What is the best time to sail? How is the weather like? How many days do you need to sail around the coast? What to visit and where to stay? Find out more in our article, describing our favourite itinerary on the Amalfi Coast.

Arriving in Sorrento

You can arrive in Italy by plane at Aeroporto Internazionale di Napoli, being the closest airport to your point of departure, Sorrento. From the airport there are several options to reach Sorrento: bus, ferry or taxi. It’s about one hour drive to Sorrento, but don’t worry, you’ll just be amazed by the natural beauty surrounding you.

If you sail to Sorrento or if you want to charter a boat from Sorrento, a good starting point is Marina Piccola.

Weather on Amalfi Coast

The sailing season in Campania is between May and September, offering better weather, less rain and warmer temperature than the winter, off season months.

The climate is Mediterranean, with daily average temperatures of 9 °C (48 °F) in January and February and 24 °C (75 °F) in July and August. Summertime is hot and sunny and rain is very rare, however thunderstorms are not excluded, so you should check the weather forecast regularly. The air is hot and humid during summer, but the breeze usually relieves the heat. Influenced by sirocco, some days might be very hot, with temperatures reaching 35 °C (95 °F).

Wind in Campania region is usually very calm during summer, blowing from East or Northeast with an average of 15 knots. Occasionally, there are winds of 20 knots, but most of the days are of absolute calm and light winds, making it an excellent sailing playground.

Planning the itinerary

Prepare for a one-week or more, memorable sailing adventure along the Amalfi Coast, one of the best escapes in Southern Italy, to spend the summer vacation with your family and friends. Even though in this itinerary there are only 6 legs, take your time, enjoy the landscapes at your own sailing pace, to discover this amazing area.

The starting point is Marina Picola in Sorrento, and you will sail more than 60 nautical miles around one-of-a-kind landscapes, breathtaking cities, amazing Italian cuisine, remote caves and amazing aquamarine waters. Depending on your yacht type, course and pace, the below information may vary.

• Leg 1 – Sorrento to Positano – 15 NM – 2.5 hours
• Leg 2 – Positano to Salerno – 12 NM – 2 hours
• Leg 3 – Salerno to Conca dei Marini – 9 NM – 2 hours
• Leg 4 – Conca dei Marini to Li Galli – 7 NM – 1.5 hours
• Leg 5 – Li Galli to Capri – 9 NM – 2 hours
• Leg 6 – Capri to Sorrento – 10 NM – 2 hours

1. Sorrento to Positano – Leg 1

Sailing to Positano

From Sorrento to Positano there are only 15 nautical miles to sail, so you should reach the destination in about 2.5 hours. Close to Positano, there are several anchorages from where you can start the well-deserved sailing holiday. 

Sightseeing in Positano

The town will impress you with its coloured houses, painted in shades of pink, white, and yellow which appear to hang tightly to the cliff, but are in fact very accessible through the narrow streets steeped up on the mountainside.

The main landmark reference of Positano is undoubtedly the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, with its amazing Moorish tiled dome. On the inside altar, there are Byzantine treasures dating back to the XIII century, including the Virgin Madonna.

If you prefer a day at the beach, we recommend:

• Positano Beach
• Fornillo Beach
• Arienzo Beach Club

Accomodation when sailing to Positano

Good accommodation can be found in Positano and if you don’t want to spend the night on your boat, our recommendations are: Hotel Villa Gabrisa**** with starting price from 458 € / night or Hotel Royal Prisco*** from 336 € / night.

2. Positano to Salerno – Leg 2

Sailing to Salerno

Raise the anchor and set the course to E-SE until you reach Praiano, and then change the course to E-NE to Salerno. You should reach Porto di Salerno in about 2 hours. There are several marinas where you can find good shelter and the opportunity to reprovision your boat.

Sightseeing in Salerno

Salerno benefits from its close proximity to the amazing and renowned Amalfi Coast, but also its own myriad of incredible architecture, gorgeous gardens and sun-kissed promenades. Attractions such as Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Angels, Saint Matthew and Saint Gregory the Great and the Forte la Carnale have a huge amount of history and artwork, whilst the historic old town centre provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the city and enjoy the local's hospitality.

The Forte la Carnale is located near the mouth of the river Irno and is part of a defence system consisting of towers, built in 1563 to defend the city from invasion of the Saracens.

