricted areas of the gulf. This is the only option available on the Lagoon catamarans in La Spezia.

Boat hire prices in La Spezia

The price of boat hire in La Spezia depends mainly on the season and the type of boat chosen. Here are the median prices recorded for one week of hire:

Source: Filovent - Official data from our offer for the dates of 1 May 2027, 5 June 2027 and 7 August 2027. All prices quoted can be checked online (last updated: 13 October 2026).

What the price includes

• Hire of the boat for the whole duration of your stay
• Mandatory navigation and safety equipment
• The dinghy

What the price does not include

• The security deposit, refunded at the end of the hire if there is no damage
• The end-of-charter cleaning fee and welcome pack
• Fuel
• Harbour and mooring fees
• The skipper and provisioning
• Extras (outboard engine, paddleboard, additional linen)

Insurance

For complete peace of mind, Filovent offers cancellation insurance as well as deposit insurance, which covers all or part of the security deposit if the boat is damaged.

Where can you sail from La Spezia?

The Gulf of La Spezia is also known as the Gulf of Poets, because of the many writers who stayed here, such as Lord Byron, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens and D.H. Lawrence. From its marinas, you can explore Liguria under sail, from the gulf up to Portofino. Here are four stops to plan for:

Portovenere and the Palmaria archipelago

At the western entrance to the gulf, about 6 nautical miles from La Spezia, Portovenere’s tall, colourful houses line the quay below the church of San Pietro on its rocky headland. Directly opposite, the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto offer anchorages sheltered from north-westerly winds.

The Cinque Terre

From the Gulf of La Spezia, the coast runs up to Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, about 15 nautical miles from the base. These five villages form the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The very steep coastline offers few shelters: plan day sails and stop in Vernazza or Monterosso when the sea is calm. Further north, Levanto, Bonassola, Framura and Deiva Marina complete the coastline up to Sestri Levante.

Lerici and San Terenzo

On the eastern shore of the gulf, about 4 nautical miles from La Spezia, Lerici and its medieval castle overlook a bay lined with beaches. The neighbouring village of San Terenzo was home to the poet Percy Shelley, and D.H. Lawrence lived near the cove of Fiascherino. Lerici harbour makes a good stop at the end of the day without leaving the gulf.

Portofino

About 35 nautical miles north-west of La Spezia, Portofino is well suited to an overnight stop on a one-week itinerary. Around the harbour, the abbey of San Fruttuoso, accessible only by sea or on foot, and the nature park on the headland can be visited from the boat.

When is the best time to sail in La Spezia?

The sailing season in La Spezia runs from April to October. Each period has its advantages:

• High season (July and August): 27 to 28°C in the afternoon, water at 24 to 25°C and a steady thermal breeze. This is the busiest and most expensive period.
• Mid season (June and September): a compromise, with water at 23°C, quieter anchorages and lower prices than in the height of summer.
• Low season (April, May and October): more attractive prices and much quieter villages, perfect for discovering the Cinque Terre without the crowds.

Average temperatures in La Spezia

Sailing conditions in La Spezia

The Gulf of La Spezia is partly closed off by a breakwater built in the 19th century and protected to the west by Portovenere and the island of Palmaria, which limits the swell inside. A few points to keep in mind:

• Winds: in summer, a thermal breeze usually sets in during the afternoon, at around 10 to 15 knots. The mistral (maestrale), from the north-west, can blow harder, while the south-westerly libeccio raises a swell that makes the Cinque Terre anchorages uncomfortable. The tramontana, a cold northerly wind, mainly occurs out of season.
• Depths: the coast drops off quickly into deep water, especially along the Cinque Terre. Anchor on sandy patches and avoid the posidonia seagrass meadows.
• Restricted areas: the Cinque Terre and Portovenere are surrounded by marine protected areas where anchoring is limited or prohibited in certain places. As a legacy of the naval base, several areas of the gulf are also reserved for the navy: check the charts before you set off.

Documents required for bareboat hire in La Spezia

To hire a boat without a skipper in La Spezia, Filovent asks the skipper for:

• A valid boating licence
• Sailing experience as a skipper
• A sailing CV summarising your previous voyages
• A valid ID document

Requirements may vary depending on the size of the boat: your Filovent adviser checks them with you before booking. If you do not meet these conditions, skippered hire lets you set sail without a licence.

Useful information for your boat hire in La Spezia

Language

The official language is Italian. English is widely spoken in marinas and tourist areas.

Currency

The currency is the euro. Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere, but bring some cash for small harbours and markets.

Airports

• Pisa Airport: the closest, about 1 hour's drive from La Spezia
• Genoa Airport: about 1 hour 15 minutes' drive, a convenient alternative to Pisa
• Florence Airport: about 2 hours' drive

La Spezia Centrale railway station is also well served from Pisa, Genoa and Milan.

How do you book?

Booking your yacht charter in La Spezia with Filovent takes four steps:

• You send a quote request on our website.
• A specialist adviser calls you to discuss your plans.
• Together, you choose the boat that suits you.
• You pay the deposit to confirm your booking.