Nautilus Yachting > Yacht Charter > Greece Yacht Charter > Athens
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Enjoy a relaxed yacht charter in Greece, sailing from Athens and exploring the Saronic Gulf (south of Athens) with reliable winds and a good variety of islands to visit.
Start your sailing holiday from Athens and discover the unspoilt islands of the Saronic Gulf and Argolic Gulf. These Greek islands have bustling, cosmopolitan towns, ancient temples, Byzantine castles, traditional fishing harbours and picturesque anchorages. On a yacht charter holiday you will find so many interesting places to visit with a great mix of modern and ancient Greek culture.
Athens is a popular sailing holiday destination with an enormous choice of bareboat charter yachts and suits sailors looking for a change from the Ionian. You will enjoy reliable sailing winds every day but the area is sheltered from the strong meltemi wind which can blow in the Aegean during the summer.
Athens is a top destination for yacht charters in Greece and is easily accessible with daily flights into Athens airport. Add a day or two in a hotel before or after your yacht charter to explore this fascinating capital city. Stroll through Plaka, Gazi and Psiri with their small streets dotted with cafes, ouzeries, tavernas, shops and galleries and of course, no trip to Athens would not be complete without also visiting the Parthenon and Acropolis Museum.
Yacht Charters from:
7 nights / 3 cabins
Reliable winds from the South, average Force 3-5, dying down at night Find out more...
Embark at Kalamaki Marina, the marina for charter yachts for Athens. Take a taxi or tram into Athens for dinner with a view of the Acropolis.
Traditional harbour with shops, bars and restaurants.
The health resort of Ancient Athenians. Take a taxi from the main square for the 30 minute trip to see one of the best preserved ancient amphitheatres.
Lively harbour with a long quayside full of bars and tavernas.
One of the most picturesque harbours in Greece. Discover the traditional restaurants away from the harbour-front. Visit the Sunset bar for stunning views across to Spetses. Raft up if necessary but put a tripping line on your anchor - the harbour is renown for fouled anchors!
Anchor in the bay and go ashore for an excellent seafood dinner.
Take a taxi or tram into Athens for dinner with a view of the Acropolis.
A large bay with excellent shelter. Moor at the long quayside or anchor in the bay.
Elegant Ventian town with a 13th century castle - well worth the walk up for the view.
Friendly little harbour with shop and tavernas.
A humpbacked island with an old walled Byzantine town, which has been sympathetically restored. Climb to the top for a spectacular view from the medieval fortress. Down below the lower town and fishing harbour have also been restored into a charming mix of Byzantine, Venetian and Turkish architecture.
Spectacular setting in the mountains.
Choose from several anchorages on the north west coast. This island was the home of John Fowles when he wrote his famous novel “The Magus”.
The Saronic Gulf offers ideal conditions for a Greece yacht charter with reliable afternoon winds. The wind is generally from the South, Force 3-5 and dying down at night. The sailing area in the Saronic Gulf is protected from the meltemi wind which can blow in the Aegean in the summer. Summer temperatures reach 28-31ºC.
We have rated this destination a 'Level 1-2' (levels info) and you will need an ICC qualification for bareboat charters from Athens.
You can see all of the bases we offer yacht charters in Greece along with the level ratings here so that you can find the most suitable destination for you. If you are at all unsure about a destination then please get in touch and our sales team will be more than happy to make their recommendations for you.
Flights to Athens are served by a number of airlines - British Airways, Aegean Airlines & Olympic Air all operate flights from Heathrow; EasyJet operates flights from Gatwick and Manchester; Ryanair operates flights from Stansted.
The transfer time to Athens Kalamaki Marina (also known as Alimos) is approximately 1 hour.
With daily flights why not add on a few days for a city break in Athens before or after your charter? If you would like to stay close to the Marina then why not try Hotel Poseidon which is located right opposite Kalamaki Marina and has comfortable rooms, swimming pool and is only 8km from the centre of Athens.
You can find out more information on Athens and the Saronic and Argolic Islands by clicking HERE
The best time to take a sailing holiday in Greece is between April and October, with peak season being June, July, and August.
High Season
The Meltemi winds are strongest in July and August, making a more exhilarating sailing challenge for the more experienced sailors. These months also fall within the UK school summer holidays, the perfect time for a family holiday, with lots of opportunities for the children to make new friends. Why not try one of our family-friendly flotilla holidays?
For easier sailing aim for the end of the summer when the winds are less intense making for more relaxed sailing conditions.
Shoulder Season
April and October benefit from smaller crowds as well as cheaper flights, great yacht availability and reduced costs.
Spring
April - June are the perfect months for those looking for a quieter yacht charter. The winds are milder, the weather is warm and the islands are in full bloom. With the reduced crowds it allows you to enjoy them to the fullest!Autumn Sailing in Greece
Choose the autumn months to avoid the tourist crowds, enjoy the calmer winds and take in the natural beauty of the islands at a leisurely pace.
