Boat rental in Siracusa — Ortigia, the Plemmirio marine reserve, Fontane Bianche, Vendicari, Marzamemi and tips for 2027

Siracusa was one of the greatest cities of the ancient Greek world, and its old town, Ortigia, still sits on a small island joined to the mainland by bridges. On one side lies the Porto Grande, the huge natural harbour where the Athenian fleet was defeated in 413 BC; on the other the Porto Piccolo, and all around the island run sea walls, baroque palaces and the freshwater spring of Arethusa with its papyrus plants. South of the city begin the white cliffs of the Plemmirio marine reserve, and further on the sandy beaches of Fontane Bianche, the Vendicari nature reserve and the fishing village of Marzamemi. This guide covers where boats leave from, where to go, the rules and when to come.

Where boats leave from

Boats leave from the marinas in the Porto Grande along the Foro Italico, from the Porto Piccolo on the eastern side of Ortigia and from small harbours such as the Porto Marina di Siracusa and the jetties at Fontane Bianche and Ognina. Further south there are harbours in Avola and Marzamemi, and to the north in Brucoli. Many trips around Ortigia start directly from the waterfront of the Porto Grande.

Where to go

• Around Ortigia (about 3–4 NM): the Fonte Aretusa, the Castello Maniace at the tip of the island, the sea walls and baroque façades, best seen from the water in the late afternoon light.
• The Plemmirio marine reserve (about 2–6 NM): the white limestone cliffs of the Maddalena peninsula, with sea caves, clear water and the lighthouse at Capo Murro di Porco.
• Arenella and Ognina (about 5–7 NM): sandy coves south of the reserve and the small harbour of Ognina, with its old watchtower.
• Fontane Bianche (about 9–10 NM): one of Siracusa's best-loved beaches, with white sand and turquoise water.
• Avola, Calamosche and Vendicari (about 12–20 NM): the beaches near Avola and the Vendicari nature reserve with the cove of Calamosche, lagoons and an old tuna fishery. See the boats in Avola page.
• Marzamemi (about 25 NM): a fishing village built around its old tonnara, a full-day trip best done with a skipper.

For more of Sicily, read our guides to boat rental in Catania, boat rental in Messina and boat rental in Palermo.

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 reserve. In the Plemmirio reserve, zone A is closed or strictly limited, and in zones B and C speed, anchoring and fishing are regulated; use the mooring buoys and check the reserve's rules before you go.
• 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 and industrial traffic. Keep clear of the ferries and cruise ships in the Porto Grande, and to the north of the large industrial port of Augusta with its tankers.

Wind and weather

In summer the mornings are usually calm, and a sea breeze from the east or south-east picks up in the afternoon. The scirocco from the south-east can bring swell onto the exposed coast south of the city, while the mistral from the north-west is weaker here than in other parts of Sicily. Check the forecast every morning and plan your return before the wind gets up.

When to go

The season runs from June to September. In August the sea reaches about 26 °C, but the beaches and marinas are at their busiest. June and September offer warm water and fewer boats, and May and October are often still pleasant. From May to early July, classical Greek dramas are performed in the ancient Greek Theatre, as they have been almost every year since 1914.

A boat in Siracusa with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our boat offer in Siracusa. 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 Siracusa page for new listings. Do you rent out a boat in or around Siracusa? List it with us.