Everyone who motors the Sicilian coast eventually gets sucked into the Aeolian orbit — Vulcano’s sulphur smell at first light, Panarea’s crowd of gin-palace superyachts, Stromboli glowing at midnight. It’s magnificent, and we love every nautical mile of it. But Sicily is a thousand-kilometre island, and the Aeolians are just seven dots off its north-eastern shoulder. The rest of the coastline — wild south-facing beaches, Greek harbours with three-metre depths on clear sand, offshore archipelagos so quiet in June you could fire a flare and nobody would notice — waits patiently for skippers prepared to actually read a chart.
This is our guide to Sicily’s best anchorages beyond the Aeolian Islands. Written entirely from the water. Every bearing, depth and holding note comes from real passage-making in Med conditions. Whether you’re running a Jeanneau Cap Camarat 10.5 WA down from Palermo or swinging the hook from an Azimut S7 on a three-week Sicilian circuit, these are the stops that will make you glad you pushed past the obvious.
Why Sicily’s Overlooked Coastlines Reward the Patient Skipper
Sicily’s 1,000-plus kilometres of coastline offer a remarkable range of cruising grounds that most boats never explore. From the glamorous Aeolian Islands to the wild southern coast, Sicily’s coastline delivers endless cruising possibilities. The north coast runs east-to-west with a reliable summer Mistral shadowing you along much of it; the south coast faces Africa and catches the last of the Libeccio before it dies on the shore; the south-east is all limestone, antiquity and water that shifts from turquoise to deep blue within a boat length. Along the north coast of Sicily, the prevailing winds in summer are from the north-west, and most of the anchorages are sheltered from these winds but open to the east. Plan for settled evenings, motor early, and anchor before the sea breeze builds.
Before you leave your base port — whether that’s Palermo, Trapani, or Riposto on the east coast — load the Navionics+ Mediterranean & Black Sea chart onto your plotter. It provides detailed coverage of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, including the Azores, Madeira, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Malta. The SonarChart depth data is particularly useful in the shallow coves of the south Sicilian coast where hydrographic surveys lag behind reality.
Anchorage 1: Cefalù — The Norman Rock, North Coast
Approach bearing: From the east or west along the Tyrrhenian coast. The huge bluff that looms over Cefalù is visible from several miles off. The Porto Nuovo is situated immediately west of the bluff, sheltered by a long breakwater extending ESE from the shore.
Anchorage: In settled weather, anchor off the old harbour on the west side of the promontory, dropping the hook in 3.0–5.0 metres. The holding is good in mud and sand. The eastern anchorage, south-east of the new marina, gives more room: anchor in 6.5 metres with excellent holding in sand. A small marina is also available with a fuel quay. Shelter in the harbour is good with westerly or north-westerly winds, but any strong onshore winds make it extremely uncomfortable in the reflected swell. In a northerly, consider pressing on to the next bay.
By tender: Leave the dinghy at the harbourside steps and walk the medieval lanes immediately. The cathedral’s Norman mosaics are ten minutes from the quay. Provisioning is easy — the market on Via Vittorio Emanuele has good local produce — and there are excellent trattorias on the old harbour waterfront reachable in three minutes on foot from the dinghy dock. The town itself is one of the most atmospheric in the whole of the island, its picturesque fishermen’s houses huddled around the old harbour.
Skipper’s note: The floating pontoons in the Porto Nuovo suffer from even mild swell — very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous. A couple of boats anchored outside in fine weather is the better option for an overnight.
Anchorage 2: The Egadi Islands — Sicily’s Quieter Archipelago
Forty-five miles south-west of Palermo, the Egadi Islands are everything the Aeolians are not: lower-profile, less crowded, and — outside August — almost entirely the domain of Italian fishing boats and the occasional adventurous charter. The landscapes here are wild and unspoiled, with the largest marine reserve in Europe extending between them. Being less crowded compared to the Aeolian Islands, they are considerably quieter, even in August. Approach from Trapani — it’s only 9 nautical miles from the port town of Trapani.
Favignana — Cala Rossa and Cala Azzurra: Cala Azzurra is a nice anchorage surrounded by low cliffs with a small beach. Good holding in sand patches at 5–8 metres, but with much weed elsewhere. Open to wind from the south sector. Cala Rossa on the north-eastern shore is shallower, with white sandy bottoms creating a dazzling turquoise colour, crystal-clear water, rugged cliffs and pristine beaches. Drop the hook in 4–6 metres over hard sand and swim directly from the swim platform.