May & September
The weather is warm but not too hot with average temperatures around 25ºC (77ºF) and the crowds are lower than the peak summer season.
Late May & June
The crowds are still relatively low but the temperatures have started to rise (average 28ºC / 85ºF) and the waters begin to get warm enough for swimming.
July to September
This is when the waters are at their warmest and it is also the peak tourist time due to the school summer holidays. This is a great time for a sociable family holiday - why not try one of our family-friendly flotilla holidays?
October
This is the end of the main sailing season and a good opportunity to take advantage of lower prices and lighter crowds. The weather is on average 21 - 23ºC and the waters are still warm enough to enjoy a spot of swimming.
In general, the best sailing conditions are from April to October when you can enjoy warm waters, clear skies and reliable winds.
The Ionian is great for year-round sailing however the best conditions are late spring to early autumn. The Ionian has hot, dry summers with calmer winds but stronger gusts can occur in the afternoons.
The Meltemi winds provide reliable sailing in the summer months perfect for more experienced sailors looking for a more challenging charter.
Typically the rainy season is from November to March and sailing conditions are not always ideal.
The cost of your yacht charter depends on several factors:
The type and size of the yacht you book will dictate the price. A 1 week charter on a 2 - 3 cabin monohull starts around £900 in low season whereas 1 week on a luxury catamaran with a skipper in high season could be upwards of £10,000. These are the 2 extremes of the scale for a 1 week charter and we offer plenty of choices in between.
1 week is a popular choice amongst our sailors and makes the perfect getaway however, a longer charter will give you more time to explore all the Greek islands have to offer. We have a range of 1 and 2 week flotillas, as well as custom bareboat bookings which can be tailored to your timescale.
Lower-priced yacht charters are available in the off-season of April, May, September and October with prices starting to rise in June before peaking in July and August.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer several skippered and crewed options so you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress. From a simple skippered yacht to fully crewed options, we can arrange a charter to suit your needs.
Flotilla yacht charters are more expensive than a bareboat charter, but for the extra cost, you are getting the assistance of a lead boat with an experienced crew who are ready to help if you need assistance on your voyage. The flotilla lead crew also arrange social activities and lead you on a carefully curated itinerary. Flotillas are great if you enjoy the social aspects of sailing and are perfect for families, especially during school holidays. Children enjoy making new friends, while adults can unwind and connect with like-minded sailors.
If you are experienced and prefer to discover the islands at your own pace then a bareboat charter is the perfect choice for a relaxing holiday in The Med.
For bareboat charters and flotilla holidays in Greece, you will need ICC qualification.
The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates:
If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA).
If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 10 years old and does not have a photo ID, then you need to apply for an ICC or IPC.
If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use these links - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.
A 1 - 2 week charter will give you the optimum time to explore all Greece has to offer, from the beautiful secluded beaches and coves to the rich culture of its historic towns. Fancy exploring at a more relaxed pace? Our knowledgeable team can assist you with a custom charter.
We have various 1 and 2 week sailing itineraries for both bareboat and flotilla sailing holidays in Greece that have been personally tried and tested by our team.
The mooring fees in Greece are very minimal, you will find it is one of the cheaper Mediterranean destinations in terms of mooring costs. On average, a town quay mooring in Greece (based on a 40ft monohull) would be €20/night.
There are fewer "full-service marinas" compared with somewhere like Croatia, but these would usually be between €50-70/night.
There is also the ability to free anchor in a lot of places too, which keeps the cost of your mooring fees down considerably.
Our most popular sailing destination in Greece is the South Ionian due to its easy sailing conditions and endless bays to visit; this collection of islands (Lefkas, Kefalonia, Ithaka, Meganisi, Kalamos & Kastos) is perfect for beginners and families but has a charm that keeps our guests returning year after year.
You can also set sail in the Ionian from well-connected Corfu which has great options for sail-and-stay to combine your holiday with one of the island's highly-rated resorts. When on a yacht charter from Corfu, you can also explore Corfu Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as picture-perfect Paxos.
If you have your next bareboat yacht charter or flotilla holiday booked, your thoughts may now be turning to what to pack! Whether you are heading to the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean or jetting off to sail in the warm breezes of the Caribbean, we have a few suggestions for you for useful items to pack for your next sailing holiday.
We took a look at the destinations which are currently top of the list and have been surprised by a few of the entries! Tried and tested favourites for your yacht charters stand alongside a few newcomers, keeping things interesting and allowing a few lesser-known sailing areas to have their place in the limelight.
For those of you who jetted off at the beginning of the summer or for those who wanted to ‘wait and see’, September and October offer fantastic sailing conditions in many areas and a chance to explore without the intense heat and crowds of summer.
Call our knowledgeable sailing specialists for the latest advice and recommendations on the sailing areas most suited to you.
Arrange a call back from one of our specialists (Mon-Fri: 0900-1730).
