Catania Boat Rental: With a Skipper or Self-Drive?

Why rent a boat in Catania?

Catania is not a classic sandy-beach boating destination, and that is what makes its coast interesting. Much of the shore north of the city was shaped by volcanic activity, and from the water you see black lava formations, sea caves, fishing villages and the stacks of the Cyclops Riviera, with Mount Etna behind them on a clear day.

The best stretch runs roughly from Catania and Ognina → Aci Castello → Aci Trezza → Capo Mulini → Santa Maria la Scala. Along it you can see the castle at Aci Castello on its lava promontory, the Faraglioni dei Ciclopi, Lachea Island, the fishing harbour at Aci Trezza, Capo Mulini, the volcanic coast north toward Acireale, sea caves when the route and the sea allow, and Etna behind it all. Longer skippered trips sometimes continue to the Timpa di Acireale and Santa Maria la Scala, while routes starting further south may pass Ognina and San Giovanni Li Cuti. Our Cyclops Riviera guide describes the main sights from the water.

Self-drive or skipper: which should you choose?

Choose a self-drive boat if…

A licence-free rental makes sense when you want the boat itself, not a guided trip. It suits couples who want a private swimming day, families who like to set their own pace, groups of friends splitting the cost, people who have driven small boats before, travellers who dislike organised tours and repeat visitors who already know the coast.

The big advantage is freedom. Want to swim for 40 minutes instead of 15? Fine. Want to skip a sightseeing stop and find somewhere quiet for lunch? Your decision. There is also no skipper taking up a seat, which matters on a small boat. Licence-free rentals around Catania typically use boats or RIBs of 5 to 6.5 metres with 40 hp engines, carrying about five to eight people.

But don’t confuse “no licence required” with “no experience required”

Driving a small boat in calm weather is not especially difficult, but you are still responsible for steering, controlling the throttle, keeping clear of swimmers and other boats, reading channel markers, keeping to speed limits, staying out of areas where anchoring is banned, coping with a change in the sea and bringing the boat safely back into the harbour. If nobody in your group has ever driven a motorboat, a skipper is often the smarter holiday decision.

Choose a skipper if…

For a first visit to this coast, a boat with a skipper is usually the easiest and most rewarding choice. A good local skipper knows where it is safest to swim that day, which stretches are sheltered from the wind, where anchoring is allowed, how to navigate the protected Cyclops Islands, where the best sea caves and lava formations are, how close you can safely go to the Faraglioni and which route suits the time you have. And everyone in your group can relax: no designated driver, no harbour manoeuvres, no studying a chart while everyone else jumps in.

That matters most around Aci Trezza, because the most famous scenery lies inside the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area, where the rules on navigation, anchoring and mooring change from zone to zone.

Our recommendation

Best for most first-time visitors: with a skipper

On this coast a skipper earns their fee by more than driving the boat. The best boating area is also protected and unusual, and if this is your first visit and your only day on a boat, having someone who knows where to swim and where you can and cannot anchor removes most of the friction. The Private Sailing tour along Catania & Cyclops coast (our breakdown) is the easy version: about four hours on a sailing boat with a skipper from the Vecchia Dogana in Catania, with stops at the Ulysses’ Caves, Aci Castello and Acitrezza, snorkelling gear, a tasting of local products and the fuel included. It costs from $609 per group of up to twelve, plus a mandatory skipper fee paid in cash on the day, and is rated 5.0/5 from seven reviews.

Best value: self-drive from Aci Trezza

If you are already comfortable with a small motorboat, renting in Aci Trezza is hard to beat. You start practically beside the Faraglioni and Lachea Island, so you do not spend a big part of the rental getting from Catania to the scenery you came for.

Do you need a boating licence in Catania?

Not always. Italy lets some motorboats be driven without a licence. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport’s rules, within six nautical miles of the coast a licence is needed if the engine’s power exceeds 30 kW (40.8 hp), and also if its displacement exceeds set limits, such as 750 cc for a two-stroke outboard or 1,042 cc for a four-stroke one. Going more than six nautical miles offshore needs a licence whatever the engine. That is why so many tourist rentals advertise 40 hp boats as senza patente, without a licence. Licence-free boats around Catania and Aci Trezza range from about 5.4 metres for six people to RIBs of over 6 metres for eight.

Important nuance

Do not assume that every boat of about 40 hp is licence-free: the rules look at the engine’s displacement as well as its power, and rental companies can add their own conditions on age and experience. The practical rule is simple: book a boat the operator advertises as licence-free, and do not choose by horsepower alone.

