A 5-day Italian Riviera charter runs La Spezia to Genoa (or the reverse), covering Cinque Terre, Portofino, and Santa Margherita Ligure. It’s a short, marina-to-marina style week — more about scenery, harbor towns, and dramatic coastline than long beach days, and it works well on its own or as the opening or closing leg of a longer Italy charter.
The Quick Take
- Route: La Spezia (or Genoa) → Cinque Terre → Portofino → Santa Margherita Ligure → Genoa (or La Spezia) — 5 days is enough, since anchorages are limited and days are mostly short hops between marinas.
- Book Portofino early: the harbor is tiny. We either secure a berth well in advance or plan to anchor outside and tender in.
- Works as a stand-alone week or a connector: the Riviera is also a real starting point for longer charters heading down to Sardinia or Corsica.
Days 1-2: Cinque Terre
Start in La Spezia and spend the first 2 days around Cinque Terre — the 5 cliffside villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso) that give the Ligurian coast its postcard reputation. Anchorages here are limited and often exposed, so this is a region where the crew’s local knowledge of which bay is workable on a given day matters more than usual.
This stretch suits couples and smaller groups who want to go ashore, walk the coastal paths between villages, and eat well, more than guests who want long swim days at anchor.
Day 3: Portofino
Portofino is the headline stop, and it comes with 1 real logistical catch: the harbor is tiny. We either book the berth well in advance or plan to anchor just outside and tender in — both work, but neither is a same-week decision once high season hits.
A morning at anchor off Portofino, lunch ashore, and an afternoon walk up to Castello Brown is a full, satisfying day without needing to move the yacht much.
Day 4: Santa Margherita Ligure
Just around the headland from Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure is the easier, more relaxed sibling — a real working marina town rather than a single famous harbor, with more elbow room and a calmer pace. It’s a good day to slow down after Portofino’s crowds.
Day 5: Genoa
Finish in Genoa, Italy’s largest port city and a genuinely good disembarkation point — direct flights, a real airport, and enough of its own old-town character to justify an extra half day if your flight allows it.
Combining the Riviera With Other Regions
The Italian Riviera isn’t only a stand-alone week — in our experience, it’s a real starting point for longer charters heading south. Brokers regularly position yachts out of Portofino, Genoa, or nearby before cruising down to Sardinia or Corsica, since it’s one of the more practical bases for that run.
We’ve also had clients ask about combining the Riviera with Sicily and the Amalfi Coast in a single 3-4 week charter. It’s realistic if the budget covers the fuel and relocation fees involved, but it’s a multi-week brief, not a 1-week one — the same logic we cover in our guide to combining Sicily and the Amalfi Coast.
LUAR, a Sanlorenzo motor yacht based out of La Spezia, is a real example of the kind of yacht positioned specifically for this stretch of coast — see our catamaran vs motor yacht guide if you’re still deciding on yacht type for the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need for an Italian Riviera charter?
5 days is enough for the classic loop — Cinque Terre, Portofino, and Santa Margherita Ligure — since the coastline is short and cruising legs are brief.
Why is Portofino hard to book?
The harbor is genuinely tiny. We either secure a berth well in advance or anchor just outside and tender in — both are normal, but neither works as a last-minute decision in high season.
Where do Italian Riviera charters start and end?
Most start or end in Genoa or La Spezia, depending on which direction you want to cruise.
Can you combine the Italian Riviera with Sardinia or Sicily?
Yes — the Riviera is a common starting point for charters heading down to Sardinia or Corsica, and some clients combine it with Sicily and the Amalfi Coast over 3-4 weeks. Both are realistic with the right budget and time.
Planning an Italian Riviera charter?
Tell us your dates and whether you want a stand-alone Riviera week or a longer route heading further south, and we’ll help you plan it.
What to read next
Italian Riviera Yacht Charter
Can You Combine Sicily and the Amalfi Coast in One Charter?
How Long Should an Italy Yacht Charter Be? 7, 10 or 14 Days
