A sailing holiday from Athens usually starts at Alimos (Kalamaki) Marina, on the coast south of the city centre, where most charter boats are based. 600+ boats sail from Athens: 350+ sailing yachts and 200+ catamarans. A week on a sailing yacht with 3-5 cabins costs €2,000-4,000 in May and October and €3,000-6,450 in July and August; obligatory extras come on top. Boat numbers, prices and booking months in this guide come from the boats listed on Yacht4Less (2027 prices, checked October 2026).
This guide gives 7-day and 14-day itineraries from Athens through the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs, and everything you need to plan them. Planning more of Greece? See our guide to sailing holidays in Greece.
Most boats start from Alimos Marina. The next largest group is in Lavrion, on the south-east coast of Attica, closer to the Cyclades. Smaller numbers start from Nea Peramos, west of Athens, and Zea Marina in Piraeus. Boats have 2-7 cabins and sleep 4-13 people in the cabins.
| Category | Key information |
|---|---|
| Sailing season | April to October. May, June and September offer the best balance. |
| Wind | The Attic mainland partly shelters the Saronic Gulf from the summer Meltemi, but the wind still reaches the Aegina area in July and August. |
| Busiest months | June, July, August, September and October (2026 bookings). |
| Starting points | Alimos Marina, Lavrion, Nea Peramos Marina and Zea Marina. |
| Boats | 600+ boats: 350+ sailing yachts and 200+ catamarans, with 2-7 cabins. |
| Weekly price | Sailing yacht, 3-5 cabins: €2,000-4,000 in May and October, €3,000-6,450 in July and August. Catamaran, 4-6 cabins: €3,950-9,850 in May and October, €7,350-15,250 in July and August. Obligatory extras come on top. |
| Skipper | About €215 a day, plus the skipper's food on most boats. |
| Licence requirements | Bareboat: a licence from your own country, or a certificate from a club or sailing school abroad (for example ICC, RYA Day Skipper or ASA 104), and a co-skipper. Skippered or crewed: no licence needed for guests. |
| Key destinations | Aegina, Poros, Dokos, Spetses, Hydra, Nafplio and Monemvasia. |
The best time to sail from Athens is April to October, with the mildest weather in late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September). In July and August, Athens is very hot (average highs around 32°C on the coast, hotter in the city centre and in heat waves), and the Meltemi in the nearby Cyclades is at its strongest, regularly Force 5-7 (about 17-33 knots, from a fresh breeze to a near gale). In 2026, 92% of booked charter days from Athens fell between May and October, and September was the busiest month. From November to March, fewer than 3% of charter days were booked.
| Month | Air (average high) | Sea | Rain | Wind | Share of bookings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 20°C | 16°C | 26 mm | Before the Meltemi | 6% |
| May | 24°C | 19°C | 14 mm | Light; the Meltemi can start | 12% |
| June | 29°C | 23°C | 5 mm | Meltemi starts | 15% |
| July | 32°C | 26°C | 6 mm | Meltemi at its strongest | 16% |
| August | 32°C | 26°C | 6 mm | Meltemi at its strongest | 17% |
| September | 28°C | 25°C | 12 mm | Meltemi less frequent | 18% |
| October | 23°C | 22°C | 46 mm | Meltemi weakens | 15% |
Air and rain: monthly averages for Elliniko, coastal Athens (HNMS). Sea: monthly average. Wind: in the Cyclades; the Saronic Gulf is partly sheltered. Share of bookings: booked charter days of the Athens boats listed on Yacht4Less in 2026, all booking channels.
If you stay in the Saronic Gulf (Aegina, Poros, Hydra), the Attic mainland partly shields you from the Meltemi, so sailing is manageable even in mid-summer, with a lively summer scene on Hydra and Spetses. The Meltemi can start in mid-May and usually becomes regular in late June or early July, so June has steady but not overpowering breezes, and ancient sites such as Cape Sounion's Temple of Poseidon or the theatre at Epidaurus are less crowded.
After late August the Meltemi weakens or blows less often, so September also suits a trip to the Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini), with a warm sea and fewer crowds after the Greek summer holidays. April brings spring blossom on the islands but a chilly sea and some showers; in October the chance of rain rises as the month goes on, and many charter companies operate until mid or late October.
