25+ best Italy boat tours
Last updated on January 11th, 2026.
When you think about the best ways to get around Italy, touring by boat sits in the top 3.
A country blessed with pretty coastlines, superb weather and surrounded by crystal blue waters, booking a boat tour is a no-brainer.
In this post, I’ll be treating you to 25+ of the best Italy boat tours to book for your vacation.
From boat tours around the Amalfi Coast to cruising Cinque Terre, use this post to help plan your trip to Italy.
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25+ best Italy boat tours
Amalfi Coast (La Costiera Amalfitana) boat tours
If you’re asking yourself whether booking an Amalfi Coast boat tour is worth it, the answer is 100% yes.
Not only is it one of the best things to do in Italy, but our boat tour from Positano to Capri was an exhilarating experience.
Was it a little pricey? Yes. But it was worth every Euro and the memories stayed with us long after we left.
1. Amalfi Coast boat and snorkeling tour with a captain
Take in the coast’s incredible scenery on board a traditional Amalfitan Gozzo boat. This 4-hour Amalfi Coast boat and snorkeling tour with a captain promises plenty of snorkeling and secluded beaches.
Other highlights include visiting the famous Furore Fjord, Italy’s only natural fjord, and the Arc of Lovers rock formation.
2. Capri boat tour with visit to the Blue Grotto
No visit to the Amalfi Coast would be complete without a Capri boat tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto.
Departing from Sorrento, this 8-hour tour takes you to the Faraglioni rocks and the blue, green and white grottoes. On Capri, you’ll have 3 hours to explore the island before returning to Sorrento (discover what to do in one day in Sorrento).
3. From Rome: Amalfi Coast and Positano day trip
Leave the Italian capital behind for an Amalfi Coast and Positano day trip with coastal cruise. The tour takes you from Rome to Salerno, from where you’ll start the boat tour.
From here, you’ll visit Positano, Amalfi and Ravello before heading back to Rome.
4. Amalfi Coast 7-hour group tour
Escape the crowds on this private Amalfi Coast 7-hour group tour. Starting from Positano, the boat tour includes plenty of scenery, swimming and drinks on board.
It’s a relaxing way to enjoy the splendor of the Amalfi Coast.
5. From Sorrento/Nerano: Amalfi and Positano boat tour
One of the best Italy boat tours if staying in Sorrento or Nerano is this Amalfi and Positano boat tour.
Lasting around 6 hours, the tour will take you around Li Galli island, Amalfi, Positano, Furore and Fjord of Crapolla. This tour allows plenty of time to visit Amalfi and Positano along with opportunities to swim and sunbathe.
Lake Como (Lago di Como) best Italy boat tours
Be swept away by the magic and mystique of the spectacular Lake Como by touring it by boat. Booking a Lake Como boat tour is 100% worth it, something we discovered on our 3 days in Lake Como.
6. From Milan: Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna
A great choice if you plan to visit from Milan is this Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna tour. It combines a luxury bus and boat cruise and will take you to some of Lake Como’s best spots.
Lasting around 10 to 11 hours, it makes a great day trip and includes sights like Villa Olmo and Bellagio.
7. Lugano and Bellagio day trip
Why settle for one country when you can see two? This Lugano and Bellagio day trip from Como offers a relaxing lake cruise plus the chance to discover both towns.
Lasting around 9 hours, take advantage of this skip-the-line ticket and enjoy one of the best Italy boat tours.
🎥 Watch: the most affordable way to see Italy and Switzerland in one day
8. Two-hour Lake Como scenic boat tour
Say addio to the crowds of Lake Como and see the sights on this private 2-hour Lake Como scenic boat tour.
It’s an intimate way to learn more about Lake Como’s villas and history and to see it from the water.
9. Lake Como speedboat private tour
How does cruising around Lake Como on a vintage wooden speedboat sound? Turn the dream into a reality by booking this Lake Como speedboat private tour.
Lasting 2 hours, you’ll see some famous sights like Villa Balbianello as well as Comacina Island.
Cinque Terre Italy boat tours
Absorb the sights and colors of the 5 villages that make up Cinque Terre. Enjoy the captivating sights of the Italian Riviera from one of these best Italy boat tours. One of the top things to do in Cinque Terre it's worth every Euro.
10. Cinque Terre speedboat tour
Visit secret coves, see pretty Portovenere and swim in the clear waters on this Cinque Terre speedboat tour.
The 4-hour tour begins from La Spezia and will sail along the western coast of the Gulf of Poets.
