Boat rental in Catania — Aci Trezza, the Cyclops Islands, Taormina, Siracusa and tips for 2027

Catania lies on the east coast of Sicily, at the foot of Etna, facing the Ionian Sea. North of the city runs the Riviera dei Ciclopi, a coast of black lava and basalt with the castle of Aci Castello and the Faraglioni of Aci Trezza, while further north lie Taormina and Isola Bella, and to the south the long sandy beach of the Playa and, beyond it, Siracusa. This guide explains where you can go by boat from Catania, which rules apply and when it is best to head out.

What we currently offer

To be clear: no boats or trips are currently published for Catania on the location page, which is why this guide does not give prices. If you would like a boat in Catania, send us a request via the contact page and we will see what can be arranged.

Where the boats leave from

Boats leave from the tourist harbour inside the port of Catania, from the small harbour at Ognina on the city's northern edge, and from the harbours of Aci Castello and Aci Trezza, from where the Cyclops Islands are just a few minutes away. Further north, Riposto has a large marina known as the Porto dell'Etna. See also the page boats in Acireale.

Where to go

• Aci Castello and Aci Trezza (about 4–5 nautical miles north): a Norman castle on a basalt rock and the Faraglioni, the lava stacks that legend says Polyphemus threw at Ulysses. The Isole Ciclopi marine reserve protects the sea bed here, which is great for snorkelling over basalt columns.
• The lava coast to Acireale (about 8 nautical miles): black cliffs, small coves and rocky swimming spots along the Timpa below Acireale.
• Taormina and Isola Bella (about 25 nautical miles north): the bay of Giardini Naxos, the islet of Isola Bella (a nature reserve) and the grotto at Capo Sant'Andrea, with Taormina's theatre high above. See the page boats in Taormina.
• The Playa and the Gulf of Catania (south of the port): a long sandy beach and the mouth of the Simeto river, good for a calm swimming stop.
• Siracusa and Ortigia (about 30 nautical miles south): a long day or a two-day trip to the island of Ortigia and the Plemmirio marine reserve. See the page boats in Siracusa.

For the other side of Sicily, read our guide to boat rental in Palermo, and for southern Italy the guides to Naples and Bari.

Rules and tips

• Licence. Without a licence you may drive a boat up to 10 m with an engine of up to about 40 hp, within 6 nautical miles of the coast. For anything bigger you need a licence or a skipper.
• Swimming zones. In summer, the coast guard (Capitaneria di Porto) marks out bathing areas, usually 200 m from sandy beaches and 100 m from rocky coasts. Boats may only cross them slowly, through marked corridors.
• Marine reserves. The Isole Ciclopi and Plemmirio reserves are divided into zones with different rules on navigation, speed, anchoring and fishing. Use mooring buoys where provided.
• Posidonia. Do not anchor on seagrass meadows; drop the anchor on sand.
• Etna. Etna occasionally erupts and spreads ash; this rarely affects boating but can briefly close Catania airport.

Season and weather

• June to September is the main season: long, sunny days and warm sea, around 26–27 °C in August. May and October are quieter and often pleasant.
• Wind. Mornings are usually calm, and a sea breeze picks up in the afternoon. North-easterly (grecale) and south-easterly (scirocco) winds bring swell onto this east-facing coast, while westerly winds blow offshore and leave the water near the coast calm.
• Feast of Sant'Agata. In early February, Catania celebrates its patron saint with one of Italy's biggest religious festivals.

A boat in Catania with Crystalium Booker

We currently have no boats in Catania, but we are happy to help you look into the options. Send us a request via the contact page with the date, number of guests and preferred route. Do you rent out a boat in Catania or elsewhere in Sicily? List it with us and we will present it to guests in 29 languages.