Greece Is Not One Sailing Destination. It's Five.

Greece is not one sailing destination. It is at least five. Which region suits you best depends on your group, your type of boat, the time of year, and what you want from the week. This article compares the five main charter areas in Greece: the Saronic Gulf, the Cyclades, the Ionian Islands, the Dodecanese, and the Sporades.

No superlatives, no travel brochure tone. Just straight information about distances, wind conditions, what you will find there and what you will not. Based on multiple sailing seasons in Greek waters.

1. Saronic Gulf: Close to Athens, Protected Waters, Genuine Character

Base Port

Athens (Alimos Marina or Zea Marina, Piraeus).

The Islands

Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Agistri. Add the Peloponnesian coastal towns of Ermioni, Epidavros, Nafplio, and Monemvasia if you have two weeks.

Distances

This is the most compact sailing area in Greece. Athens to Aegina is 18 nautical miles. Aegina to Poros is 22 nm. Poros to Hydra is 12 nm. Hydra to Spetses is 12 nm. You rarely spend more than 2 to 3 hours underway per day.

Wind Conditions

The Saronic Gulf is sheltered by the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese. The Meltemi reaches this area but significantly weaker than in the Cyclades. Expect light to moderate winds in summer, typically 2 to 4 Beaufort, occasionally 5 Beaufort in July and August. Calm sailing.

Character

This is the cultural charter region. Hydra is a car-free island with a harbour that looks frozen in 1850. Leonard Cohen lived there for years. Epidavros has the best-preserved ancient Greek theatre in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where performances are still held every summer. Aegina has the Temple of Aphaia, one of the finest surviving Doric temples in Greece. Nafplio (reachable on a two-week charter) is one of the most attractive towns on the Peloponnese.

Worth knowing: the Saronic Gulf is not postcard Greece like the Cyclades. No whitewashed houses with blue doors. It is greener, more historically layered, and less touristy. If you are expecting a Mykonos atmosphere, this is not your region.

Best For

Families with children (calm water, short legs). Guests with a genuine interest in history and culture. First-time charterers. An excellent fallback option when the Meltemi makes the Cyclades uncomfortable.

Sample Route (7 Days, Catamaran)

• Day 1: Athens to Aegina (18 nm)

• Day 2: Aegina to Poros (20 nm)

• Day 3: Poros to Hydra (12 nm)

• Day 4: Hydra, free day on the island

• Day 5: Hydra to Spetses (12 nm)

• Day 6: Spetses to Ermioni (8 nm)

• Day 7: Ermioni back to Athens (40 nm)

Total sailing time: compact, with a maximum of 3 hours per day except the final leg.

2. Cyclades: Iconic, Spectacular and Demanding

Base Port

Athens (Alimos Marina), Lavrion, or Paros. Lavrion sits further southeast and saves half a day of transit toward the islands.

The Islands

Kea, Kythnos, Serifos, Sifnos, Milos, Paros, Naxos, Mykonos, Tinos, Andros, Ios, Folegandros, Santorini, Amorgos, the Small Cyclades (Koufonisi, Schinoussa, Iraklia).

Distances

Larger than the Saronic Gulf. Athens to Kea is 38 nm. Kea to Kythnos is 13 nm. Kythnos to Serifos is 15 nm. Serifos to Sifnos is 10 nm. Sifnos to Milos is 17 nm. Those are the western Cyclades and the distances are manageable. But Athens to Mykonos is 95 nm. Mykonos to Santorini is 65 nm. If you want both Mykonos and Santorini in a single week from Athens, plan on two full sailing days. That is half your holiday.

Wind Conditions

The Meltemi dominates from mid-June to mid-September. This is a northerly wind that sweeps across the Aegean Sea, amplified by the channelling effect between the islands. Standard 4 to 6 Beaufort (11 to 27 knots) with regular gusts to 7 to 8 Beaufort (28 to 40 knots). In July and August, the Meltemi can blow for days without a break.

The wind runs north to south. You sail with it going south, against it heading north. A smart Cyclades route goes north to south, or loops in a way that works with the dominant wind direction.

Andros and Tinos are the windiest islands. The strait between Evia and Andros (Kafireas/Cavo Doro) has a bad reputation among experienced sailors and is best avoided in strong Meltemi conditions.

Character

The Cyclades are what most people picture when they say "Greek islands." Whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, spectacular sunsets. Mykonos is the party island. Paros and Naxos offer more variety. Milos may have the finest coastline in the archipelago, 75 beaches in every colour. Sifnos is the food island. Folegandros and Amorgos are the quiet, authentic alternatives.

Santorini is spectacular from the water, but anchoring is difficult (deep water, volcanic seabed, poor holding) and Vlychada Marina has limited space. Most skippers prefer to anchor outside the caldera or use Vlychada Marina and take a tender ashore.