11. Cruise to Portovenere, Monterosso and Vernazza
Swap the speedboat for a ferry ride around Cinque Terre on this cruise to Portovenere, Monterosso and Vernazza.
A great value Cinque Terre boat tour, it lasts for 8 hours and will take you to the top attractions.
12. Isola Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto boat tour
Book this Isola Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto boat tour to visit the 3 islands located in the Gulf of Poets.
Highlights include swimming and snorkeling in the Ligurian Sea and a visit to the lighthouse on Tino island.
13. Monterosso kayak and snorkeling tour
Combine a tour with an active water activity by joining this Monterosso kayak and snorkeling tour. It’s your chance to experience kayaking in Cinque Terre from the town of Monterosso al Mare.
Lasting 2 hours, you’ll get to enjoy the scenery and get up close with wildlife in a protected bay.
Map of Italy
Venice (Venezia) best boat tours
Romantic, enchanting and a city seemingly plucked straight from a fairytale, nothing beats seeing Venice by boat.
14. Grand Canal gondola ride
One question I frequently get asked about Venice is ‘what are the boat rides called in Italy?’ And by this I assume they’re referring to the gondolas in Venice (I may be wrong).
And to tick something truly iconic off your travel list, consider booking this Venice Grand Canal gondola ride.
Lasting up to 45 minutes, the tour takes you to Venice’s most incredible palaces, churches and landmarks. Included in the tour is an app where you can listen to the history as you pass by the attractions.
15. Lagoon islands hop-on hop-off boat tour
Venice’s equivalent to the hop-on hop-off buses, the Lagoon islands hop-on hop-off boat tour allows you to see Venice at your own pace.
One of the best Italy boat tours, the tour includes 120 points of interest as well as audioguides and 7 itineraries to download.
16. Venetian Lagoon tour and galleon dinner
Experience a little something out of the ordinary in Venice by joining this Venetian Lagoon tour and galleon dinner.
Lasting 3 hours, this candlelit dinner on board a Venetian galleon is a unique way to experience Venice. Book the central deck area to enjoy panoramic views or the prow/stern area for a more intimate setting.
17. Venice waterbus and mainland bus pass
This Venice waterbus and mainland bus pass won’t afford the privacy of the tours mentioned above, but it’s cost effective.
Ticket options for the vaporetto range from 75-minutes all the way to a 7-day ticket. Considering that a 75-minute ticket already costs €9.50 ($10.40/£8.10), it’s worth purchasing if you plan to stay longer.
Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) boat tours
Another popular lake in northern Italy, a boat tour is a fabulous way to visit Lake Garda. Wholly relaxing, cruise around the lake on one of these best Italy boat tours.
18. Sirmione 25-minute boat cruise
One of the most charming towns on Lake Garda, this 25-minute boat cruise begins and ends in Sirmione.
Highlights of the tour include Maria Callas’ former villa and Scaligero Castle. The boat tour will also take you to the Grottoes of Catullus; home to northern Italy’s largest Roman ruins.
19. Sirmione sunset boat cruise with wine
Watch the sun set over Lake Garda on this Sirmione sunset boat cruise with wine. Lasting 45 minutes, it’s a picturesque way to end your day and with a chilled glass of prosecco.
20. Historic castle cruise with wine tasting
Combine history and delicious wine by booking this Lake Garda historic castle cruise with wine tasting.
Highlights of the 4-hour tour are a visit to Lazise Castle and wine tasting in Bardolino. Weather permitting, there will also be the chance to go swimming and bathing on the shores of Villa Canossa.
Sardinia best boat tours
Discover Sardinia’s dazzling coastline, coves and beaches by joining one of these best Italy boat tours. We’d the chance on our south Sardinia road trip and loved every second.
21. La Maddalena Archipelago full-day boat tour
Take a dip in the turquoise waters in northern Sardinia on this La Maddalena Archipelago full-day boat tour.
Lasting around 7 hours, your local guide will take you to several of the area’s top attractions. They include Santa Maria island, Budelli, Pink Beach (Spiaggia Rosa) and Cala Granara.
Make sure to bring cash, as you’ll need to pay a landing tax of €2.50 - 5 ($2.72 - $5.45/£2.14 - £4.29) upon arrival.
22. Eco-friendly dolphin watching boat trip
Look out for and learn more about bottlenose dolphins in Sardinia on this eco-friendly dolphin-watching boat trip.
Departing from Aranci Gulf, the 1.5-hour trip takes you to Figarolo island. Here you’ll look out for the bottlenose dolphins and learn more about their traits and habits.
23. Island hopping tour and lunch
Tour the unspoiled rocky islands of La Maddalena Archipelago by joining this 7-hour island-hopping tour and lunch.