• Address: Via de Carnale 1, Salerno
• Ticket price: Free

Accomodation when sailing to Salerno

Good accommodation can be found at Hotel Plaza*** with starting price from 148 € / night or Hotel Residence**** from 291 € / night.

3. Salerno to Conca dei Marini – Leg 3

Sailing to Conca dei Marini

This leg will also bring you to your destination quite fast, because there are only two hours to sail to Conca dei Marini. As soon as you reach Capo di Conca, change the course to North, where you can find a good sheltered gulf to drop the anchor.

Sightseeing in Conca dei Marini

Conca dei Marini is a hidden gem of the Amalfi Coast with its 3 km of Coastline and a breath-taking panorama. The place takes its name from the village’s shape: a valley by the sea, flocked with little white houses.

Conca dei Marini used to be an important trading centre, and in 1997 was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the places we recommend visiting is the Tower of Silence or White Tower, which is one of the most beautiful Saracen towers of the Amalfi Coast. It was built in the sixth century and it used to be a cemetery, today the White Tower has a breathtaking view, especially if you admire it from the sea.

Another amazing place worth visiting is Grotta dello Smeraldo,  which was named after the characteristic green light inside the cave, caused by natural sunlight from outside which enters the cave through an underground passage, connecting the salt water lake in the huge chamber with the outside sea.

Accomodation when sailing to Conca dei Marini

Good accommodation can be found at Hotel Belvedere***** with starting price from 1.032 € / night and Casa Brezza di Mare*** from 383 € / night.

With an old gastronomic tradition, the village is “the Santarosa” birthplace (the Santarosa is the “ancestor” of the Sfogliatella), a seashell shape pastry with cream and black cherry inside, which we definitely recommend to try in one of the many restaurants or taverns around the village.

4. Conca dei Marini to Li Galli – Leg 4

Sailing to Li Galli

Between Capri and Positano, at 40°34'51.5"N 14°25'58.0"E, you can find the archipelago of the three islands known as the Galli. You can reach the archipelago in around 2 hours, and you can find good anchorage between the islands.

Sightseeing in Li Galli

Privately owned, the islands can be admired from the bord of your boat, and the sunset over the islands is one of the most memorable things to do on Amalfi Coast.

Originally, this was the site of an ancient Roman anchorage and in the Middle Ages the islands became medieval fiefdoms of emperor Frederick II.

According to legends, the three islands forming the archipelago, Gallo Lungo, La Castelluccia and La Rotonda, were once home to sirens. In fact, Li Galli is also known as Le Sirenuse (The sirens). The strong currents in this stretch of sea often caused boats to crash against the rocks of the islands, and often the legends attributed the wrecks to the singing sirens distracting the sailors.

The property has been on and off the market for years and the most recent public listing of the three islands dates from 2011, with an asking price of 195 million euros.

Accomodation when sailing to Li Galli

There is no accommodation on the three islands, so the options are to spend the night here or head to the coast for more options.

5. Li Galli to Capri – Leg 5

Sailing to Capri

At only 9 nautical miles away from the Li Galli you will reach Capri Island, one of the favourite summer playgrounds for many sailors. You should reach Marina Grande in about 2 hours. If you decide to book a berth in Marina Grande, before entering, you can contact the harbour master at + 39 081 8377602 or on the VHF radio - Channel 71.

While arriving in Marina di Capri, you can request dinghy assistance if needed, as it is available 24/7 and can come in hand in strong winds or if this is your first time visiting the marina. The marina is located on the northern shore of the island, at 40°33'28.4"N 14°14'34.9"E, on the left side of Porto Commerciale di Capri.

Sightseeing in Capri

In Ancient times, Capri Island was the playground and the vacation spot for the emperors Augustus and Tiberius, and nowadays it became the favorite playground for the rich and famous.

If you want to move along the island, from Marina Grande there are three modes of transport:

1. Funicular – offers the fastest mode of transport to the city of Capri. An extra charge will be applied for large luggage, that doesn’t include backpack or small luggage. Funicular is closed from January to March, so you need to take other transport options.
2. Buses – on the island are actually minibuses with a capacity of 10 passengers, because large busses cannot drive the narrow island streets. High season brings long lines at the bus station.
3. Taxis – have a capacity of maximum 7 passengers, so all crew can ride the same taxi to town. Taxi drivers are usually courteous and can help you have a great experience on the island because they are also excellent tour guides.

