Yacht Charter in La Spezia

In La Spezia, Filovent offers sailboats from 36 to 46 ft (Oceanis, Dufour, Bavaria) and Lagoon catamarans with a captain for charter, 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 city became a major naval base with the construction of its military arsenal. It is a natural starting point for a sailboat charter in Italy along the Ligurian Riviera.

• Distance to Portovenere: about 6 nautical miles (roughly 7 miles)
• Distance to Monterosso al Mare: about 15 nautical miles (roughly 17 miles)
• Sailing season: from April to October
• Price: from $2,400 per week

Types of boats for charter 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 sailboats from 36 to 46 ft (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 is a great fit for families and groups of friends. In La Spezia, Lagoon catamarans are chartered with a captain. To compare the models available across the country, see our catamaran charter in Italy offer.
• 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 yacht charter in La Spezia

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

• Bareboat charter: you skipper the boat yourself and plan your own route. This is the most affordable option. It is reserved for skippers who hold a boating license and can demonstrate sailing experience, set out in a sailing resume.
• Captained charter: a professional handles the navigation and maneuvers. No license is required for the crew, and the captain knows the sheltered anchorages and restricted areas of the gulf. This is the only option available on the Lagoon catamarans in La Spezia.

Yacht charter prices in La Spezia

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

Source: Filovent - Official data from our offer for the dates of May 1, 2027, June 5, 2027 and August 7, 2027. Prices converted from euros at the exchange rate of October 13, 2026 (€1 = $1.12) and rounded to the nearest hundred. All prices quoted can be checked online (last updated: October 13, 2026).

What the price includes

• Charter of the boat for the entire 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 charter if there is no damage
• The end-of-charter cleaning fee and welcome kit
• Fuel
• Marina and mooring fees
• The captain and provisioning
• Extras (outboard motor, paddleboard, extra linens)

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 by sailboat, 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 colorful houses line the waterfront below the church of San Pietro on its rocky headland. Directly across, the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto offer anchorages sheltered from northwest 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. Farther 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 neighboring village of San Terenzo was home to the poet Percy Shelley, and D.H. Lawrence lived near the cove of Fiascherino. Lerici's harbor makes a good stop at the end of the day without leaving the gulf.

Portofino

About 35 nautical miles northwest of La Spezia, Portofino is well suited to an overnight stop on a one-week itinerary. Around the harbor, 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): 81 to 82°F in the afternoon, water at 75 to 77°F and a steady thermal breeze. This is the busiest and most expensive period.
• Midseason (June and September): a compromise, with water at 73°F, 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 northwest, can blow harder, while the southwesterly libeccio raises a swell that makes the Cinque Terre anchorages uncomfortable. The tramontana, a cold north wind, mainly occurs in the off-season.
• Depths: the coast drops off quickly into deep water, especially along the Cinque Terre. Anchor on sandy patches and avoid the posidonia seagrass beds.
• Cinque Terre Marine Protected Area: the Cinque Terre coastline lies within the Area Marina Protetta Cinque Terre, which is divided into three zones. Anchoring is prohibited in Zone A, where only rowing, sailing or electric-powered boats may navigate, with prior authorization. In Zone B, speed is limited to 5 knots within 300 m (about 1,000 ft) of the shore and to 10 knots between 300 and 600 m (about 1,000 to 2,000 ft). Off Vernazza, Monterosso, Manarola, Riomaggiore and Corniglia, white mooring buoys are available: mooring requires a permit requested online in advance from the Cinque Terre National Park, anchoring inside the mooring fields is prohibited, and boats must approach at no more than 3 knots.
• Military zones: as a legacy of the naval base, several areas of the gulf are reserved for the Italian Navy. Check the charts before you set sail.

Documents required for a bareboat charter in La Spezia

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

• A valid boating license
• Sailing experience as a skipper
• A sailing resume summarizing your previous voyages
• A valid passport

Requirements may vary depending on the size of the boat: your Filovent advisor checks them with you before booking. If you do not meet these conditions, a captained charter lets you set sail without a license.

Useful information for your yacht charter in La Spezia

Language

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

Currency

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

Airports

• Pisa Airport: the closest, about a 1-hour drive from La Spezia
• Genoa Airport: about a 1 hour 15 minute drive, a convenient alternative to Pisa
• Florence Airport: about a 2-hour drive

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

How do you book?

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

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