Getting a sailing licence in Marmaris costs between €950 and €2,900 per person depending on the certification body (IYT, RYA, or ISSA), course level, and what's included in the price. Smart Sailing Academy, as an IYT-certified school operating from Marmaris for over 12 years, offers IYT courses from €1,300 per person, with accommodation on board, course materials, and your certificate included.
What Does a Sailing Licence in Marmaris Actually Cost?
Prices range widely because there are three certification bodies operating in Marmaris: IYT (International Yacht Training), RYA (Royal Yachting Association), and ISSA (International Sailing Schools Association). Each has its own course structure and price points.
Here's the real comparison, based on published prices from schools currently operating in Marmaris:
| Certification | Entry Level | Bareboat Skipper | Yachtmaster | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IYT (Smart Sailing Academy) | €1,300 (International Crew) | €1,500 (Bareboat Skipper) | €1,900–€2,900 | 1–2 weeks |
| RYA (Sailing Life Academy) | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing | 1 week |
| ISSA (Medsail Holidays) | €950 (Competent Crew) | €950 (Bareboat Captain) | €2,800 (Yachtmaster Ocean) | 6 days |
What's included matters as much as the price. At Smart Sailing Academy, courses include accommodation on board the yacht, transit-logs, course materials, and the certificate itself. Food and beverages are not included (typically around €100–€150 per person for the week). The same applies at Sailing Life Academy and Medsail Holidays.
IYT vs RYA vs ISSA: Which Certificate Is Worth More?
All three are internationally recognised, but they serve different audiences and are accepted in different contexts.
IYT certificates are recognised in over 60 countries and have MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) approval for many course levels. IYT Bareboat Skipper and Yachtmaster qualifications are widely accepted by charter companies across the Mediterranean, Turkey, Greece, and the Caribbean. The IYT Yachtmaster Coastal, Offshore, and Ocean certifications follow a clear progression and open doors to professional crewing roles.
RYA certificates are the gold standard in the UK and a strong passport across Europe. Sailing Life Academy in Marmaris is an RYA Training Centre. Their courses run to the same curriculum as RYA schools worldwide, which matters if you plan to charter or work on boats in UK, northern European, or Commonwealth waters.
ISSA certificates are recognised in over 40 countries and are particularly common among recreational sailors. Medsail Holidays has operated ISSA-accredited courses from Marmaris since 1988 and has trained over 10,000 students. The ISSA Competent Crew and Bareboat Captain courses are well-structured for beginners who want a recognised licence at a lower entry price.
If you plan to sail primarily in Turkey, Greece, or the broader Mediterranean, any of the three will work. If you plan to charter or work in UK waters specifically, RYA is the safest bet. For international charter flexibility, IYT is the most practical choice.
What Do You Actually Get for the Price?
The price of a Marmaris sailing course covers more than just instruction. Here's what a typical one-week IYT course at Smart Sailing Academy includes:
- Accommodation on board the yacht for 7 nights (Saturday arrival to Saturday departure)
- Course materials from the official IYT curriculum
- The certificate and registration with IYT Worldwide
- Fuel, marina fees, and transit log for the week's sailing
- Maximum 6 students per yacht, as required by IYT regulations
What's not included: food and drinks (expect €100–€150 per person), transfers to and from the yacht, and a VHF radio licence (€200 extra, required alongside a Bareboat Skipper certificate to legally skipper a vessel in most countries).
At Medsail Holidays, the ISSA course structure is similar: accommodation on board, training materials, your licence, bed linen, diesel, marina fees, and end-of-charter cleaning are all included. Food shopping is shared among participants, typically around €100 per person per week.
Course Price by Level: A Real-World Breakdown
Entry Level (No Experience Required)
If you've never sailed before, you start at crew level. This teaches you to handle a yacht as a competent crew member: sail handling, knots, mooring, anchoring, and basic navigation.
- IYT International Crew at Smart Sailing Academy: €1,300/person (1 week)
- ISSA Competent Crew at Medsail Holidays: €950/person (6 days)
The ISSA option is cheaper, but the IYT course runs on a larger yacht (6 students maximum) sailing through the Aegean with Greek Island stops possible (+€300/person for customs and immigration if you cross into Greek waters).
Bareboat Skipper Level
This is the licence that lets you charter and independently skipper a yacht. It's the most popular qualification for people who want to take family or friends sailing.
- IYT Bareboat Skipper at Smart Sailing Academy: €1,500/person (1 week)
- IYT Bareboat Skipper (Intensive, 3 courses in 2 weeks): €2,600/person
- ISSA Bareboat Captain at Medsail Holidays: €950/person (6 days)
Note: a VHF radio licence (€200 extra at Smart Sailing Academy) is legally required alongside your Bareboat Skipper certificate in most countries before you can skipper a charter yacht.
Yachtmaster Level
Yachtmaster qualifications are for experienced sailors who want to sail longer passages, work professionally on yachts, or qualify to skipper commercially.
- IYT Yachtmaster Coastal at Smart Sailing Academy: €1,900/person (1 week)
- IYT Yachtmaster Offshore: €2,900/person (2 weeks)
- IYT Yachtmaster Ocean: €2,500/person (1 week)
- ISSA Yachtmaster Coastal: €2,800/person at Medsail Holidays
- ISSA Yachtmaster Offshore: €2,800/person
- ISSA Yachtmaster Ocean: €2,800/person
The IYT Yachtmaster Offshore at Smart Sailing Academy runs over 2 weeks at €2,900, comparable to the ISSA equivalent at €2,800 for a similar level.
