Mediterranean Yacht Charter – The Top 5 Places to Go in 2025

Croatia Yacht Charter

Croatia yacht charters have skyrocketed in popularity, becoming a top choice for Mediterranean yacht vacations, especially for high-end charters and large group charters.

What makes Croatia so good? With over 1000 islands in close proximity, you can see a lot in a shorter time. (An attractive alternative to Greece’s very weather-dependent Cyclades) It’s home to incredible UNESCO World Heritage towns like Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, and Korčula. The natural beauty is just as impressive, with national parks, waterfalls, and crystal-clear waters everywhere.

Key Advantages?

• Amazing Luxury Yacht Charter Infrastructure
• Close Island Hopping (Over 1000 Islands)
• 13% VAT on Yacht Charters (compared to 20% in France and Spain)
• Friendlier Yacht Legislation – Best Destination in the Mediterranean for Yacht Charters for 12+ Guests
• Tons of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Dubrovnik, Split, and Trogir
• Amazing National Parks only accessible by boat, like the Kornati Islands and Brijuni National Park
• Unique Luxury Motorsailer Fleet – More luxury for less money

How to Charter Croatia

Get all your friends or family together and charter a large motor yacht or luxury motorsailer for 12+ guests. We recommend 150 nautical miles of island-hopping from Split to Dubrovnik, covering all the most iconic island locations along the Dalmatian Coast.

Fly into Split International Airport and step onboard your yacht. Our favorite stops along this route include Hvar, Croatia’s jet-set island, with Hula Hula Beach Club for sunset cocktails and Carpe Diem for legendary nightlife; Korčula, known as “Little Dubrovnik,” with its medieval Old Town and LD Restaurant, one of Croatia’s top fine-dining spots. Mljet National Park is perfect for nature lovers, with saltwater lakes and forest trails, while Šipan in the Elaphiti Islands offers a more off-the-grid stop before arriving in Dubrovnik. Once there, dock at ACI Marina Dubrovnik, explore the ancient city walls, and dine at 360 Dubrovnik, a Michelin-starred restaurant with insane panoramic views.

Amalfi Coast Yacht Charter

An Amalfi yacht charter lets you explore the Mediterranean’s most iconic coastline, a place that has inspired artists like Picasso and Steinbeck with its dramatic cliffs, colorful towns, and timeless beauty. We highly recommend it for high-end luxury yacht charters—its lower VAT makes it an excellent alternative to the South of France, offering luxury with fewer bureaucratic hassles.

The Amalfi Coast is also a great launching point for an extended yacht charter to Corsica and Sardinia. For this trip, we recommend at least 10-14 days, so you don’t have to rush.

Key Advantages?

• The Mediterranean’s most beautiful coastline
• Top luxury destination with Michelin-starred restaurants and exclusive beach clubs
• Close proximity to Sardinia and Corsica
• World-famous cuisine
• Access to renowned wineries in the Campania region for exclusive tastings
• Short cruising distances
• Higher-end luxury yachts compared to other Mediterranean destinations

How to Do It?

We recommend a luxury motor yacht for your Amalfi Coast yacht charter. Starting from Naples or Salerno, the main superyacht hubs, you have easy access to hotspots like Positano, Amalfi, and Capri. Explore UNESCO treasures like Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, dive into the crystal-clear waters around Capri’s famous Faraglioni rocks, and indulge in world-class cuisine. Think fresh seafood in Amalfi, handmade pasta in Ravello, and limoncello straight from Sorrento. If you stay around the Amalfi Coast, a one-week charter will be enough, or you can extend it to 10-14 days and hop over to Sardinia and Corsica!

French Riviera Yacht Charter

It does not get much more glamorous than a French Riviera Yacht Charter. South of France, or Côte d’Azur, is the playground of the rich and famous. It’s all about luxury, speed, and living the high life under the Mediterranean sun. -Think luxury yachts with jacuzzis and jet skis. Arriving at destinations like Cannes with its red-carpet film festival, beautiful Antibes with Port Vauban, the largest Superyacht Marina in Europe, the adrenaline-pumping Monaco Grand Prix, and St. Tropez’s famed Club 55.

Key Advantages?

• Number 1 luxury yacht charter destination in the Mediterranean
• Home to world-famous ports like Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Nice
• Exclusive beach clubs and resorts, including Club 55 in Saint-Tropez
• Access to prestigious events such as the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix
• The Mediterranean’s best superyacht infrastructure and luxury yacht fleet
• Options for VAT exemptions and duty-free fuel on yacht charters leaving France

How to Charter the French Riviera

Best Yacht Type: We recommend chartering a high-speed luxury yacht with a garage full of water toys (€80k-€500k per week).