How old do you need to be?

Under Italy’s national rules, licence-exempt motorboats can be driven from the age of 16 if the boat and engine meet the requirements. Rental companies can set a higher minimum, and some do: one family-run rental at the Acitrezza pier requires the driver to be an adult of 18 or over with ID. Check the driver’s minimum age when you book.

What boats can you rent?

1. RIB / gommone

Probably the most practical choice. Gommone is the Italian word you will see everywhere for a RIB or inflatable motorboat. Typical rentals around Catania are 5 to 6.5 metres long with a 40 hp engine, a centre console, a sun canopy and a swim ladder, for five to eight people. Some add a deck shower, a cool box or fridge, a stereo and sunbathing cushions. Best for swimming, short trips along the coast and groups who want a simple, fairly cheap private boat.

2. Open motorboat

An open fibreglass motorboat gives a similar day, often with more ordinary seating and a little more shelter from spray. It can suit families with children, less mobile passengers and couples who care more about comfort than speed. The Acitrezza Boat Rental without Licence for up to 6 People is a 5.4-metre motorboat of this kind, for up to six people including children, from $102 per boat plus the fuel you use. It is a new listing, rated 5.0 from a single review so far.

3. Larger powerboat

For a longer private charter there are boats with much bigger engines and far more space. They almost always come with a skipper, unless someone in your group holds the right licence, and they suit larger groups, longer distances, full days and special occasions. One skippered RIB listed on GetYourGuide takes up to twelve and runs north past the Timpa of Acireale and Santa Maria la Scala with an aperitif on board, from $1,519 per group plus fuel, but it has no reviews yet, so we have not linked it.

4. Sailboat

If you want a relaxed Mediterranean day more than the freedom to hop between coves, consider a sailing trip instead. Sailing boats come with a skipper and suit a different day: slower, quieter, and built around swimming, food and sunset. Our Catania sailing tour page compares them.

How much does Catania boat rental cost?

Prices vary a great deal with the season, the size of the boat, the length of the rental, the harbour, the skipper, the fuel and the booking platform. On GetYourGuide in October 2026, self-drive boats at Aci Trezza started at $102 per boat for up to six people on the licence-free motorboat at the Acitrezza pier, and at about $171 per boat for other Riviera dei Ciclopi rentals, before fuel. Full-day rentals cost more, and July and August are dearer than spring or autumn. Treat these as examples.

How much does a skipper cost?

There is no standard rate. Some charters include the skipper in the price; others quote the boat and the skipper separately. The Private Sailing tour along Catania & Cyclops coast, for example, charges a mandatory skipper fee in cash on the day of about €140 for a half day or €250 to €280 for a full day, on top of its $609 group price. Small motorboat rentals usually charge less for a skipper than a sailing charter does. Ask for the skipper price in writing when you book.

Is fuel included?

Very often, no, and it is one of the most important things to check. The licence-free rental at the Acitrezza pier counts the fuel you used when you return and charges only for that, and gives you an estimate at the pier first. Other rentals and some private tours include it. Before comparing two prices, find out whether each covers the boat, the skipper, the fuel, taxes and booking fees, snorkelling equipment, and food or drinks. A boat with fuel included can end up cheaper than one with a lower price and fuel on top.

What about a security deposit?

Policies vary. Some local operators in Catania and Aci Trezza advertise no deposit, but that is far from universal: the self-drive motorboats delivered at the port of Catania through the Explore the Coast by private Boat, Your Way listing take a security deposit at handover and charge fuel by consumption (a new listing, rated 5.0 from a single review). Marketplace rentals may ask for a deposit, a card pre-authorisation, a damage deposit or their own insurance terms. Check before you pay.

Half-day or full-day rental?

Half day: best for most visitors

A rental of three and a half to four hours is enough if your plan is Aci Trezza → Faraglioni → Lachea Island → Aci Castello → swim → back to port. Some Aci Trezza operators split the day into three slots of about three and a half hours, morning, midday and afternoon, with a full day also available. Four hours gives you real time on the water without committing the whole day.

Full day: best for exploring north

Choose a full day if you want to add Capo Mulini, the Acireale coast, the Timpa and Santa Maria la Scala, or simply several long swim stops. Skippered full-day trips from Aci Trezza typically run from around 9am to the late afternoon.

