Boat rental in Livorno — the Meloria shoals, the Romito coast, Castiglioncello, Gorgona and tips for 2027

Livorno is Tuscany's great port city, built by the Medici with fortresses and canals, and known for its seafront promenade and its fish soup, cacciucco. Right outside the harbour lie the Meloria shoals, a marine protected area, and to the south the rocky Romito coast leads past Calafuria and Quercianella to Castiglioncello. On a clear day you can see the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago on the horizon. This guide covers where boats leave from, where to go, the rules and when to come.

Where boats leave from

Boats leave from the old Medici harbour and the smaller marinas along the city's seafront, from Ardenza and Antignano in the south of the city and, further along the coast, from Quercianella and the marina of Cala de' Medici near Castiglioncello. Livorno is also a large commercial and ferry port, so keep clear of the shipping channels at the harbour entrance. In summer, small boats also run through the Medici canals of the Venezia Nuova district.

Where to go

• The Meloria shoals (about 3–4 NM): shallow, clear water around the old Meloria tower, a marine protected area with rules on anchoring, fishing and diving.
• Calafuria and the Romito coast (about 4–7 NM): red sandstone cliffs, small coves and the Boccale castle above the sea, with Quercianella at the southern end. See the boats in Rosignano Marittimo page.
• Castiglioncello (about 12 NM): a pine-covered headland with small beaches and clear water, popular since the nineteenth century.
• North to the Arno and Viareggio (7–20 NM): the beaches of Tirrenia and Marina di Pisa at the mouth of the Arno, and further north Viareggio. See the boats in Viareggio page.
• Gorgona and Capraia (about 20 and 35 NM): two islands of the Tuscan Archipelago; Gorgona can only be visited on authorised tours, while Capraia is a full day's trip best done with a skipper. Elba is easier to reach from Piombino; see the boats in Portoferraio page.

For more of the Italian coast, read our guides to boat rental in Genoa and boat rental in Naples. If you are touring Tuscany by campervan, see our Florence campervan guide.

Rules and tips

• Licence. Without a licence you can drive a boat up to 10 m with an engine of up to about 40 hp, within 6 nautical miles of the coast. Larger boats need a licence or a skipper.
• Marine protected area. At the Meloria shoals anchoring, fishing and diving are regulated by zone; check the rules before you go and use the mooring buoys where provided.
• Bathing areas. In summer, swimming zones are marked off, usually 200 m from sandy beaches and 100 m from rocky shores; boats may only cross them slowly through marked corridors.
• Seagrass. Do not anchor on Posidonia meadows; look for sand.
• Port traffic. Keep clear of ferries and cargo ships at the harbour entrance and in the channels.

Wind and weather

In summer the morning is often calm and a sea breeze or the maestrale from the north-west builds in the afternoon. The libeccio from the south-west is Livorno's typical strong wind: it can arrive quickly and raise high waves against the Romito cliffs, where there is little shelter. Check the forecast every morning and plan your return before the wind picks up.

When to go

The season runs from June to September. In August the sea reaches about 25 °C, but marinas and beaches are at their busiest. June and September offer warm water and fewer boats. In July the Palio Marinaro rowing race fills the harbour with traditional boats, and the Effetto Venezia festival brings music and food to the canals of Venezia Nuova.

A boat in Livorno with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our boat offer in Livorno. Send us your date and number of people through the contact page and we will look for a suitable boat, and keep an eye on the boats in Livorno page for new listings. Do you rent out a boat in or around Livorno? List it with us.