Sailing opens up a world of breathtaking destinations that are often inaccessible by other means. Whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation, or a combination of both, sailing allows you to explore remote islands and hidden treasures. In this guide, we'll cover the best sailing destinations in the world, perfect for an unforgettable adventure on the high seas.
If you're passionate about the open sea and dream of exploring the world by boat, then sailing is the ultimate adventure. With the wind in your sails and the horizon stretching endlessly, sailing offers a sense of freedom and discovery that few experiences can match. But with so many incredible sailing destinations around the globe, choosing the best places for an unforgettable trip can be overwhelming.
Having sailed many of these destinations myself, I understand the challenges of planning a trip: choosing the right place, finding the perfect balance between adventure and comfort, and ensuring a smooth journey. This guide will address all those concerns. Here you'll find a curated list of the 5 best sailing destinations in the world, each offering a unique blend of adventure, relaxation, and breathtaking scenery.
Ready to plan your next sailing trip? Let's set sail and explore these must-see destinations for an unforgettable experience.
1. French Riviera, France
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more romantic place to sail than the French Riviera. This stunning stretch of Mediterranean coastline stretching along the southeastern corner of France is a perfect combination of magnificent beaches, rocky coves and pristine islands, glitz, glamour, and scandal.
The cosmopolitan resorts of Nice, Saint-Tropez, and Cannes are veritable visual attractions, with their billion-dollar real estate and the most bizarre forms of jet-set hedonism aboard monumental yachts.
If you don't have the financial resources of royalty or a rock star—and you're not lucky enough to have friends in either category—you can always head to Marseille, Cannes, or Antibes and charter a sailboat!
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
With over 300 miles of navigable waterways and more than 40,000 resident yachts, it's no surprise that Fort Lauderdale has been nicknamed the Venice of America. Besides bordering the Atlantic, it's crisscrossed by the Intracoastal Waterway and a number of rivers, several lakes, and hundreds of canals.
This boating paradise also hosts the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the largest of its kind. If you have an extravagant yacht or a boat of a certain size, Fort Lauderdale has something to offer—and almost everything in the city is accessible by water.
3. Zanzibar
Zanzibar, in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania, offers the chance to travel back in time and get a taste of that wonderful Persian kingdom, for which Zanzibar was, in ancient times, the base for trade with the Arab world.
Here you can purchase packets of saffron, ginger-flavored coffee, cinnamon sticks, and fragrant vanilla pods. Sailing in the surrounding turquoise waters and relaxing on picture-perfect beaches are the hallmarks of a holiday on the Spice Island.
And a cruise aboard a traditional dhow, an ancient Arabian sailing vessel, is one of the best ways to explore the region. You'll have the chance to capture breathtaking sunsets from the deck, and make stops for snorkeling and diving (the average water temperature is 27°C year-round).
4. Port Townsend, Washington
Surrounded by water on three sides and with the spectacular Olympic Mountains as a backdrop, Port Townsend is the ideal place for sailing, boating, and water sports of all kinds.
Washington's Victorian Seaport & Arts Community is located directly on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a windy location that creates ideal sailing conditions. The region is also home to a wealth of marine life, including various types of whales such as orcas, minke whales, and gray whales, as well as porpoises, otters, sea lions, and seals.
5. Newport, Rhode Island
New England offers all kinds of fantastic sailing locations, but Newport is certainly one of the most popular, being one of the best marinas in America. Known as the Sailing Capital of the World, it was home to the America's Cup for half a century.
The picturesque city attracts sailors from around the world with its beautiful beaches and New England charm. Third Beach Newport is as good as it gets when it comes to easy access to the open sea, easy launching, and the ability to park your boat nearby.
It's also home to the legendary New England Laser Masters Regatta . While you're here, be sure to visit Newport's beautiful mansions, harbor, and Narragansett Bay.
6. French Polynesia
French Polynesia is made up of five main island groups, including Tahiti, a landscape of jagged volcanic peaks interspersed with lush vegetation and spectacular waterfalls.
The islands offer an enticing mix of beautiful lagoons, traditional culture, and exotic marine life, with a myriad of places to explore on land and at sea. This is the very place where stereotypical ideas of what a tropical paradise should be come from.
Scattered across a good portion of the South Pacific, the islands stretch over 770 miles, an area the size of Western Europe. There are numerous options for choosing an island to base your trip on, including Raiatea, the ideal starting point for an unforgettable Tahitian sailing adventure to discover the other Society Islands, which also include Tahiti and Moorea, Bora Bora, and Tahaa.
7. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
This famous but tiny island archipelago in the eastern Pacific is remote, yet it draws people from around the world to discover its legendary abundance of rare wildlife, from blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises to penguins and sea lions.
Berths are in high demand here, making a cruise the best way to explore the 19 islands and delve deeper into Darwin's theory of evolution. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience”, arrive by plane and then take a week-long cruise, living aboard a boat.
As you sail around this volcanic archipelago, you can enjoy snorkeling and diving all day, and occasionally come ashore to play among the stunning nature.
8. Croatia
Often referred to as the New Riviera, Croatia has become an increasingly must-see destination for all types of travelers, but there's really no better way to experience it than sailing the crystal-clear Adriatic, where the sun is almost always shining and the calm waters gently lap more than 1,100 miles of coastline, including no fewer than 1,185 islands.
A vast coastline to explore, it includes a practically endless number of postcard-perfect beaches, lush green hillsides, and some of the most charming cities in all of Europe. The most popular place to dock is the island of Hvar, where every type of well-heeled sailor can be found.
You're on the safe side here, but it's also worth It's worth exploring the hidden coves, traditional fishing villages, and remote island groups like the Elafiti and Kornati islands.
9. Catalina Island, California
Catalina Island, located just 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, is a sailing paradise. Divers, sailors, and all kinds of visitors love it because, despite its proximity to the mainland, it feels light years away from the chaos of the city.
The clear waters off the island are home to a wide variety of marine life, and its hidden treasures include sunken ships and a plane wreck. Those who prefer to stay above the water, or explore both, will find plenty of ways to do so, from glass-bottom boats and yacht charters to deep-sea rafting, sailing, and much more.
And you'll discover what a magnificent harbor setting Two Harbors is, a small town home to a myriad of coves offering moorings and anchorages.
10. The Grenadines
The Spice Islands, The Grenadines, as they are often called, are a chain of 32 picturesque islands spread across approximately 60 miles of the southern Caribbean in the West Indies.
They offer a perfect combination of dramatic scenery, culture, rich marine life, friendly people, and pristine white-sand beaches. One of the most fantastic sailing destinations in the world, the Grenadines offer ideal sailing conditions, and the lack of crowds makes them one of the best places for a beach holiday.
Bequia, in particular, has been a favorite destination for seafarers for centuries. If you're looking to charter a boat, you'll find a variety of options in Port Elizabeth, along with a variety of day trips or, if you prefer, private ones. There's also the option of renting a vessel with or without a crew. Prices range from reasonable for a bareboat to ridiculous for the ultimate in luxury!