Best For

Experienced charterers who are comfortable with wind and longer passages. Couples and friend groups without young children. Photography enthusiasts. Anyone who wants the iconic Greek island experience.

Sample Route (7 Days, Catamaran from Lavrion)

• Day 1: Lavrion to Kea (20 nm)

• Day 2: Kea to Kythnos (13 nm)

• Day 3: Kythnos to Serifos (15 nm)

• Day 4: Serifos to Sifnos (10 nm)

• Day 5: Sifnos to Milos (17 nm)

• Day 6: Milos, free day

• Day 7: Milos back to Sifnos or Kythnos (return leg depending on wind)

Alternative for those set on Mykonos: Lavrion, Kea, Syros, Mykonos (rest day), Paros, Naxos, return via Kythnos.

3. Ionian Islands: Calm Water and Green Coastlines

Base Port

Corfu (Gouvia Marina) for the northern Ionian Islands. Lefkada (Lefkada Marina) for the south. Both islands have international airports (Corfu direct flights; Lefkada via Preveza/Aktion on the mainland).

The Islands

Corfu, Paxos, Antipaxos, Lefkada, Meganisi, Ithaca, Kefalonia, Zakynthos. Plus the mainland harbours of Sivota and Parga.

Distances

Corfu to Paxos (Lakka) is 25 nm. Paxos to Lefkada is 30 to 40 nm. Lefkada to Fiskardo (Kefalonia) is 20 nm. Fiskardo to Vathi (Ithaca) is 15 nm. Comfortable day sails of 2 to 4 hours.

The Ionian Islands run along the western coast of mainland Greece from Corfu in the north to Zakynthos in the south. Covering all of them properly takes two weeks. In a week you can comfortably do the northern section (Corfu, Paxos, Lefkada) or the southern section (Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca).

Wind Conditions

The Ionian Sea is the calmest sailing area in Greece. The Meltemi barely reaches this side of the country. In summer you get the Maistro, a reliable thermal wind of 2 to 4 Beaufort that picks up in the afternoon and drops by evening. Stress-free sailing.

Character

Green. That is the first word. The Ionian Islands have a completely different landscape from the Aegean islands. Dense vegetation, cypress trees, olive groves and pine forests reaching the waterline. The water is turquoise and often crystal clear, particularly around Paxos and Antipaxos. Venetian influence is visible everywhere in the architecture, especially on Corfu and in Fiskardo on Kefalonia.

Paxos is a small island, 13 km long, with three harbours: Gaios, Lakka, and Loggos. All three are worth a stop. Antipaxos, just south, has two beaches, Vrika and Voutoumi, with water that genuinely looks Caribbean. Fiskardo on Kefalonia is one of the only places in the Ionian Islands that survived the 1953 earthquake and it shows: colourful Venetian houses lining the harbour. Ithaca is Odysseus's island, small and authentic, with Vathi as its capital.

Best For

Families with young children (calm water, sheltered bays). First-time charterers. Guests who prefer nature and quiet over nightlife and tourism. Pairs well with the western Peloponnese coast for a two-week charter.

Sample Route (7 Days, Catamaran from Corfu)

• Day 1: Corfu to Sivota/Mourtos (20 nm)

• Day 2: Sivota to Paxos, Lakka (15 nm)

• Day 3: Paxos to Antipaxos and back (5 nm)

• Day 4: Paxos to Lefkada (35 nm)

• Day 5: Lefkada to Meganisi (8 nm)

• Day 6: Meganisi to Fiskardo, Kefalonia (18 nm)

• Day 7: Fiskardo back to Corfu (55 nm, longer sailing day) or finish in Lefkada

4. Dodecanese: Sun, History and the Turkish Coast Just Over the Water

Base Port

Kos or Rhodes. Both islands have international airports with direct flights from across Europe.

The Islands

Rhodes, Kos, Patmos, Symi, Leros, Kalymnos, Nisyros, Tilos, Astypalea, Halki, Karpathos. Plus numerous smaller uninhabited islands.

Distances

The Dodecanese arc along the Turkish coast like a crescent. Kos to Kalymnos is 10 nm. Kalymnos to Leros is 12 nm. Leros to Patmos is 20 nm. Kos to Nisyros is 12 nm. Kos to Rhodes is 55 nm. A one-way route from Kos to Rhodes sailing with the Meltemi from north to south is popular and logistically straightforward.

Wind Conditions

The Meltemi blows here too, from the northwest, but generally weaker than in the Cyclades: 4 to 6 Beaufort. The islands sit close to the Turkish coast, which provides some shelter. Inter-island distances are short and the water is reasonably protected.