Cruise around in a modern yacht and stop to see islands like Spargi, Budelli and Santa Maria. A traditional Italian lunch will be served on board along with snacks, soft drinks and beer.
24. Boat tour with 4 swim stops at Devil’s Saddle (Sella de Diavolo)
From reading this tour’s name you’ll either be really intrigued by it or be put off completely. Lasting around 3.5 hours, this boat tour with 4 swim stops at Devil’s Saddle departs from Sardinia’s capoluogo of Cagliari.
Guided by a professional skipper, you’ll visit the bays of the Devil’s Saddle, from where you can swim or snorkel.
Sicily boat tours
Sicily is the island of delicious food, dreamy scenery and where many Italians come to vacation. And if you want to get the most from your Sicily trip, booking a boat tour is a must.
25. Panarea and Stromboli boat trip by night
Depart from the port of Milazzo to join this Panarea and Stromboli boat trip by night. Two of the islands in the Aeolian group, the 10-hour boat tour includes several highlights.
They are a visit to the prehistoric village of Capo Milazzese, Cala Junco Bay and free time to explore Stromboli.
26. Mini cruise to Favignana and Levanzo
Sit back on this relaxing mini cruise to Favignana and Levanzo. You’ll get to visit two of the most beautiful Aegadian Islands and will also have time to swim and bathe.
Lunch is included on the tour as is a visit to the pretty coves of Cala Rossa and Cala Minnola. Departing from Trapani, the tour lasts around 8 hours and it’s wheelchair accessible.
27. Sunset coastline boat tour and whale watching
Take in the sights aboard this sunset coastline boat tour and whale watching from Taormina.
Leaving from Giardini Naxos, the 2-hour cruise will take you to beautiful caves and pretty islands in the region. On top of this, the tour also includes the chance to spot dolphins in their natural habitat.
Swim or snorkel in the clear waters and enjoy the refreshments offered on board.
28. Ortigia boat tour with marine grotto
One of the most beautiful places in Sicily, this Ortigia boat tour with marine grotto lets you see another side.
Lasting 2 hours, enjoy views of Syracuse’s historic center from the water along with Maniace Castle and several sea caves. Time to swim and snorkel is included as is prosecco, juice and seasonal fruit.
Which of these best Italy boat tours would you most like to try? Is there anywhere else in Italy that you’d like to book a boat tour? Let me know in the comments below.
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These boat trips around Italy are amazing and with so many options to explore the islands and the azure waters dashing the stunning coastline. I would love to try most of these and definitely hard to pick few but I would love to try the eco-friendly dolphin watching boat trip, Capri boat tour with visit to Blue Grotto, Gondola ride along Grand canal and coastline sunset and whale watching tour for sure.
The Blue Grotto is a remarkable place to see, more so by boat
These are so amazing boat tours. It’s so confusing to chose. I am definitely saving this post for future reference
Thank you, I hope you find it helpful one day
Without a doubt, this list of boat adventures in Italy is fantastic! Around Lake Como, there are some stunning views. Swimming in northern Sardinia's beautiful waters is another excellent activity. If I travel to Italy, I wish to participate on one of these incredible tours! I will love to try the COASTLINE AT SUNSET AND WHALE WATCHING boat trip .I also want to try to capture the atmosphere of sunset while travelling the area. I've never heard of Lake Garda, so I'd want to go on that tour as well.
Thank you so much. There are many great tours to consider booking and the dolphin watching in Sardinia is one of my favorites
Any of these boat tours to the lakes, the Amalfi Coast, or even Venice would be awesome. I regret not trying one when we were in Sorrento. I could have toured the entire Amalfi Coast!
Now you have an excuse to return 😀
This collection of boat trips in Italy is undoubtedly great! The views around Lake Como appear to be magnificent. The gondola ride along the Grand Canal is something I'd want to do. Another fantastic activity is to swim in the azure waters of northern Sardinia. I want to take part in one of these amazing tours in the future!
I really hope you do one day, it's an experience you won't forget 🙂
So many amazing sounding boat tours. The only boat tour in Italy I've done was in Ischia going around the island and it was beautiful to see it from a different angle x
It's my favorite way to see the country 🙂
Going on a boat tour in Italy sounds like a lovely way to spend your day! Thank you for sharing these different tours.
You are welcome
WOW! So many amazing options and experiences here. Definitely won't run out of things to do.
There are plenty to choose from 😉
Water views in Italy. Doesn't get better than that... I love to visit Italy.