Prices are per week for the whole boat, not per person, and depend on the season, the type of boat and the number of cabins.
| Boat | May and October | June and September | July and August |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sailing yacht, 3 cabins (sleeps 6) | €2,000-3,150 | €2,800-4,050 | €3,000-4,400 |
| Sailing yacht, 4 cabins (sleeps 8) | €2,350-3,500 | €3,400-4,650 | €3,650-4,950 |
| Sailing yacht, 5 cabins (sleeps 10) | €2,850-4,000 | €4,000-5,600 | €4,450-6,450 |
| Catamaran, 4 cabins (sleeps 8) | €3,950-6,050 | €6,250-8,300 | €7,350-9,800 |
| Catamaran, 5 cabins (sleeps 10) | €5,500-7,750 | €8,050-9,800 | €9,550-11,450 |
| Catamaran, 6 cabins (sleeps 12) | €6,000-9,850 | €9,550-13,000 | €11,150-15,250 |
2027 bareboat prices on Yacht4Less, checked October 2026. Each range leaves out the cheapest quarter and the most expensive quarter of the listed weekly prices. "Sleeps" counts the berths in the cabins. Boat sizes with fewer than 10 bareboat boats in Athens are left out.
On top of the boat price come obligatory extras, such as a final cleaning or a damage waiver: €250-500 for a week. They are not hidden: the boat page lists them as "Obligatory", and checkout shows them before you pay.
A skipper costs about €215 a day, and on most boats you also pay for the skipper's food. Browse bareboat charters in Athens or catamarans in Athens.
Example: a 3-cabin sailing yacht for a week in July. The boat costs about €3,000-4,400. Obligatory extras add €250-500. A skipper for the 7 days adds about €1,505, plus the skipper's food. Without a skipper, the week comes to about €3,300-4,900. With a skipper, it is about €4,800-6,400 plus food. The refundable security deposit, usually €2,500-3,500, is not included.
Both routes start and end at Alimos Marina, with a check-in day first. The 7-day route loops through the Saronic islands, 16 to 30 NM a day. The 2-week route continues into the Argolic Gulf and down the coast of the Peloponnese to Monemvasia; its longest day is 43 NM. New to sailing? Read The Ultimate First-Time Sailing Guide: Tips for New Sailors.
| Day | Route | Sailing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check-in | |
| 2 | Athens to Poros | 30 NM, 6 h |
| 3 | Poros to Dokos | 18 NM, 3½ h |
| 4 | Dokos to Spetses | 16 NM, 3 h |
| 5 | Spetses to Hydra | 19 NM, 4 h |
| 6 | Hydra to Aegina | 27 NM, 5½ h |
| 7 | Aegina to Athens | 21 NM, 4 h |
Day 1: Athens, Alimos (Kalamaki) Marina (Check-in)
Check-in is at 17:00. A large supermarket less than 5 minutes' walk from the marina delivers to yachts, and the marina has a smaller supermarket and kiosks; Yacht4Less can also have provisions delivered to the boat. Greece is known for its tomatoes and melons: stock up on fresh produce at the local markets and cook on board.
Day 2: Athens to Agia Marina, Aegina, to Poros (30 NM)
Sailing from Athens to Agia Marina on Aegina, 13 NM, takes about 2½ hours. Agia Marina has one of the longest sandy beaches on Aegina, with shallow water for wading. In Poros, try wakeboarding, waterskiing or parasailing, or take a scooter over the hills.
Day 3: Poros to Tselevinia to Dokos (18 NM)
Dokos has only a handful of inhabitants: hike up to the castle ruins on the hill of Kastro. In the water around the island, at a depth of 15 to 30 m, lies one of the oldest known shipwrecks in the world; its finds, mostly pottery, went to the Spetses Museum.
Day 4: Dokos to Porto Cheli to Zogeria, Spetses (16 NM)
Porto Heli has a protected harbour, well set up for yachts, and both small coves and long sandy beaches. Visit Halieis, an important city in the 6th to 4th centuries BC, and try the wine, cheese, olives and honey of the Argolida. Then cross the strait to Zogeria Bay on Spetses for the night.
