Sailing in Greece: 11 sailing areas and where to start
This guide compares eleven Greek sailing areas for a charter week, from the Ionian islands in the west through Athens and the Saronic, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese to the northern Aegean. Charter weeks usually run Saturday to Saturday from a marina base. You can go bareboat if the skipper holds a licence the charter company accepts, or hire a skipper. The biggest difference is the wind: the summer meltemi blows hard in the Aegean, while the Ionian lies outside its main area and is the gentler choice.
The 11 Greek sailing areas at a glance
Each area has its own week-long guide with legs, harbours and rules. Charter yachts from all these bases can be booked on Ship O'Hoi, bareboat or with a skipper; the Greece page lists them all.
| Area | Base(s) | Character | Wind / exposure | Suits | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ionian from Lefkada | Lefkada, Nydri, Vliho, Palairos, Preveza | Green islands, 5–20 nm legs, deep bays | Calm mornings, afternoon maistro 3–5 Bft | First bareboat week, families | Ionian from Lefkada |
| Corfu and Paxos | Gouvia (Corfu) | Sheltered channel, 10–20 nm legs | North-westerly maistro, beat on the way back | Gentlest start | Corfu and Paxos |
| Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos | Sami, Zakynthos | Mountain islands, one open crossing of approx. 40 nm | Afternoon north-westerly, exposed west coasts | Beginners, plus experience for the crossing | Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos |
| Saronic Gulf | Athens, Salamina, Porto Heli | Harbour hopping, 10–25 nm legs | Usually less meltemi than the Cyclades | First bareboat week, confident mooring | Saronic Gulf |
| Cyclades from Lavrion | Lavrion, Syros, Mykonos | Open-water passages up to approx. 33 nm | Meltemi zone, often 6–7 Bft in summer | Experienced crews | Cyclades from Lavrion |
| Paros and Naxos | Paros, Naxos, Mykonos | Central Cyclades, no leg over approx. 27 nm | Meltemi, strongest mid-June to early September | Experienced crews or a skipper in July–August | Paros and Naxos |
| Dodecanese from Kos | Kos, Leros | Harbour towns, 15–30 nm legs | Meltemi from the north-west | First bareboat week outside July–August | Dodecanese from Kos |
| Rhodes and Symi | Rhodes | Town harbours, 16–40 nm legs | West to north-west, Force 4–6, exposed crossings | Some open-water experience | Rhodes and Symi |
| Sporades | Volos, Skiathos, Skopelos | Pine islands, marine park, 140–150 nm a week | Sheltered gulf, meltemi on the islands | Crews happy with some 25–35 nm days | Sporades from Volos |
| Halkidiki | Nikiti, Porto Carras, Kanistro | Sandy coves, 10–25 nm legs, Athos | Northern edge of the meltemi, exposed capes | First bareboat week on the whole | Halkidiki |
| Kavala and Thassos | Kavala | Compact loop, 8–26 nm legs | North-easterly meltemi, lee on south-west Thassos | Relaxed week in June or September | Kavala and Thassos |
The Ionian
The Ionian Sea, west of the Greek mainland, is outside the main meltemi area. Calm mornings and an afternoon north-westerly make it the classic first Greek charter.
Lefkada and the Inner Ionian
A week from Lefkada town hops between Meganisi, Kalamos, Kastos, Ithaca and Fiskardo, with most legs of 5 to 20 nm. The maistro builds from about 13:00, settles at 3 to 5 Beaufort and dies at sunset. Many bays are deep, so crews often anchor with a line ashore. Read the Ionian sailing week from Lefkada and see the yachts on our Lefkada page.
Corfu and Paxos
Corfu and Paxos are the gentlest start of all: a narrow, sheltered channel between the island and the mainland, and harbours or bays every few miles. A week from Gouvia reaches Kassiopi, Paxos, Antipaxos, Parga and Sivota. The north-westerly is often a fair wind going south and a beat on the way back north. Details in our Corfu and Paxos sailing week, and yachts on the Corfu page.
Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos
The southern Ionian has big mountain islands and short hops between Fiskardo, Kioni and Vathy, plus one real open-water day: approx. 40 nm from Vathy on Ithaca to Zakynthos town. The north-westerly fills in around 1 pm and blows hardest in the strait between Kefalonia and Ithaca. Under the current decision, boats must keep more than 50 m off the shore inside Navagio cove, so you see the famous wreck from the water. Read the Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos guide and compare yacht charter in Kefalonia.
Athens and the Saronic
Saronic Gulf
The Saronic Gulf is the easiest area to reach: you can leave a marina on the Athens Riviera on your first afternoon. A typical loop runs to Aegina, Agistri, Poros, car-free Hydra and the volcanic Methana peninsula, with legs of 10 to 25 nm and a harbour most nights. It usually gets less meltemi than the Cyclades, but strong northerlies still reach it. See our Saronic Gulf sailing week from Athens and the charter yachts in Athens.
The Cyclades
The Cyclades lie right in the meltemi zone. In summer the wind typically blows force 6 to 7, sometimes 8 to 9 in the central Aegean, strongest in the afternoon.
Cyclades from Lavrion
Lavrion is the closest mainland base. A week out to Kea, Syros, Tinos and Mykonos and back via Kythnos covers about 130 nm, with the longest leg approx. 33 nm from Kea to Syros. Sail east first and keep the upwind leg home short and early. In July and August, first-timers should take a skipper. Read the Cyclades sailing week from Lavrion and see the yachts in Lavrion.
