Private boat charter
Syracuse & Ortigia
Set off from Syracuse with a professional skipper at the helm and circle the island of Ortigia from the sea: the sea caves along the coast, the Castello Maniace, the Fountain of Arethusa and the white-rock coves of Plemmirio. You choose the stops, the skipper takes care of the rest.
1
boats
12
max guests
€316
per day
Boats in Syracuse & Ortigia
How does a private boat charter from Syracuse work?
Updated June 2026
A private boat charter from Syracuse is a boat trip with a professional skipper reserved for your group only, departing from Syracuse, a few steps from the island of Ortigia. You send a request, the operator confirms availability, then you secure the date with a small online deposit and pay the balance to the skipper on board. Trips start from €316. The Castello Maniace is a few minutes away by boat, Capo Murro di Porco and Plemmirio about 4–5 nautical miles.
Ortigia is the ancient heart of Syracuse: an island of honey-coloured stone joined to the mainland by two bridges, with a Cathedral built inside a Greek temple, Baroque palazzi and, at its tip, the Castello Maniace built for Frederick II. Together with the rock necropolis of Pantalica it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Seen from the sea, with its walls dropping into the water, it is even more beautiful.
The classic boat trip starts from the city's northern coast, where the cliffs are carved into sea caves and coves of clear water, and then circles Ortigia: you pass below the Castello Maniace and enter the Porto Grande, the great harbour where the Athenian fleet was defeated in 413 BC, up to the Fountain of Arethusa, the freshwater spring with papyrus plants a step from the sea.
South of the Porto Grande lies the Maddalena peninsula and the Plemmirio marine protected area: low white limestone cliffs, caves, inlets of turquoise water and the lighthouse of Capo Murro di Porco. It is about 4–5 nautical miles from Ortigia, perfect for a half day of swimming and snorkelling.
Every trip is private and skippered, so no boating licence is needed. You book by sending a request on BlueKeys: once the operator confirms the date, you pay a small deposit online and the balance to the skipper on board. Prices, guests and durations depend on the boat and are shown on each listing; the operator confirms the meeting point.
Syracuse & Ortigia in pictures
Reachable from nearby ports
Syracuse & Ortigia ⟷ Taormina & Giardini Naxos
What you can reach by sea
Around the island of Ortigia from the sea
The Castello Maniace at the tip of Ortigia
The Fountain of Arethusa and its papyrus, facing the Porto Grande
The sea caves and coves of Syracuse's northern coast
The Plemmirio marine reserve and Capo Murro di Porco
Swimming and snorkelling in clear water over pale rock
A day on the water from Syracuse & Ortigia
New to the area? Here are ready-made days your skipper can follow — or mix and match.
Sea caves and around Ortigia
The northern coast and its caves, then all the way around Ortigia to the Porto Grande.
- 1
Northern coast caves
Cliffs carved by the sea: a swim in a cove
- 2
Castello Maniace
Frederick II's castle at the tip of Ortigia
- 3
Fountain of Arethusa
The papyrus spring seen from the Porto Grande, then back
Plemmirio and Capo Murro di Porco
South into the marine reserve, with swimming and snorkelling among the white rocks.
- 1
Castello Maniace
Rounding the tip of Ortigia
- 2
Capo Murro di Porco
The lighthouse at the end of the Maddalena peninsula
- 3
Plemmirio coves
White limestone inlets and turquoise water for a swim
Porto Grande at sunset
A slow cruise along the walls of Ortigia in the golden evening light.
- 1
Castello Maniace
The castle walls in the low sun
- 2
Porto Grande
The great harbour of Syracuse, in the middle of the bay
- 3
Fountain of Arethusa
Ortigia's seafront lighting up as the sun goes down
Concierge
Plan your day on the water
Tell us your date, group size and the coves you want to see — our concierge replies with the best boat and a fixed quote. You secure the date with an online deposit and pay the balance to the skipper.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book a private boat from Syracuse?
Choose the boat and the date on BlueKeys and send a request. The operator confirms availability; then you secure the date with a small online deposit and pay the balance to the skipper on board.
Is the skipper included?
Yes. Every boat comes with a professional skipper who handles navigation and mooring, so no boating licence is needed.
How much does a private boat from Syracuse cost?
The price depends on the boat and the length of the trip and is shown on each listing. Trips start from €316.
Where do boats leave from in Syracuse?
From Syracuse, a few steps from Ortigia. The operator confirms the exact meeting point after booking.
Can we swim during the Ortigia trip?
Yes: the skipper stops in the coves along the coast and in the inlets of Plemmirio, where the water is clear and good for snorkelling.
What is Plemmirio?
It is the marine protected area south of Syracuse, on the Maddalena peninsula: white limestone cliffs, caves and clear seabeds, with the lighthouse of Capo Murro di Porco. Boat visits follow the reserve's rules.