Day 5: Zogeria to Spetses Old Port to Hydra (19 NM)
Spetses, once called Piteoussa (covered with pines), has beaches backed by green pines, and caves with pink and mauve walls for snorkelling; in September, the Armata re-enacts the island's naval victory in the Greek revolution. Then sail on to Hydra, where cars are not allowed and donkeys do the carrying: walk the cobbled streets past stone mansions and bougainvillea, and eat at To Piato, a traditional restaurant on the port.
Day 6: Hydra to Moni, Aegina, to Aegina Town (27 NM)
Stop at Moni, an uninhabited island with a secluded cove; the sea floor is rocky, so bring water shoes. Kri-kri goats, deer and peacocks roam free ashore, and on the Perdika side of Aegina you can watch for seals. Spend the night in Aegina town: visit Agios Nektarios, a church and monastery built for a Greek saint, and eat at Avli ("courtyard").
Day 7: Aegina Town to Salamina to Athens (Kalamaki Marina) (21 NM)
On the way back, stop at Salamina, a relaxed island just off Athens: swim at Selinia, Saterli or Kaki Vigla, see the Cave of Euripides, where by tradition the playwright wrote his tragedies, and have a last meal at the taverna Bakothanassis. Back at Alimos Marina, check-out is at 09:00 the next morning.
| Day | Route | Sailing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check-in | |
| 2 | Athens to Poros | 30 NM, 6 h |
| 3 | Poros to Dokos | 18 NM, 3½ h |
| 4 | Dokos to Spetses | 16 NM, 3 h |
| 5 | Spetses to Nafplio | 24 NM, 5 h |
| 6 | Nafplio to Leonidion | 28 NM, 5½ h |
| 7 | Leonidion to Kyparissi | 16 NM, 3 h |
| 8 | Kyparissi to Monemvasia | 21 NM, 4 h |
| 9 | Monemvasia to Gerakas | 9 NM, 2 h |
| 10 | Gerakas to Ermioni | 43 NM, 8½ h |
| 11 | Ermioni to Hydra | 16 NM, 3 h |
| 12 | Hydra to Methana | 18 NM, 3½ h |
| 13 | Methana to Athens | 30 NM, 6 h |
| 14 | Athens |
Days 1-4: Athens, Aegina and Poros, Dokos, Spetses
The same as on the 7-day route.
Day 5: Spetses to Tolo to Nafplio (24 NM)
Stop at Tolo for a swim or lunch, then continue to Nafplio: walk its Venetian alleys, climb the Palamidi Fortress and have dinner in the Old Town.
Day 6: Nafplio to Astros to Plaka, Leonidion (28 NM)
Sail down the coast of the eastern Peloponnese past Astros, a traditional town among olive groves and hills, to Plaka, the port of Leonidion, a quiet harbour under high cliffs.
Day 7: Leonidion to Fokianos to Kyparissi (16 NM)
Swim at Fokianos, a cove with a white pebble beach and clear water, then anchor off Kyparissi, a village untouched by mass tourism.
Day 8: Kyparissi to Monemvasia (21 NM)
Monemvasia is a medieval fortress town built on a huge rock. Moor below its walls and walk the cobbled alleys past stone mansions and Byzantine churches.
Day 9: Monemvasia to Gerakas (9 NM)
Gerakas is Greece's only fjord-like inlet: a narrow entrance leads to a lagoon-like harbour, a quiet anchorage with a traditional meal by the water.
Day 10: Gerakas to Dokos to Ermioni (43 NM)
The longest day, about 8½ hours, so start early. Swim at Dokos on the way, then reach Ermioni, a harbour town with a pine-covered peninsula and waterfront tavernas.
Day 11: Ermioni to Soupia to Hydra (16 NM)
Swim at Soupia, then moor in Hydra's historic port, with its stone mansions, art galleries and streets lined with bougainvillea.
Day 12: Hydra to Russian Bay, Poros, to Methana (18 NM)
Anchor in Russian Bay near Poros for a swim backed by pine forest, then continue to Methana, a volcanic peninsula with sulphur springs and quiet village life.
Day 13: Methana to Agistri to Athens (Kalamaki Marina) (30 NM)
One last stop at Agistri for a swim or a coffee ashore, then sail back to Alimos Marina.
Day 14: Athens
A free day in Athens: take a taxi to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, or walk through the ancient Agora and up Philopappou Hill for the view. Check-out is at 09:00 the next morning.