Best places to rent a boat around Catania

Aci Trezza

Best overall for the Cyclops Riviera. If you picture the day as a boat, the Faraglioni, clear water and swimming, start here. The harbour sits right beside the Cyclops Islands, so less of your time goes on travelling and more on swimming, and the local fleets include licence-free boats, RIBs and boats with skippers. Choose Aci Trezza for the Faraglioni, Lachea Island, the marine reserve, snorkelling, short rentals and a first day on a boat. Our Aci Trezza boat tour page covers how to get there and the trips that leave from the village.

Catania / Porto di Ulisse

Best if you are staying in Catania without a car. Porto di Ulisse is on Catania’s northern waterfront near Ognina, and there are licence-free boats here too. From here you cruise north past Ognina and Aci Castello to Aci Trezza. The advantage is convenience; the drawback is that part of your rental goes on reaching the Cyclops Riviera.

Ognina

Ognina’s small harbour is another useful base, with 40 hp licence-free RIBs heading north toward Aci Castello, Aci Trezza and Capo Mulini. Choose it if you are staying in Catania, want to start near the city, or would like the cruise north to be part of the day.

Best self-drive route from Aci Trezza

On a first rental, do not try to cover a lot of distance. A relaxed four-hour route works better:

1. Leave Aci Trezza harbour. Spend a few minutes getting used to the throttle and the steering before doing anything ambitious.
2. The Faraglioni dei Ciclopi. The volcanic stacks are the signature view of this coast, and far better from the water than from the shore.
3. Lachea Island. Cruise around the parts of the island zone you are allowed into, keeping to the reserve’s rules.
4. Aci Castello. Head south for the view of the Norman castle on its black basalt promontory, one of the best photographs on the coast. Our guide to Aci Castello by boat has tips for the shot.
5. A swim stop. Use the spot your rental company recommends for that day’s wind and the reserve’s rules.
6. Back slowly through Aci Trezza. Leave plenty of time before your return slot.

Longer full-day route

With enough time and a suitable sea, a longer day can continue north: Aci Trezza → Capo Mulini → Timpa di Acireale → Santa Maria la Scala. This stretch feels wilder and less built-up, and skippered trips already use it. Do not simply copy a skippered itinerary in a small licence-free boat, though: ask the rental company how far they let the boat go.

Can you take a rental boat to Taormina?

This is where we would be careful. Larger boats with a qualified driver can run up the east coast to Giardini Naxos and Taormina, but that does not make a basic 40 hp licence-free rental the right boat for it. Taormina means a much longer distance, more fuel, more exposure to changing weather, the rental company’s limits on where you can go, licence restrictions and a real risk of being late back. For most visitors who want to reach Taormina by sea, a skippered charter makes far more sense than a small self-drive boat. Our guide to Catania to Taormina boat options compares the charter with the train, the bus and a Giardini Naxos boat tour.

Can you visit the Cyclops Islands in a self-drive boat?

Yes, with one important qualification. The Isole Ciclopi are a marine protected area divided into zones with different rules, and this is not open water where you can drop anchor wherever you like. The reserve’s 2026 rules continue the previous year’s regulations, and the authority publishes specific rules on navigation, mooring and anchoring.

Cyclops Islands Marine Protected Area: what boat renters need to know

Zone A

The strictest protection. Anchoring and ordinary mooring by recreational boats are banned.

Zone B

Anchoring is banned to protect the seabed. Mooring may be allowed at the designated buoy fields instead.

Zone C

Motorboats may navigate subject to the rules, including a maximum speed of 10 knots for recreational craft. Anchoring is allowed only where the rules permit and stays banned in specific sensitive areas. The reserve particularly protects meadows of Posidonia oceanica, one of the Mediterranean’s most valuable underwater habitats, from anchors.

What this means for you

Before you leave the harbour, ask the rental company to show you the reserve’s boundary, Zones A, B and C, where you may swim, where you may anchor, the buoy fields and the Posidonia areas where anchoring is banned. Companies that rent boats inside Zones B and C need the reserve’s authorisation and are required to explain its rules to their customers, so a responsible operator will cover this in the briefing. The licence-free rental at the Acitrezza pier, for example, includes a briefing on the boat, the controls and the limits of the protected area.

Is a skipper worth the extra?

For many visitors, yes. Think of the skipper’s fee per person, not per boat: shared between six people, even a full-day fee becomes a modest sum each. For that you get someone else driving, local knowledge, safer harbour manoeuvres, help with the reserve’s rules, better swim stops, less risk of damaging the boat and no argument about who stays sober. On a private group trip, that can be excellent value.