Character

The Dodecanese is the most diverse island group in Greece. Rhodes has a medieval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that puts every other city in the Aegean in the shade. Patmos holds the Monastery of Saint John and the Cave of the Apocalypse, also UNESCO listed. Symi may be the most photogenic island in all of Greece: a natural amphitheatre of neoclassical pastel houses rising around a compact harbour.

Kalymnos is the sponge-diving island, now better known as one of Europe's top sport climbing destinations. Nisyros has an active volcano you can walk into, right down to the crater floor. Astypalea, at the western edge of the chain, has more of a Cycladic character, with a whitewashed village below a Venetian castle.

The Turkish coast, Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye, is only a few hours away. Some charter guests combine a week in the Dodecanese with a stop on the Turkish side. Be aware that crossing the border requires additional paperwork and not all charter yachts are cleared for it.

Best For

History enthusiasts. Guests who want to get off the main charter circuit. Experienced charterers who already know the Cyclades. Divers and climbers. Anyone considering a Greece and Turkey combination.

Sample Route (7 Days, Catamaran from Kos)

• Day 1: Kos to Kalymnos (10 nm)

• Day 2: Kalymnos to Leros (12 nm)

• Day 3: Leros to Patmos (20 nm)

• Day 4: Patmos, free day

• Day 5: Patmos to Lipsi (10 nm)

• Day 6: Lipsi back to Kos (30 nm)

Alternative: finish in Rhodes via Nisyros, Tilos, and Symi as a one-way route.

5. Sporades: The Part of Greece Most Sailors Miss

Base Port

Athens (Alimos Marina) with one sailing day north, or Volos/Skiathos as local starting points. Skiathos has an international airport with direct summer flights.

The Islands

Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros. Plus the uninhabited islands of Kyra Panagia, Peristera, Gioura and others within the National Marine Park of Alonissos.

Distances

Skiathos to Skopelos is 12 nm. Skopelos to Alonissos is 8 nm. The three main islands sit close together. Skyros lies separately, about 45 nm southeast of Alonissos, and is worth treating as a destination in its own right.

Wind Conditions

The Sporades are more sheltered than the Cyclades. The Meltemi is present but weaker, typically 3 to 4 Beaufort. The lush vegetation on the islands softens the wind conditions compared to the bare rock islands of the Aegean.

Character

The Sporades are the Greece of the Mamma Mia film (shot on Skopelos). Pine forests running straight to the water. More than 60 beaches on Skiathos alone. Skopelos is quieter and has genuine Greek village life, narrow streets, churches, and traditional tavernas. Alonissos contains the largest protected marine park in Europe, the National Marine Park of Alonissos, with a rich underwater world including the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

This is the place for anyone who wants nature and quiet, away from the main charter hotspots. The infrastructure is simpler than in the Cyclades or Ionian Islands. Fewer restaurants, no real nightlife, more silence.

Best For

Nature lovers. Divers (the Alonissos marine park). Guests looking for the lesser-known side of Greece. Pairs well with the Peloponnese or the Evia coast for a two-week charter.

Sample Route (7 Days, Catamaran from Skiathos)

• Day 1: Skiathos, explore the island and beaches

• Day 2: Skiathos to Skopelos (12 nm)

• Day 3: Skopelos, free day

• Day 4: Skopelos to Alonissos (8 nm)

• Day 5: Alonissos, explore the Marine Park by tender

• Day 6: Alonissos to Kyra Panagia or Peristera (10 nm)

• Day 7: Return to Skiathos (25 nm)

Which Region Is Right for You?

Discover our sample Greek itineraries in an interactive overview here.

*The Cyclades work for first-time charterers in the shoulder season (less Meltemi) with an experienced skipper.

When to Go

The charter season in Greece runs from May to October. Each part of the season has its own character.

May and June: Pleasantly warm (22 to 28°C), calmer water, lower prices, fewer crowds. Sea temperature is still fresh (20 to 23°C) but swimmable. Best months for the Cyclades before the Meltemi arrives in force and for the Saronic Gulf year-round.

July and August: Hot (30 to 35°C), Meltemi at its strongest in the Cyclades and Dodecanese. Sea temperature at its peak (25 to 27°C). High season with matching prices and marina queues. The Ionian Islands and Sporades are calmer in terms of wind during these months.

September and October: The sweet spot. Warm (25 to 30°C), sea temperature still excellent (25 to 27°C), the Meltemi eases off, prices drop 20 to 30 percent, the crowds thin out. September is the best month to sail Greece.

About the Author

Maurits is a professional yacht charter broker and founder of Frontier Yachting, based in Belgium. He worked multiple seasons as a yacht captain in Greece and the Caribbean and knows the Mediterranean's waters, harbours, and charter fleet from the inside.

Contact: hello@frontieryachting.com | +32 487 22 08 22

More information: Use our free AI itinerary builder to plan your Greece route, or get in touch for a no-obligation quote with route advice tailored to your group.

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