Hours: at an average of 5 knots.
NM: the shortest sea route between the harbours, rounded to whole nautical miles; days with a swim stop include it. With wind and tacking you will sail more.
Yes. To charter a bareboat out of Athens, the skipper shows a sailing licence. Greek law accepts a licence from your own country, or a certificate from a club or sailing school abroad: an ICC or a national qualification such as RYA Day Skipper or ASA 104. A certificate from outside the EU that is not in Greek or English needs a translation into one of them. Charter companies also ask for a second person who can sail the boat if the skipper is incapacitated; they sign a declaration of sailing competence or, ideally, show a lesser qualification.
Alimos and Lavrion are busy charter hubs with a standard process: a short briefing and a check of papers at the dock office, and no boat until the company has seen the credentials. Greek authorities are stricter than before about sailors with miles but no certificate, so get an ICC or a recognised licence. It is also recommended that one crew member holds a VHF radio certificate, since marinas and port authorities may call you on VHF.
No licence? Book a skippered charter (the skipper's fee is in the cost section above): Athens has a large pool of professional skippers, used to guests from many countries. Not sure your certificate is accepted? Ask us before you book.
Athens is the gateway to some of Greece's best sailing routes, with bareboat, skippered and crewed charters. Confident sailors take a bareboat charter to hop between Aegina, Poros and Hydra under their own command: the Saronic waters are relatively gentle, and experienced crews can venture on to the Cyclades. Browse bareboat boats in Athens.
New to sailing in Greece, or just want to relax? Hire a skipper: they take the yacht through the busy marina and onto a gentle circuit of the Saronic Gulf, or toward Mykonos, while you enjoy the ride. Most boats in Athens list a skipper as an extra; add one when you book.
Athens also has a fleet of crewed yachts. On a fully crewed yacht charter, the trip begins in the shadow of the Acropolis and soon has you dining on deck in a quiet bay, with the crew taking care of everything. 50+ fully crewed yachts are listed in Athens.
The waters off Athens are some of the busiest in Greece, but with the usual rules and some care they are straightforward:
Starting in Athens lets you see its ancient sites before or after your sailing week. The Acropolis, with the Parthenon on top, is visible from some Athens marinas on a clear day. Plan a day or two to walk among the ruins of the Agora, climb Philopappou Hill for the view of the Acropolis, or visit the Acropolis Museum.
Watch the sunset from Cape Sounion, where the Temple of Poseidon stands. Many charters from Athens sail to Sounion for a first or last night, at anchor in the bay below the temple.
Each island has its own history. Hydra and Spetses were key players in the 1821 War of Independence, and Aegina was briefly the seat of the first Greek government (1828-29). Hydra has no cars: donkeys and water taxis are the transport. Heading into the Cyclades, Delos near Mykonos is one vast archaeological site.
In Athens, dine with Acropolis views, try modern Greek food in Psirri or Plaka, find a traditional taverna in Monastiraki, or go to a humble taverna in Piraeus for the freshest grilled fish. Around Athens:
Stock the boat with feta, olives, fresh bread and local fish, and dine on deck between the islands.
Similar Greek Islands to discover
The yachting community's most-asked questions, answered by our experts.
Some boats do. 33 boats in Athens offer one-way trips, to Lavrion or Kos; the boat page shows the fee. To book one, ask us. Most charters start and end in Athens.
Yes. The base takes a refundable security deposit at check-in; on the Athens boats that list one, it is usually €2,500-3,500. On some Athens boats a damage waiver is also an obligatory extra, usually €400-500 for a one-week charter. The waiver lowers what you pay if something is damaged, and it is not refunded. Ask the base how it takes the deposit (card hold or cash).
Charters in Athens run from Saturday to Saturday. On almost all boats, check-in is at 17:00 and check-out at 09:00. Book flights that land by the afternoon on arrival day and leave after mid-morning on departure day.
Yes, you should dock at Palaia Epidavros on the Peloponnese coast. From the harbour, it is a twenty-minute taxi ride to the sanctuary. The 4th-century BC theatre is known for its acoustics, and the visit fits in a half-day break from sailing.
Yes. Yacht4Less can arrange for groceries to be delivered to your boat before you arrive; you pay for the food itself. Tell us what you need when you book.