Paros, Naxos and the Small Cyclades
From Paros, in the middle of the group, no passage is longer than about 27 nm: Mykonos, Naxos, Koufonisia, Schinoussa, Iraklia, Ios and Despotiko. Sail the leg north to Mykonos on day one, then run south with the wind. At Mykonos, sailing yachts cannot use the old port and berths at Tourlos are booked online only. Read our Paros and Naxos guide and compare yachts on Paros.
The Dodecanese
In the south-east Aegean the meltemi turns north-westerly. The Turkish coast is close, but a charter week stays in Greek waters unless you have arranged a crossing.
Dodecanese from Kos
A week from Kos covers about 130 nm in legs of 15 to 30 nm, with a harbour town most evenings: Pothia on Kalymnos, Lakki on Leros, Skala on Patmos, Lipsi and the volcano island of Nisyros. Go north first and run home off the wind. It suits a first bareboat week outside July and August. Read the Dodecanese sailing week from Kos and see yacht charter in Kos.
Rhodes and Symi
From Rhodes the loop takes in Symi, Tilos and Halki, then runs back past Lindos. The legs are longer, 16 to 40 nm, and the crossings are exposed to the summer north-westerly, which blows west to north-west at Force 4 to 6. In summer the port authority bans anchoring in St Paul's Bay at Lindos. Read our Rhodes and Symi guide and see the yachts in Rhodes.
Northern Greece
Sporades
The Northern Sporades are pine forest down to the water and the National Marine Park of Alonissos, Greece's first marine park. A week from Volos starts in the sheltered Pagasetic Gulf, then runs out to Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos, about 140 to 150 nm in total. Read the Sporades sailing week from Volos and see yacht charter in Volos.
Halkidiki
Halkidiki gives short hops between sandy coves, the natural harbour of Porto Koufo, the Vourvourou islets and Ammouliani. The highlight is the Mount Athos coast from the sea: women may not land, and no one should anchor or go ashore there; the tour boats keep about 500 m off. Read our Halkidiki, Sithonia and Mount Athos guide and see yacht charter in Chalkidiki.
Kavala and Thassos
Thassos is round and compact, so a week from Kavala adds up to roughly 95 to 110 nm in legs of 8 to 26 nm, every night in an established port. The meltemi comes from the north-east here: Kavala Bay and the east coast of Thassos catch it head-on, and the south-west coast is the lee. Read Kavala and Thassos by boat and see the yachts in Kavala.
Before you book a charter week in Greece
- Licence. Only small motorboats are licence-free in Greece: an outboard of up to 30 hp on a conventional hull, only 15 hp on a RIB, V-hull or multihull. For a bareboat charter the skipper needs a recognised licence, the ICC is the safest choice, and the charter company checks it at the base. With a hired skipper nobody on board needs one. See our guides to the boat licence in Greece and the ICC certificate.
- Marine parks. In the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades, Zone A needs an entrance ticket, no vessel may come within 3 nm of Piperi, and yachts may only stay overnight in Agios Petros and Planitis on Kyra Panagia. In the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, buoys mark three zones: no boats in Zone A, 6 knots and no mooring in Zone B, 6 knots with mooring allowed in Zone C.
- Bathing areas. Under the Hellenic Coast Guard's General Port Regulation no. 20, keep at least 200 m from where people swim and do no more than 5 knots within 200 m of the shore.
- The meltemi and when to go. The etesians blow periodically from about mid-May to mid-September, peak in July and August and often exceed 15 m/s (about 30 knots) over the Aegean. May, June and September are the easiest months in most areas, and the warm, dry season lasts into October. Our Greece or Croatia comparison goes through it month by month.
- Paperwork. Every charter in Greece files an electronic crew list before departure, and everyone on board must carry a passport or ID card.
- Packing and preferences. Check our list of what to bring on a yacht charter, and fill in the charter company's preference sheet before you arrive.
FAQ
Which Greek area is best for a first charter week?
The Ionian: Lefkada or Corfu and Paxos, with short legs, sheltered water and a predictable afternoon breeze. The Saronic Gulf, Halkidiki and the Dodecanese outside July and August are good alternatives.
When is the best time to sail in Greece?
The season runs roughly from April or May to October, and May, June and September are the most relaxed months. July and August bring the strongest and most persistent meltemi in the Aegean and the busiest harbours. Early October is often pleasant, before the rainy season starts from mid-October.
Which area is the calmest?
The Ionian, which is outside the main meltemi area. In the Aegean, the Pagasetic Gulf at the start of a Sporades week and the gulfs of Halkidiki are fairly sheltered, while the Cyclades sit right in the meltemi zone.
Can I sail to Turkey or Albania on a Greek charter yacht?
Only with your charter company's permission and official clearance. Greece is in the Schengen area; Turkey and Albania are not. Crossing from Kos or Rhodes to Turkey, or from Corfu to Albania, means exit and entry formalities, with passport and customs checks at official ports of entry on both sides. Ask before you book, or leave it out.
How far do you sail in a week?
It depends on the area: roughly 95 to 110 nm around Thassos, about 130 nm in the Cyclades or the Dodecanese, and 140 to 150 nm in the Sporades.
