Anchorage Guides
Verified sailing guides for the world's best anchorages — with depth, bottom type, wind protection, local rules, and the anchor alarm radius you should set for each location.
What's Different About These Guides
Verified Data
GPS coordinates, exact depth ranges, and bottom type — not generalised descriptions. We cite our sources.
Anchor Alarm Radius
Every anchorage includes a specific recommended alarm radius — calculated from depth, scope, and local conditions.
Overnight Focus
Written for sailors who are spending the night — not day-trippers. Wind shifts, meltemi timing, and pre-sleep checklists included.
Browse by Country
Turkey
78 anchorages liveFree anchoring, no permit required
Explore Turkey anchorages →Greece
81 anchorages liveDEKPA transit log required (~€30); anchoring generally free
Explore Greece anchorages →Croatia
33 anchorages liveSSVO 2025: 150m beach exclusion, no tying to trees
Explore Croatia anchorages →Spain
52 anchorages liveAnchoring free in most bays; Posidonia protection zones apply
Explore Spain anchorages →France
60 anchorages liveDONIA app mandatory (Mediterranean); Posidonia fines €150k; 6–10m tidal range (Brittany)
Explore France anchorages →Italy
48 anchorages liveBlueDiscovery app for AMPs; Posidonia fines €500–€3k; Maestrale Force 9; Montecristo 1nm exclusion zone
Explore Italy anchorages →Portugal
38 anchorages liveFree anchoring in most bays; Nortada F5–6 summer afternoons; orca risk west coast Jun–Sep; Arrábida 3-zone park permit
Explore Portugal anchorages →Norway
36 anchorages liveShore lines mandatory in fjords; depths to 1,308m; Allemannsretten right of access; rifle mandatory in Svalbard
Explore Norway anchorages →Sweden
30 anchorages liveNo tides (Baltic); Allemansrätten free anchoring everywhere; 30,000 islands; 5–8mm/year isostatic uplift — use current charts
Explore Sweden anchorages →Denmark
30 anchorages liveNo free-anchoring right (tolerated 1 night); eelgrass ban DKK 10,000 fine; Limfjord max 2m draught; Wadden Sea UNESCO tidal channels only
Explore Denmark anchorages →Finland
30 anchorages liveFree anchoring (jokaisenoikeus); 50,000 islands; land rises 9mm/year; Saimaa Canal closed
Explore Finland anchorages →UK & Ireland
36 anchorages livePentland Firth 16 kt tidal stream; 5m spring tidal range (W Ireland); free anchoring Scotland; T2L docs for EU vessels post-Brexit
Explore UK & Ireland anchorages →Montenegro
40 anchorages live€89 cruising permit (1 month); Risan Bay anchoring FORBIDDEN (archaeological); Bora up to 250km/h
Explore Montenegro anchorages →Malta & Gozo
17 anchorages liveEU member; Gregale NE wind near-hurricane in winter; 3,000 sunshine hours/year
Explore Malta & Gozo anchorages →Cyprus
21 anchorages liveEU member (south only); 29 MPAs; direct entry to N Cyprus illegal — heavy penalties
Explore Cyprus anchorages →Albania
36 anchorages liveMandatory clearance agent (~€100); northern coast anchoring forbidden; Bora 70kt; Ksamil free buoys
Explore Albania anchorages →Slovenia
28 anchorages liveEU/Schengen; 47km coastline (EU's shortest); 1m+ tidal range (N. Adriatic); Strunjan anchoring restricted
Explore Slovenia anchorages →Morocco
Coming soon3.5m Atlantic tidal range; Levanter ENE gale 50kt; world's largest fishing fleet; Canary Islands gateway
Tunisia
Coming soon2.1m tidal range (Gulf of Gabès — unique in central Med); Sirocco desert wind; ghost fishing nets
Israel
Coming soonContact Israeli Navy at 25nm; mandatory security screening; Gaza exclusion zones; Caesarea Roman harbour
Germany
Coming soonTideless Baltic vs 3.66m North Sea tidal range; Kiel Canal world's busiest waterway; Jasmund UNESCO chalk cliffs
Netherlands
Coming soon4m Wadden tidal range; daylight-only navigation; Delta Works; IJsselmeer freshwater inland sea
Belgium
Coming soon5.45m tidal range; no free anchorages; Flemish Banks 290+ wrecks; 33nm to Dover
Iceland
Coming soonJune–August only; midnight sun 22hrs; floating pumice hazard; 4.4m tidal range; $2.37/litre diesel
Faroe Islands
Coming soonNot EU (Danish autonomous); tidal races 7kt; one full marina (Tórshavn); Múlafossur waterfall into Atlantic
British Virgin Islands
Coming soonBoatyBall moorings $30–55/night; Horseshoe Reef 18nm; no anchoring in coral; Dec–Apr only
Antigua & Barbuda
Coming soonNelson's Dockyard UNESCO; Antigua Sailing Week (April); Barbuda 17-mile pink sand beach; Port Health FIRST on entry
St. Martin / Sint Maarten
Coming soonSmallest dual-nation island; 31km² lagoon; duty-free since 1939; Simpson Bay bridge (VHF 12, $10–500)
St. Lucia
Coming soonARC trans-Atlantic rally finish; Pitons UNESCO 798m; SMMA mooring mandatory EC$54/night; 'Helen of the West Indies'
Grenada
Coming soon12°N — south of hurricane belt; year-round sailing; 20% world nutmeg; Kick 'em Jenny volcano 8km north
Before You Drop the Hook
Anchoring rules vary dramatically by country and region. Our overnight anchoring rules guide covers Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Spain, France, Italy, and the Caribbean in detail. Wherever you anchor, COLREGS Rule 30 requires an all-round white anchor light at night — and a GPS anchor alarm is your safety net regardless of location.