The ICC and VHF Add-Ons: What They Cost and Why You Need Them
Two extras come up in almost every sailing licence enquiry:
ICC (International Certificate of Competency): required by law in many European countries to sail a privately owned or chartered yacht. It's available to IYT Flotilla Skipper certificate holders and above. At Smart Sailing Academy the ICC costs €185. At Medsail Holidays it's included within the ISSA structure. The ICC is recognised in over 40 countries, including most EU member states, under the UNECE Resolution on the standardisation of inland navigation.
VHF Radio Licence: a legal requirement for skippers in most countries. You cannot legally operate a VHF radio on a vessel without it. At Smart Sailing Academy it costs €200 and can be completed during your sailing week. Medsail Holidays offers VHF as a standalone 1-day course (€350).
If you're working toward a Bareboat Skipper certificate, budget for the VHF add-on from the start.
Fast-Track Options: Can You Get Certified in One Trip?
Yes. Smart Sailing Academy offers an intensive 2-week course that covers the full IYT progression from International Crew to Bareboat Skipper in a single trip for €2,600 per person. That's three courses (International Crew, Flotilla Skipper, Bareboat Skipper) back-to-back, living aboard for 14 days.
Medsail Holidays has a similar option: stay on board for 2 weeks and combine the Competent Crew, Flotilla Skipper, and Bareboat Captain courses for €2,000 total.
For context, taking those three courses separately over three visits would cost significantly more in travel and accommodation. If you're serious about getting certified, the intensive route makes financial sense.
When's the Best Time to Book, and Does Price Change by Season?
Smart Sailing Academy publishes summer prices (April to October). Medsail Holidays runs courses year-round, every Saturday. Neither school publishes an explicit off-season discount online, but availability is easier in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) when weather is still good and course dates are less booked.
Marmaris has around 300 sunny days per year, with sea temperatures staying swimmable from May through October. Wind conditions in the Aegean favour sailing from April to October, with the Meltemi wind providing reliable sailing in July and August.
What to Ask Before You Book
Before committing, get clear answers to four questions from any school:
- What's the maximum number of students per boat? IYT requires a maximum of 6. Fewer means more time at the helm.
- Is accommodation on the yacht included, or do I sleep ashore? Most Marmaris courses are live-aboard, which is part of the experience.
- Does the price include the certificate fee? Some schools quote a course price and add the certificate as an extra.
- Is a VHF licence included, or is it extra? Budget €200–€350 for this unless it's in the package.
For a closer look at course levels and what each IYT certificate lets you do, see our complete guide to IYT courses in Marmaris. And if you're comparing schools by instructor quality, facilities, and reviews rather than just price, the full school comparison for 2026 covers that in detail.
FAQ
How much does a sailing licence cost in Marmaris?
Entry-level certificates (International Crew, Competent Crew) start at €950 to €1,300 per person for a one-week course, including accommodation on board, course materials, and the certificate. Bareboat Skipper courses run €950 to €1,500, and Yachtmaster-level courses cost €1,900 to €2,900 depending on the level and school.
Is a Marmaris sailing certificate recognised internationally?
Yes, if issued by IYT, RYA, or ISSA. IYT certificates are recognised in over 60 countries, RYA in the UK and Commonwealth, and ISSA in over 40 countries. All three are accepted by most charter companies in the Mediterranean.
Do I need a VHF radio licence alongside my sailing certificate?
Yes. A VHF Restricted Operator Certificate (Short Range Certificate) is a legal requirement to operate the radio on board. It costs €200 at Smart Sailing Academy or €350 as a standalone course at Medsail Holidays. You can complete it during your sailing week.
Can I get a sailing licence in one week in Marmaris?
Yes. The International Crew and Flotilla Skipper courses each take one week. The Bareboat Skipper also takes one week (or two weeks if combined with the lower levels in an intensive programme). You can go from zero experience to a recognised Bareboat Skipper certificate in a single two-week trip.
What's the cheapest way to get a sailing licence in Marmaris?
The ISSA Competent Crew course at Medsail Holidays starts at €950 per person for six days. If you want an IYT certificate, the International Crew course at Smart Sailing Academy is €1,300 including accommodation on board. Neither price includes food (budget €100–€150) or VHF (budget €200).
Is food included in Marmaris sailing courses?
No, at any of the main schools. Food is either bought collectively by the group (typically €100–€150 per person for the week) or eaten ashore at restaurants. Everything else, including accommodation on the yacht, course materials, and the certificate, is included.
Do I need any experience to start a sailing course in Marmaris?
No. The entry-level courses (IYT International Crew, ISSA Competent Crew, RYA Competent Crew) are designed for complete beginners. You'll learn everything you need to crew a sailing yacht safely over the first week.
Sources & References
- Smart Sailing Academy Price List — IYT course prices verified August 2026
- Medsail Holidays Sailing School — ISSA course prices and curriculum verified August 2026
- IYT Worldwide — Government Approvals — IYT recognition in 60+ countries
- ISSA Global — ISSA recognition and ICC information
- IYT Worldwide — Why IYT — IYT certification overview
- Sailing Life Academy — RYA Training Centre based in Marmaris