From the raw elegance of Corsica to the moody glamour of the Balearics, the Mediterranean remains summer’s ultimate playground for the style-conscious sailor. Whether you’re dropping anchor off a private cove or stepping ashore for dinner under the stars, these are the destinations where glamour still floats.
Bonifacio, Corsica
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Bonifacio clings to the cliffs of southern Corsica like a secret worth keeping—white-limestone drama above, sapphire waters below. Yachts glide into its sheltered harbor beneath a medieval citadel, where sun- faded facades and chic cafés set the scene for effortless indulgence. In town, the reward is rustic Corsican fare—wild boar stew and local vermentino—enjoyed at cliffside tables with sea views that once lured Napoleon and pirates alike.
Portofino, Italy
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Portofino isn’t just beautiful—it’s composed, like a scene set by Visconti. The crescent-shaped harbor, lined with sherbet-colored façades, is best admired over a Negroni at Splendido Mare before a stroll up to Castello Brown for panoramic views. For the truly initiated: lunch at Puny, a dip off Paraggi Beach, and an unhurried return to the yacht as dusk turns the Ligurian Sea to silver.
Hydra, Greece
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A longtime haven for artists and aesthetes, time obeys a different rhythm on Hydra. With no cars in sight, goods are hauled by donkey, and conversations echo along stone alleys polished smooth by centuries. Swim off the rocks at Spilia, climb to Leonard Cohen’s old home for poetry by sunset, and dine harborside on grilled octopus as fishing boats bob like punctuation marks on the water.
Šipan & the Elafiti Islands, Croatia
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Just off the Dalmatian coast west of Dubrovnik, the Elafiti Islands offer a quieter, more cinematic Croatia—limestone villas, olive groves, and waters that shimmer in Adriatic blue. Šipan is the crown jewel of the archipelago, where the Adriatic feels more private than public. Fishermen still cast nets at dawn, but a handful of villas and boutique stays hint at discreet luxury. Drop anchor off Sudurad, explore 15th-century churches hidden among cypress groves, then order black risotto and local Dingač at a konoba with no menu—just today’s catch.
Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Photo courtesy of Cala di Volpe
On Sardinia’s Emerald Coast, Porto Cervo is pure Mediterranean theater—where turquoise waters meet sculpted luxury, and the yachts gleam as brightly as the diamonds at dinner. A playground built for princes—literally —Porto Cervo was commissioned by the Aga Khan in the 1960s. Spend the afternoon at Cala di Volpe’s beach club, then join the well-heeled crowd browsing Italian resortwear before dining at Lu Pisantinu with a view of the megayacht ballet below.
Capri, Amalfi Coast
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Capri is a study in contrasts: Roman emperors once bathed in its coves, and now A-listers sunbathe on striped loungers at La Fontelina. By day, sleek tenders pull up below the Faraglioni rocks for seafood crudo and chilled Falanghina; by evening, linen-clad guests wind through narrow lanes to Da Paolino, dining beneath a canopy of lemon trees. The island may be only four square miles, but its magic—like its myths— looms far larger.
St. Tropez, France
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Yachting’s spiritual home and the original stage for Riviera decadence, Saint-Tropez has lost none of its allure since Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon made it the sexiest port in Europe. Arriving by sea is still the grandest entrance—dock discreetly, then drift ashore for lunch at Gigi or Club 55, where rosé flows like water and the dress code is strictly effortless. Afternoons unfold between bronzed beaches and curated indulgence; evenings begin with a tarte tropézienne and a front-row seat at Sénéquier, where the people-watching is as rich as the past.
Bodrum, Turkey
Photo courtesy of Maçakızı
On Turkey’s Aegean coast, Bodrum offers a blend of ancient splendor and barefoot luxury—where the ruins of Halicarnassus watch over sleek gulets and Gucci kaftans. Days begin with dives into cobalt water and end with meze feasts under the stars at Maçakızı, the see-and-be-seen hotel that feels more like a secret club. Whether you’re exploring old stone windmills or bargaining in the bazaar, Bodrum moves at its own seductive pace: sundrenched, spice-scented, and just a little bit decadent.
Formentera, Spain
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Ibiza’s cooler, quieter sibling, Formentera is where the party goes to recover—on powdery beaches with water so clear it feels retouched. There are no megaclubs here, just barefoot restaurants, sun-bleached bikes, and long lunches that slide gracefully into sunset. Anchor off Ses Illetes, sip hierbas like a local, and understand why even the most seasoned yachties call this Balearic gem the ultimate exhale.