Top European Locations For A Luxury Sailing Vacation

Top European Locations For A Luxury Sailing Vacation

Seeing Europe is sure to be a bucket list item for all of us with a bad case of wanderlust. Not only is the continent rich with culture and history, but there are such a diverse range of travel destinations to be explored. From exploring the towns and cities of France to getting lost in Italy and eating your way through Denmark, you’re guaranteed to find so many opportunities for enrichment during your European travels.

But what’s the best way to experience this beautiful continent in true luxury and style? While the Eurostar is pretty sweet, we much prefer taking in all the breathtaking coastal views from the hull of a catamaran.

From sailing across the English seaside to down majestic rivers and taking in the sheer beauty of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, let us guide you on some of the best European places to explore from the luxury and comfort of a nautical breeze.

The Britain Isles: A Smart Start for Nautical Newbies

I know, you may be thinking, “Britain's too cold and tiny. What does it have to offer?” Well,  you'd be surprised. Thanks to their comparatively calmer waters, the British Isles offer a great space for a luxury power catamaran to be taken for a test sail. With the waters of Cornwall, perfect for a day trip by the seaside, to the beautiful Emerald Isle that is Ireland, along with the Channel Islands just off the border of France, these are some good waters to test your rudder or jets. There’s also the beauty of Scotland's lochs, including the famous Ness and Lamond, along with the river Clyde, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Another bonus is you can map out a sailing route with locals to which areas of the European continent are best to do on your journey. You may choose to see it as your version of ‘hanging out in the bay' before ‘charting a course for more open seas and greater adventures.’

Cote d'Azur and the wider French Riviera: the Scenic Route

When people think of sail, sun and sea in Europe, they often think of the beaches of the French Riviera from June to September. One of the most popular and pristine areas of Europe to explore by sailing is actually along France's gorgeous coastline.

Traveling leisurely from Cannes to Nice, you can pass quaint little villages in between. This stretch of the French seaside is blue and beautiful, as it is bathed in glorious sunny days for up to 300 days of the year. This can help create ideal conditions almost all year round, making for sunny and sensational sailing in sky-blue waters.

The Amalfi Coast, Island of Capri & Sicily: Italy's crown jewels

If there was another reason to visit Italy besides its historical sites and its delicious food and wine culture, it has to be its supreme sailing conditions. With some of the best waters and beaches making up the best sailing in the Mediterranean, this stretch of coast and islands around the boot that is Italy's landscape creates a perfect mooring for any luxury yacht or boat.

Amalfi, the title island along its namesake coast, is home to many pristine and brightly coloured fishing villages, along with many grottos and caves that are only accessible by a water vessel.

With the islands of Capri and Sicily close by to explore, you can enjoy the sights of Italy's precious ocean jewels with its beautiful scenery of jagged cliffs to take Instagram-worthy pictures.  With its rich history, Sicily, the main ball of an island being kicked by Italy's island boot tip, is anything but small. And ancient ports including its main one, Palermo, and those such as Catania and Syracuse and a vast artistic culture, Sicily is a great stop for those sailing Italy's sea and sunshine.

The Greek Isles: an Architectural Exploration

When it comes to sailing the European continent in luxury style, you can't surpass the beautiful views of the Greek mainland and its surrounding islands. Nestled like precious gems among the shores of the shimmering turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, these are among some of the best and most popular sections of Europe for you to set sail.

With its big draw cards of Mykonos for partygoers, Santorini for the faithful, with its famous blue domed churches, and Crete and the capital of Athens for the historical, the Greeks have a smorgasbord to offer - and that's not just in delicious food, but some of the world’s most breathtaking architectural marvels as well. You can see Greece's many monolithic buildings from all the best angles when sailing along the country’s coastline.

Just a quick note for novice skippers: it’s wise to set your sail time for around July - September. This is when the weather and the sea are most calm along the Greek Isles.

Turkey and the Turquoise Coast: Sunkissed Sailing

One of Europe's lesser known gems when it comes to sailing, the coastline around the Turkish Riviera can be a beautiful area to moor your yacht. Located on the other side of the Aegean and with it being the Eurasian border between the European and Asian continents, the Turquoise coast offers a melting pot of cultural experiences. From its main port of Bodrum to ports such as Istanbul, with its beautiful blue mosque, to the Dardanelles and Gallipoli, known as Çanakkale and Gelibolu to modern Turks.

Your best time for sailing this stretch of the coast is between late April - early May to early September. Late April is also perfect for any Australian and New Zealand travelers wanting to do the trip to Turkey for ANZAC Day commemorations. While crowds can pile in, it is optimal weather, with warm days that make best for enjoying the water.

Spain and Portugal

On the trek back, traveling through south west Europe can be a lovely escape. With sunny Spanish ports, as well as its neighbor Lisbon in Portugal, you can enjoy beautiful sea breezes and historic culture. Relax as you sail around the Iberian Peninsula taking in sights and sounds of everywhere from Porto in Portugal to Madrid, Seville and Málaga in Spain.

And if you’ve been traveling from Greece or Italy and moving from east to west, you’ll definitely want to drop anchor along Spain’s east coast to catch the terrific sunrises at Cartagena and Barcelona in particular before exploring the cities themselves as the day truly begins and the market stalls start booming with local industry. In fact, why not end your Europe sailing adventure with a final supper of freshly caught seafood in Spain or Portugal as you look out on the shimmering sea.

Which of these European sailing locations best pique your fancy? Or are you preparing to chart out a full round trip, to really explore the Mediterranean Sea and all the land masses it borders? No matter what shape your European sailing holiday takes, remember to really savor your time in this breathtaking part of the world, and take a moment here and there to really soak in the sun, surf, and sights – whether from the deck of your catamaran or from the concrete walkways and wooden docks that meet your weary sea legs at every stop along your expedition.