Start in Antibes: Fly into Nice International Airport and transfer to Antibes—whether by helicopter, limo, or Lamborghini. Step aboard your yacht at Port Vauban.

Our favorite French Riviera Yacht Itinerary goes for 7 days and visits all the iconic hotspots along the coast:

• St. Tropez
• Pampelonne Bay
• Cannes
• Villefranche and Paloma Beach
• Monaco

Corsica / Sardinia Yacht Charter

Sardinia yacht charter is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept yacht charter secrets—less crowded than the French Riviera, yet just as luxurious. With over 1,100 miles of coastline and only a short cruise away from Corsica, it’s perfect for exploring by motor yacht.

What you get is an amazing mix of lively high-end spots and beautiful remote nature: On one side, you have the glamorous Costa Smeralda, with top locations like Porto Rotondo and Porto Cervo, the Italian answer to Saint-Tropez. And then you have the Maddalena Archipelago, just off the northern coast, a marine paradise of secluded anchorages with perfect beaches and gin-clear water– a Mediterranean hotspot for snorkeling and diving.

Cruising North from there, you reach the Southern tip of Corsica. We recommend you go for at least 8 days, including Bonifacio in your yacht charter. You won’t regret it!

Key Advantages?

• Two Countries, One Charter – Easy cruising between French Corsica and Italian Sardinia
• Short Distances, Big Variety – Quick hops between Bonifacio, Porto Cervo, La Maddalena, and Lavezzi Islands
• Luxury & VIP Lifestyle in Sardinia – Costa Smeralda is home to Porto Cervo, ultra-luxury resorts, high-end shopping, and exclusive beach clubs like Phi Beach.
• More Remote, Less Crowded – Compared to the French Riviera or Amalfi Coast, expect fewer crowds and more private anchorages, even in peak season.
• Best Snorkeling & Diving in the Med–Lavezzi Islands, Maddalena Archipelago, and Tavolara Marine Reserve

How to Charter the Balearic Islands

Best Yacht Type:

Sardinia’s charter market is heavily motor yacht-focused. We recommend a larger luxury motor yacht with lots of toys and SCUBA dive equipment (budget for €50,000 minimum plus expenses).

Most of our Sardinia yacht charters start in the northeastern corner, also known as the Costa Smeralda, either in Olbia, Porto Cervo, or Porto Rotondo. From here, it is only a short 25 nm cruise north to the famous Maddalena Archipelago and not much further to reach the southern tip of Corsica.

• Porto Cervo
• Cala Di Volpe
• Porto Rotondo
• Maddalena Archipelago
• Bonifacio (Corsica)
• Porto Vecchio

Best Mediterranean Yacht Charters

What’s New in Mediterranean Yacht Charter for 2025?

• Regulations & VAT Considerations: Some destinations have VAT advantages for charters (e.g., France-Sardinia routes via an ECPY contract).
• Charter Trends: Increasing demand for multi-destination charters, with more clients combining South of France and Sardinia.
• Superyacht Hotspots: French Riviera, Sardinia, and Amalfi Coast continue to dominate for ultra-luxury charters, but Croatia is rapidly growing in the high-end market.

Bonus Destination: Balearic Islands

A yacht charter in the Balearic Islands has two sides. There’s the polished, upscale vibe of Mallorca’s Palma, Puerto Portals, and Ibiza’s party scene —great if you want to hop between beach clubs, fine dining, and boutique shopping. Then there’s the quieter side: the wild north and west coast of Mallorca with its dramatic cliffs and hard-to-reach coves, the Cabrera National Park to the south (permits required, we’ll help with that), and Formentera’s barefoot beach clubs, white sands, and water so clear it looks fake.

Key Advantages?

• Access to amazing island destinations like Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera
• A reduced 12% VAT, compared to 20% in France
• A mix of high-end resorts, Michelin-starred dining, and laid-back island culture
• Unmatched Nightlife & Beach Clubs – Ibiza’s famous Ushuaïa, Pacha, and Blue Marlin, plus stylish lounges in Mallorca
• Protected Marine Reserves Cabrera Archipelago and Es Vedrà
• Extended Yachting Season (April to October)

How to Charter the Balearic Islands

Best Yacht Type: We definitely recommend chartering a motor yacht (with a minimum budget of €40k for a one-week charter). Why? The distance between Mallorca and Ibiza (70 nautical miles) is too far for a relaxed catamaran charter.

Start in Palma, the biggest luxury yacht hub of the Balearic Islands and set off for 7-10 days around the Balearic Islands:

• Es Trenc
• Cabrera National Park
• Ibiza
• Formentera