When self-drive offers better value

There is one situation where we would lean the other way. If you have driven small powerboats before, there are only two to four of you, you are staying near Aci Trezza, you mainly want to swim and the sea is calm, a small 40 hp boat without a skipper can be one of the best-value private days on the Catania coast. At around $102 for a boat for up to six, the sums work especially well for couples and small groups.

Is boat rental good for families?

Yes, but with young children we would choose either an open motorboat over the sportiest RIB, or a boat with a skipper. Look for shade, easy boarding, a proper swim ladder, life jackets in children’s sizes, a freshwater shower, a cool box or fridge and comfortable seats. Ask whether they have a life jacket for your child’s actual weight, not just whether life jackets are available. The self-drive boat at the Acitrezza pier carries life jackets for all passengers and counts children within its six places.

What about babies and toddlers?

Possible does not mean enjoyable. A small open boat can mean strong sun, little shade, spray, heat, engine noise, awkward boarding, no toilet and several hours with no easy way out. For very young children, we would choose a larger boat with a skipper and a shorter route over the cheapest self-drive RIB.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Operators can cancel or change a trip when the sea is unsafe, and that is normal. Wind, swell, visibility, thunderstorms and harbour restrictions all matter. The Acitrezza self-drive rental, for one, confirms the day before and offers a new date or a full refund if the sea is not suitable. Never push a rental company to hand over the boat because you have planned your day around it: a calm-looking harbour does not mean the sea further out is just as comfortable.

Morning, afternoon or sunset?

Morning

Best for self-drive beginners. The sea is often calmer, though no time of day guarantees calm water; it is cooler, you tire less and you have plenty of daylight if something holds you up. If we were renting without a skipper for the first time in Catania, we would go in the morning.

Afternoon

Best if you want warm water for swimming, a slow morning or lunch before you set off. The drawbacks are stronger heat and a chance of more wind later in the day.

Late afternoon

Lovely for photographs and cooler temperatures, but beginners should think twice about the last rental slot if it means coming back close to sunset. If the sunset is the point, a skippered sunset cruise is the better choice. Our guide to morning, afternoon and sunset boat tours compares the slots on skippered trips.

Can you drink alcohol on a self-drive boat?

Some rentals let you bring your own food and drinks. The person driving the boat should treat that responsibility exactly as they would driving any other vehicle. If an aperitif is a big part of your plan, rent with a skipper.

Can you snorkel from the boat?

Yes, and snorkelling is one of the best reasons to rent here: the lava coast around Aci Trezza is far more interesting underwater than Catania’s city waterfront. Ask whether the rental includes a mask, snorkel and fins. Many basic rentals do not, even though organised boat trips often do; the Acitrezza self-drive boat leaves out towels and snorkelling gear. Bringing your own mask is easy and removes the doubt.

What should you bring?

For a half-day rental: a swimsuit, a quick-dry towel, sunscreen that is kind to marine life, sunglasses, a hat, water, snacks, a waterproof phone pouch, a light long-sleeved layer, a dry bag, photo ID, your booking confirmation, and a card or cash for anything paid locally, such as fuel. If you are driving yourself, add a fully charged phone, an offline map, a power bank and the rental company’s phone number.

What not to bring

Leave large suitcases, valuables you do not need, glass bottles, bulky cool boxes (unless the company agrees) and excess luggage behind. Small boats have far less storage than the photographs suggest.

Questions to ask before booking

The checklist we would use ourselves:

• The boat: which model will I get, how long is it, how many passengers can it legally carry, what engine does it have, is a licence needed, is there shade, a swim ladder and a freshwater shower?
• The price: is fuel included? Is the skipper? Is there a security deposit? Are port, cleaning and booking fees included?
• The route: how far am I allowed to go? Can I go to Aci Castello, into the Cyclops marine reserve, to Capo Mulini or toward Acireale? Where is anchoring banned?
• Safety: what happens if the weather turns? What emergency equipment is on board? Are there life jackets for children? Who do I call if the engine fails?

Common booking mistake: choosing by boat capacity alone

A boat advertised for eight passengers may legally carry eight. That does not mean eight adults will be comfortable on it for six hours. On a small RIB, we would plan for four to six people on a boat rated for eight, and two to four on one rated for six, if comfort matters. The maximum and the comfortable number are different things.

Another common mistake: booking from the wrong harbour

If the Cyclops Islands are the main goal, compare departure points before automatically choosing Catania. A cheaper rental in the city can give you less useful time, because you have to cruise north first, and a slightly dearer boat already in Aci Trezza can be the better value. Our guide to where Catania boat tours leave from maps the piers, and our guide to Catania or Aci Trezza covers getting to Aci Trezza by bus or taxi.