You must visit one day
That's a lot of amazing boat tours! And I'm not sure how you would choose which ones to do. I do know that seeing Lake Como from the water is a must-do, so I would probably put that first on my list. When I visited Cinque Terre, I had also wished we could see it all from a boat as well. Wish I'd known about these boat tour options then!
Cinque Terre by boat is much better and you see so much more!
Of these tours, I did the one at Lago di Como - it was just breathtaking - and I went from La Spezia alongside the Cinque Terre - also highly recommendable. What I'd still love to do is a boat tour on the Brenta River including visits to the villas. Years ago, I did it by public bus from Venice all the way to Padova. It was fun but not exactly dreamy, obviously. But last time I checked, those boat trips very quite expensive while the public pullman was really, really cheap 😉 And yes, I did pay for my tickets 😉
You are a honest person Renata 😀 We live close to Padova and still haven't done it yet! I didn't realise it was expensive
What a dream to be able to take tours throughout Italy! It's just so stunning...I think if I ever went, I'd never come back.
You may like to stay here instead 😀
Wow! So many places and activities to do in Italy! I love boating as much as I loved the sea.
There are a lot to choose from
Going on a boat tour sounds like it would be quite lovely & the views alone would be worth it! Awesome guide, I like the amount of detail you put into this.
Thank you so much, a boat tour is a great way to see the country 🙂
This is super cool. The most common one is the Gondola in Venice and I'm so happy to see so many other options. Amalfi Coast, Positano day trip from Rome by boat? Whoa! That's awesome. Milan to Lake Como, Bellagio and Varenna tour also sounds awesome. I could go from Rome to Milan by train and do both these tours as day trips. Perfect!
You can do Rome to Milan but prepare to start your day early so you allow enough time to do the tour 🙂
I am loving all of these suggestions. I think the boat with swim stop sounds wonderful. It would also be lovely to go whale watching. It's best to see them in their natural environment.
The dolphin watching tours are my favorite
You are so right, the Italian coastlines are too pretty to miss. Boat tours are such a great idea, I would love to see the Amalfi coast
A boat tour is the best way to see it!
Seeing the pictures of the coastline, I can imagine why boat tours are so popular. The blue water and even bluer skyline is captivating. So, Lake Como I would like to see as it is so popular for destination weddings. And I would alsolike to see the blue grotto. But the high point point would be watching bottlenose dolphins in Sardinia.
The dolphin watching is one of my top choices, it's something you wouldn't expect to see in Sardinia 🙂
I absolutely loved your article on the best Italy boat tours! The comprehensive list and captivating descriptions of each tour got me excited to explore the stunning Italian coastlines. Your recommendations will surely make for unforgettable experiences. Keep up the fantastic work!
Thank you! Touring by boat is truly memorable and is totally worth booking when here 🙂
I can't think of a better place to tour by boat than Italy. I mean the coastlines are just so amazing.
It's really one of my most favorite ways to tour the country 🙂
I have taken quite a few boat tours during my many visits to Italy. Seeing Lake Como from your own private boat is quite special. Sure, you can see it from the ferry, but it's more magical when it's just you and your loved one on board. I have also taken boat tours around Cinque Terre, as well as Sorrento. These are two places where you must go on a boat tour, to see the beautiful sun kissed coast, dotted with pretty towns and villages.
I completely agree! We did one to Capri and it was so much better going private.
Take me to Italy please...I would love to spend a few months exploring this beautiful country, especially Cinque Terre...So beautiful.
I hope you visit one day
Wow, what a comprehensive post. I had no idea there were so many great boat tours around Italy. Oh, and you can 100% count us in for the Devil’s Saddle. We have found that anything involving the term Devil is usually awesome, rugged, and beautiful. See you in Italy....on the water of course!
Thank you Mike, and I like your explanation about the Devil! We hope to see you both here again and yes on the water 😀
We do love to get out on the water when we visit a spot. And in Italy, there are so many amazing views from the water of amazing coastlines. The colour on the Cinque Terre coast would definitely send us to the water. We have seen the Amalfi Coast from the water and it was magical. But are sad we have not visited the Lake Como area. That is a spot for a water tour for sure. One day we will have to plan to visit the islands in the Gulf of Poets and book a boat tour. You know we will be out on the water for our coming trip to Sicily. So many great spots to book snorkelling and kayak trips.
I can't wait to read about which tours you will do in Sicily! Touring by boat is really a great way to see the island. I know the next time you will make time to see the lakes 🙂
When we go away I always look out for boat tours as I love them. These all sound amazing I want to do them all
Thank you, I tried to pick a few good ones here 🙂