The 7 Best Superyachts at the 2025 Venice Boat Show
One of Europe’s most idyllic boat shows takes place in Venice this week in the historic Arsenale district of the historic floating city. The sixth edition of the Salone Nautico Venezia 2025 starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday. The in-water show will feature about 300 yachts docked along the Arsenale’s quays, with a total of 220 exhibitors.
“This event is not just a market, but above all a moment to exchange knowledge, expertise, work and attention to sustainability through in-depth discussions on the theme of the sea and how to preserve it,” said Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro at the opening ceremony, pointing to the historic importance of Venice’s waterborne trading routes.
Beyond the event’s motoryachts, a flotilla of sailing vessels will be moored in the harbor. Many of those are multihulls, including electric-powered catamarans. These sustainable vessels have become an important component of the show, and examples range from electric tenders, runabouts, e-foils, surfboards and paddleboards, all the way to the 165-foot Sanlorenzo Almax, with its unique diesel-hybrid propulsion system. Harking back to tradition, Venice also has a Wood Village that displays many classic-looking designs, including locally built gondolas and limousine tenders, made of mahogany and other woods. While not the largest in Europe, the show has the most scenic backdrop and is a good precursor to larger fall shows like Cannes and Monaco.
Here are our favorite yachts in Venice this year.
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Ferretti Yachts 940 Flybridge
Image Credit: Ferretti Yachts The new flagship of the Ferretti Yachts line, this 100-footer is more mini-superyacht than oversized flybridge. The first widebody vessel for the brand was conceived as a “seagoing home,” according to Ferretti, with generous interior and exterior spaces that replicate a larger vessel. The exterior came from the drawing board of Filippo Salvetti and the interior from Ideaitalia. The four-stateroom layout combines large windows and light-colored furniture that are anchored by darker wood paneling and accents. Standard power of twin 2,000 hp MAN V-12 engines deliver a top speed of 25 knots, with a friendly 21-knot cruising speed.
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Pershing GTX70
Image Credit: Pershing Yachts The new GTX70, making its Venice debut, is Pershing’s entry-level model in the GTX series. Created by Vallicelli Design, with input from the Ferretti Group’s engineering department and product strategy committee, the 70-footer is defined by both its looks—a sleek exterior and sporty rounded superstructure—and top speed of 35 knots, thanks to three Volvo Penta D13-IPS1200 engines that produce 2,700 hp. Its three-stateroom design lets owners and guests can enjoy weekend cruising, while the exterior promotes gracious outdoor living in the large beach-club area, or up on the sport bridge.
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Apreamare Gozzo 38 Cabin
Image Credit: Apreamare This new model from Apreamare is making its first appearance at Venice. The traditionally styled “gozzo” design is paired with a contemporary deck house for shelter in extreme weather, and best of all, allows for year-round cruising. Being Italian, the designers made sure to emphasize a four-season dining area adjoining the cockpit that can be left open for alfresco dining or enclosed in chillier weather. The two-stateroom interior also makes it a great weekend cruiser. Of course, the real beauty of this design are the curves on the hull, including a semi-circular stern, which give a distinctive look.
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Pardo GT75
Image Credit: Pardo Yachts The Italian builder’s GT75 flagship is also making its Venice premiere. Available in three- and four-stateroom layouts, the GT75 was first tested by Hollywood actor Kevin Costner during a four-day cruise of the Aeolian islands last summer. Nauta Design gave the GT75 a trendy new look that includes a plumb bow and distinctive superstructure (with a reverse-angle windshield), large forward social area in the bow and even large beach area in the stern that folds out on three sides. The interior salon is open plan, with lots of space and natural light, a design philosophy that carries over into the staterooms. The three 800 hp Volvo Penta IPS 1000s deliver a top end of 43.7 mph.
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Azimut Fly 68
Image Credit: Azimut Yachts Azimut’s Fly series has evolved over the years, but its Fly 68 retains the lines’s DNA for stylish, sporty looks and performance. The flybridge has a reverse radar arch that prompts a double take, while the remainder of the exterior focuses on open space (case in point, the foredeck), along with the beautiful design of the cockpit and stern area. Azimut used carbon fiber in the superstructure and hardtop to minimize weight and maximize space. The interior by Achille Salvagni includes multiple configurations, with three- and four-stateroom layouts and choices for enclosed, open, or aft galleys. Its Volvo Penta IPS 1350 engines deliver a top speed of 32 knots.
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Riva 68 Diable
Image Credit: Riva Yachts The 68 Diable lives up to its name—a handsome devil that will be the most stunning yacht at Venice. The boat is different in just about every way, from the lounge and sunpad on the foredeck, to the sleek carbon-fiber hardtop that protects the center area (with lounges and wetbar), to the four-person sunpad at the stern. Two protected stairways on either side lead down to the water. Below-decks, there’s a VIP double cabin and full-beam owner’s stateroom with an ensuite that includes a separate shower and toilet. It is definitely a breakthrough design for Riva.
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Astondoa AS8
Image Credit: Astondoa Yachts The 82.5-foot AS8 will also be showing at Venice for the first time. The Spanish builder employed a different take with this flybridge design. That’s seen through that tall superstructure that adds to the interior space, a bridge that juts to the rear to create a private nook with sunpads, and a sweeping social area on the foredeck, and a large swim platform for easy water access. The interior pulls off an angular minimalistic look that feature lounges along the side of the main salon, and large windows that deliver natural light. Belowdecks are a full-beam main suite, two VIPs, and a twin cabin, all of which are defined by beautiful wood and marble accents. The twin MAN V12-1600 engines deliver a top end of 32 knots.