Catania vs Aci Trezza boat rental

Boat rental vs organised boat tour

Not sure you need a private rental at all? Rent your own boat if you value privacy, time in the water, flexibility, making your own route and having the boat to yourselves. Book an organised trip if you want a lower price for one or two people, commentary from a local guide, no responsibility, a ready-made route and the chance to meet other travellers. For a couple, an organised trip may well be cheaper; for a group of six, a private rental becomes very competitive once the cost is split. Our guide to which Catania boat trip is right for you compares the organised trips.

Boat rental vs private boat tour

The line between the two is blurry: a boat rental with a skipper and a private boat tour can look almost identical in a listing. Compare what is included. A private tour may bundle the skipper, the fuel, drinks, an aperitif, snorkelling gear and a set sightseeing route; a rental may quote only the boat, with fuel and the skipper on top. Compare the final total, not the headline price. Our private boat tour page compares the private trips in detail.

Italian terminology that helps when booking

These words make marketplace listings much easier to compare.

Is Catania boat rental worth it?

Yes, especially if you want privacy and swimming more than a narrated sightseeing trip. The best reason is not the boat but where you can take it: within a short distance of the city there is a Norman castle on black lava, volcanic sea stacks, Lachea Island, a protected marine reserve, fishing villages and swimming below lava cliffs. Because licence-free boats exist, independent boating here is open to far more travellers than you might expect.

The one caveat matters: the Cyclops coast is protected, so independence comes with responsibility. If you do not already feel comfortable reading marine rules, driving a small motorboat and choosing safe places to stop, spend the extra on a skipper. You will probably enjoy the day more.

Our ideal Catania boat-rental day

If we were planning it for friends visiting Catania for the first time, we would book a four-hour morning rental from Aci Trezza in a small RIB or open motorboat, with a skipper for first-timers and without one for experienced drivers, and follow the Faraglioni, Lachea, Aci Castello, a swim and back to Aci Trezza, putting swimming and scenery ahead of distance. On a second trip, we would rent for the whole day and head north toward Capo Mulini and the Timpa di Acireale.

Frequently asked questions

Can you rent a boat in Catania without a licence?

Yes. Several companies rent boats advertised as licence-free, usually with engines of about 40 hp. Italian law also looks at the engine’s displacement and how far offshore you go, so book a boat the rental company has approved for licence-free use.

How much does it cost to rent a boat in Catania?

On GetYourGuide in October 2026, self-drive boats at Aci Trezza started at $102 per boat for up to six people, and about $171 for other rentals on the Riviera dei Ciclopi, usually before fuel. Prices change with the season, the boat and the harbour. Our Catania boat tour prices guide compares rentals with guided trips.

Is fuel included in Catania boat rental?

Not always. Some local rentals charge fuel by what you use, counted when you return. Check this before comparing prices.

How much is a skipper in Catania?

There is no standard rate. Some charters include the skipper; others add a fee, such as the €140 for a half day charged in cash on the private sailing charter from Vecchia Dogana. Ask for the skipper price in writing.

Where is the best place to rent a boat near Catania?

For the Cyclops Riviera, Aci Trezza is usually the best starting point, because you are already beside the Faraglioni and Lachea Island.

Can I drive to the Faraglioni myself?

Licence-free rental boats can go around the Cyclops coast within the rules for the boat and the marine protected area. Follow your rental company’s briefing carefully, because the rules on navigation, anchoring and mooring change from zone to zone.

Can I anchor beside Lachea Island?

Do not assume you can. Parts of the marine protected area ban anchoring, and the rules also protect Posidonia seagrass. Use the designated moorings and the spots the operator or the reserve points you to.

Is Aci Trezza better than Catania for boat rental?

For a short trip focused on the Faraglioni, swimming and snorkelling, yes: starting in Aci Trezza gives you the most time on the Cyclops Riviera. Starting in Catania is more convenient if you are staying in the city and want the cruise north to be part of the day.

Can I rent a boat for only a few hours?

Yes. Aci Trezza companies offer half days and slots of about three and a half hours as well as full days.

Is a self-drive boat difficult to drive?

The controls of a small motorboat are simple, but driving safely involves much more than steering. If you have never handled a boat, particularly around a marine protected area, a skipper is the safer and more relaxing choice.

Can I take food aboard a rental boat?

Often, yes. Some rentals let passengers bring snacks and drinks; check your operator’s rules.

Check dates for the Private Sailing tour along Catania & Cyclops coast above, or compare every private option on our Catania private boat tour page.