From the peak of Mount Solaro, you can enjoy the dramatic views. The vistas stretch all over the bay of Naples and you can have a clear view of Faraglioni and Sorrento at the horizon.

Capri’s most renowned sight is Blue Grotto, world-famous for its crystal-clear aquamarine waters. The cave gets its distinctive blue colour due to a large opening in the rock beneath the water combined with the red light filtered out through this opening. Some great deals to visit the Blue Grotto can be found here.

Another top attraction you can enjoy, if you prefer to spend some time at anchor, the Faraglioni rocks will just make you understand the Italian “la dolce far niente”. Just drop the anchor, have a cold one and enjoy the amazing landscape rising in front of you.

Accomodation when sailing to Capri

Good accommodation can be found at Villa Marina Capri Hotel & SPA***** with starting price from 1.060 € / night and Hotel Victoria Place*** from 315 € / night.

6. Capri to Sorrento – Leg 6

Sailing to Sorrento

In Sorrento you can find safe harbour at Marina Piccola, close to Port of Sorrento, or in City of Sant’Agnello at Porto Sant’Angelo or Marina di Cassano. There are only 10 nautical miles between Capri Island and Sorrento and you should reach your destination in about 2 hours. Check the weather forecast, raise the anchor and head south for the amazing city of Sorrento.

Sightseeing in Sorrento

Sorrento is worth to sail to for its laid-back holiday air, beaches, the old streets lined by noble houses, and of course for its craggy cliffs rising 55 meters above sea level.

In its history, the city was ruled by Greeks, Romans, Turks, French and then Spanish, and you can see all these historical influences in the town’s architecture, dialect and the amazing mixed cuisine.

If you decide to stay in Marina Piccola, you should also visit Marina Grande which is more interesting and has lots of restaurants and taverns where you can try some of the local sea food dishes.

At Capo di Sorrento you can find the ruins of Bagni della Regina Giovanna, dating from the 1st century B.C. where you can drop the anchor and swim in the beautiful natural pool below it. Separated from the sea by a rock arch, the natural pool is surrounded by steep rock cliffs.

On shore, most of the historic sites to visit are close to Tasso Square. Passing behind the statue of Torquato Tasso, you will find the Correale Palace, the Veniero Palace, and at the end of the lane, the Bishop’s Palace and the Cathedral Belltower.

Museum Correale is a museum in Sorrento, surrounded by a citrus grove and with a terrace of Belvedere that overlooks the Gulf of Naples. The villa where the museum is located is owned by Pompeo and Alfredo Correale, the last descendants of the family. The museum exhibits collections of Neapolitan painters dating from the 17th and 18th century, with valuable Capodimonte and Sèvres ceramics, Murano glassware, Bohemia crystals and a collection of watches. 

Timetable

• Address: Via Correale, 50, 80067 Sorrento
• Visiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 – 13:30
• Tickets: Standard - 8 €

Accomodation when sailing to Sorrento

Good accommodation can be found in Sorrento, like Bellevue Syrene***** with starting price from 623 € / night or Hotel Antiche Mura**** from 335 € / night.

Close to Marina Grande, we recommend having lunch or dinner at Zi’Ntonio Mare, Ristorante Bagni Sant’Anna, or Taverna Azzura.

Capetanos sailing and general recommendations

For an amazing sailing holiday on the Amalfi Coast, we strongly recommend to plan in advance, consult the charts, weather conditions and choose the most suitable time and boat, according to your sailing skills. These six legs can be achieved at your own pace, so why not spending more than one week in this incredible area.

We hope that information in this article will contribute to your decision for your next holiday on the Amalfi Coast, one of the top destinations in Italy and Europe. 

Sailing bugdet calculator / rent boat calculator Amalfi Coast

These calculations are performed for one-week charter on a 46 feet sailboat in mid-august and crew of 8. The total may differ depending on many factors like boat amenities and construction year, mooring fees, dinner out, etc.

1-week total	7.490 €
3 cabins sailboat	3.100 €
Skipper (optional)	1.800 €
Food	520 €
Water	80 €
Diesel	120 €
Moorings	420 €
Food out	1.450 €