Italy Just One-Upped Ice Cream Trucks with Gelato Boats

There are plenty of reasons to visit this sun-soaked island off Italy’s southern coast—ancient ruins, turquoise water, postcard-perfect cliffs—but if you’re a foodie at heart, authentic Sicilian gelato is a non-negotiable stop.

Born in Italy back in the 14th century, gelato has been perfected over centuries and is now a national obsession. You’ll find it everywhere in Italy… and I mean everywhere. Even floating on the sea.

During Sicily’s summer months, you don’t even have to leave your boat (or your sun-drenched floatie) to score a scoop. That’s because the island’s coastal towns, including the gorgeous ancient city of Cefalù, are home to “gelato boats”—floating gelaterias that drift from one boat to another, serving cold, creamy perfection to locals and lucky tourists bobbing in the Mediterranean.

Cefalù—once ruled by Greeks, Romans, and Arabs—now adds “home to the most delicious boat service ever invented” to its resume. The floating Gelato Boat Bar has become a local legend. The setup? Picture a small, sun-bleached boat covered in colorful photos of waffle cones, fruity scoops, and brand-name treats. According to ladycollinsstyle, prices hover around €5 (about $5.84), which feels like a small price to pay for bragging rights to “gelato delivered by sea.”

And really, how could this not make the bucket list? Picture it: you’re drifting lazily off the Sicilian coast, sea breeze in your hair, sun glinting off the waves—when out of nowhere, a cheery gelato boat sidles up like a dessert mirage. A smiling vendor passes you a cone piled high with pistachio, and suddenly, life feels like an Italian daydream!