Levanzo — Cala Fredda: This bay sits slightly to the east of Cala Dogana. It is deep — 10–12 metres — until close in, with few obvious sand patches. It is protected from the ferry wash in Dogana, with wind protection similar to Cala Dogana. The bay is rimmed with Aleppo pines and the water is gin-clear to the bottom at 12 metres. Levanzo island is famous for its Grotta del Genovese, a cave with traces of Neolithic cave paintings of animal and human figures — tender ashore and arrange a guided tour.
Marettimo: The only anchorages on the island of Marettimo are on the east side, since there are numerous restrictions on the west side due to the Integral Reserve. Cala Manione and Cala Martino are recommended for safe anchoring.
Essential planning note: The Egadi Islands are a Marine Protected Area, as well as the biggest marine reserve of the Mediterranean. A cruising permit is required; it can be obtained online at Area Marina Protetta and costs around €18 per day. Sort this before you leave Trapani. For charter bookings in the area, platforms like Navigare Yacht Charter and Dream Yacht Charter both operate bases at Trapani — worth checking before committing to a bare-boat itinerary.
Anchorage 3: Scala dei Turchi & the Agrigento South Coast
Sail south from Trapani or west from Licata and you pick up one of Sicily’s best anchorages beyond the Aeolian Islands in terms of pure drama. Scala dei Turchi is without doubt the most spectacular seaside location on the south coast of Sicily and among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean region. The white marl cliffs — composed of marl, a sedimentary rock with a distinctive soft and smooth texture sculpted over millennia by wind and waves — rise in stepped ridges from the surface, giving the site its name: the Staircase of the Turks.
Approach: Scala dei Turchi is situated between the towns of Realmonte and Porto Empedocle, approximately 4 miles west of Porto Empedocle’s main breakwater. Come in from the south-west on a bearing of 015°, keeping a clear eye for the white cliff face against the sun — it blazes in the morning light. The bottom shallows gradually from 15 metres to under 5 metres within 200 metres of the cliffs.
Anchorage: Drop anchor a short distance from the cliffs in the designated anchorage zones. This allows you to safely enjoy the scenery while protecting the fragile marine environment. Be mindful of the depth and any local navigation warnings, as the seabed can vary in this area. Avoid anchoring too close to the cliffs, as underwater rocks can pose risks. A sandy bottom in 6–8 metres gives good holding 150 metres off the base of the cliff. The view from the aft deck at golden hour is extraordinary.
By tender: If conditions permit, take a tender or dinghy ashore to explore the beach area near Scala dei Turchi. The beach is made of fine golden sand, and a short walk will bring you to the base of the cliffs. Nearby Porto Empedocle offers opportunities to restock on supplies, fuel, and fresh water before continuing your journey.
Moving west from Scala dei Turchi, the coast reveals Torre Salsa — a six-kilometre arc of wild beach backed by a nature reserve. The 6-kilometre stretch of golden sands serves as a western boundary to the neighbouring nature reserve, rich in marine flora and fauna. The only signs of humanity lie in the remains of the Torre, an ancient watch tower that overlooks the shore. Anchor off in 5–7 metres over sand; you may well be the only boat within visual range.
Anchorage 4: Calamosche & the Vendicari Reserve, South-East Coast
This is the one that the Nautiful team returns to every season without fail. Away from the crowds but close to a nature reserve, Calamosche is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Sicily. Unspoilt due to its slightly more remote location on the far south-eastern coast south of Syracuse, it’s the ideal place to drop anchor and enjoy a snorkel. A lack of tourist amenities makes it a haven for yacht charterers.
Calamosche is a sandy cove that extends for around 200 metres, marked by two rocky headlands that protect it from the currents, resulting in a calm, crystalline sea. From seaward it is barely visible — the headlands conceal it almost completely until you’re almost inside — which is exactly the point. Your Navionics chart will show you the entrance gap; approach from the south-east in settled weather, sounding carefully. Depths run 4–8 metres over clean sand just outside the cove mouth.
Ashore, Calamosche beach is often listed among Italy’s most beautiful beaches; this small bay is protected by rocky headlands and is perfect for snorkelling. The seabed of Vendicari, especially in rocky areas, is ideal for snorkelling — a small submarine garden of Eden. Land tourists face a 1.2-kilometre hike from the nearest car park in 35°C heat; you simply inflate the dinghy. The advantage of arriving by water has never been clearer.
The wider Vendicari reserve — between Noto and Marzamemi — is worth exploring under power for a full afternoon. Vendicari is home to over 200 species of migratory birds: pink flamingos, grey herons, storks, black-winged stilts, spoonbills and avocets. The shallow, nutrient-rich waters provide an ideal stopover for feeding and rest. Swing south to anchor off the Tonnara ruins before moving to Marzamemi — a small tuna-processing village whose harbour can take a handful of boats stern-to in settled weather — for the best *tonno rosso* in eastern Sicily.
Anchorage 5: Ortigia / Syracuse — The Grand Harbour of the Ancient World
Some anchorages offer shelter. This one offers shelter, UNESCO World Heritage Status, and one of the best fish markets in the Mediterranean reachable by dinghy in three minutes. Syracuse offers one of the finest natural anchorages on the entire Mediterranean — a safe haven for yachts in virtually all conditions.
Approach: Enter the Porto Grande from the south-east, leaving the breakwater head well to port. The bay opens dramatically as you round Punta del Cavallo, with the amber limestone of Ortigia island dead ahead. The bay sits at the frontier between the eastern and western Mediterranean basin. Enormous fleets of all empires have found shelter in this bay for thousands of years, and the old Ortigia is absolutely fantastic.
Anchorage: The anchorage in Syracuse is vast and well-protected from nearly every direction. The only exception is when winds blow from the east, leaving the bay a bit more exposed — but even then, you can simply reposition towards the northern or southern ends of the bay. The holding is excellent, with depths ranging from 3 to 8 metres and solid ground beneath — a recipe for restful nights and worry-free days on the hook.
Marina options: For skippers who prefer the comfort of a marina, Syracuse offers two main options: Marina Yachting Siracusa and Yacht Club Lakkios. Private yacht marinas in Syracuse have a depth of about 5 metres and can accommodate yachts up to 45 metres long. This berth is coveted, sitting right in front of the beautiful old town Ortigia, which is full of restaurants, clubs and historical monuments. Yachts must call the Port Authority on approach on VHF Ch. 16 or VHF Ch. 11 with information on where they intend to berth, or fines may apply.
By tender: Land at the dinghy dock just south of the Fonte Aretusa and walk directly into the Ortigia morning market — one of the finest in Sicily — for fresh swordfish, blood oranges and local capers. The Cathedral Duomo di Siracusa is built on top of a 5th-century BC Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena; the columns of the original temple are embedded in its walls. It’s a five-minute walk from the quay and costs nothing to enter. The anchorage at Syracuse is one of the great favourites in the Med for shelter and the view. There is lots to see and do, the holding is good and it doesn’t cost a penny.
Anchorage 6: Giardini Naxos & Isola Bella, East Coast Under Etna
On Sicily’s eastern edge, under the permanent grey smear of Etna’s summit, lies the bay of Naxos — the first Greek colony in Sicily, founded 734 BC — and the stunning marine reserve at Isola Bella. This is where Sicily’s best anchorages beyond the Aeolian Islands take on a theatrical quality unavailable anywhere else in the Med: a live volcano as a backdrop, 27°C water in July, and caves accessible only by boat threading their way into the clifftops.
Approach: From the north, round Capo Taormina on a southerly course, keeping 200 metres off the headland to clear the submerged rock on its eastern side. The bay opens wide to the south. Good holding in the bay south of the point; also Naxos in fair weather — beware shoals rapidly toward the pontoons in the south of the bay. Anchor in 8–15 metres over sand east of the marina entrance, well clear of the ferry lane.
Isola Bella: Isola Bella earns its name (“Beautiful Island”) as a tiny nature reserve connected to Taormina by a narrow sandbar. The pebble beach sits below dramatic cliffs crowned by the ancient Greek theatre. Yachts anchor in 8–15 metre depths just offshore, with tender access to the beach and nearby grottoes. The coastline between Taormina and Giardini Naxos offers a succession of small beaches, hidden bays and fascinating sea caves carved into the rocky cliffs. Among the most famous caves is the stunning Blue Grotto, located in the Marine Park of Isola Bella.
Marina: Marina Yachting Giardini Naxos has hosted more than 70 mooring places for pleasure boats and superyachts, all equipped with water and electricity. Fuel is available on the fuel quay. This is your provisioning stop before heading north to the Strait of Messina or south for Syracuse.
Skipper’s note: The sailing season in Sicily has expanded in recent years. Even mid-October can deliver temperatures around 26°C with significantly fewer visitors in marinas and anchorages. The Naxos Bay anchorage in late September — Etna dusted with its first winter snow above, the water still 24°C — is one of the defining experiences of Mediterranean boating.