Athens Yacht Charter & Sailing Holiday

Yes, it couldn’t be easier to island hop around the Saronic and Cycladic islands on a yacht charter from Athens. Perfectly located just 10 nautical miles from Kea, 16 nautical miles from Aegina and 24 nautical miles from Cape Sounio, you’ll be exploring secluded islands and uncovering underwater treasures in a matter of hours on an Athens yacht charter.

While Athens is always a fantastic port of call for adventurous sailors, some of the best places to sail in Athens on a yacht charter include:

• Aegina. Spots in the harbour and marina are competitive for a good reason. Visiting Aegina feels like taking a trip back in time – you could fall in love with the landscape of red-roofed monasteries, historical ruins and lush green expanses.  
• Paros. This picturesque island of the Cyclades is 86 nautical miles from Athens, a fantastic destination for the experienced sailor. There are many neighbouring islands to hop between and plenty of places to try kitesurfing and windsurfing.
• Hydra. Hydra Town is widely known for being the birthplace and home of a revolutionary core of navy experts during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, who would end up being one of Greece’s main advantages during the War of Independence. The rich naval history is a big attraction for sailors, making it the perfect place to moor up on your Athens yacht charter.
  

Read our blog on Sailing in Athens and the Cyclades to learn more.

If you’re looking for a sailing holiday packed to the brim with activities, Athens is the place for you. 

Things to do in Athens are many and varied. You could spend your charter discovering the local history, visiting ruins like the Temple of Poseidon or the majestic Acropolis, and visiting the museums on offer to see wondrous relics of mythology. 

You could use your time on-land to explore Athens on foot – a keen hiker will find paradise here in the mountainous landscapes, clifftop villages and vast sandy beaches. 

If you’re looking to unwind with your family, there are plenty of things to do where you can take it easy. Feast on fantastic local dishes like dolmades, moussaka and baklava in any of Athens’ fantastic restaurants and cafes, or catch your breath with a leisurely walk around The National Gardens.

Visit our Athens Sailing Itineraries for more information.

Yes, sailing around the Greek islands on an Athens yacht charter is perfectly safe. Like all sailing destinations, there are more challenging passages that are suited to experienced sailors and areas with line-of-sight navigations, perfect for first-time sailors.

Your safety will always be our highest priority, so our base crew will ensure you feel comfortable, confident and safe before you cast off from our Athens base. You’ll receive an extensive safety briefing before you depart and we’re always available to answer any questions you may have.

If this is your first time planning a yacht charter around Athens and you’re excited to discover the wonders of Athens but are worried about taking the helm, you can hire a skipper who will take care of navigation for you.

The best time to visit Athens is April-October. This season is the best for sailing, offering balmy winds and pleasant Mediterranean sunshine, without the risk of rain dampening your spirits. 

You’ll find that the peak of summer is the most popular time to visit Athens, but remember that if you sail to Athens from June-August, the harbours are more likely to be crowded and it can be difficult to find good spots to moor.

Whether you want to go sailing in April, book a yacht charter in July or plan an Autumn sailing holiday, read our blog on the best time to sail in Greece for more information.

The sailing conditions in Athens are fabulous. You can expect average temperatures of 24-35°C in the warmer months, perfect for leisurely island hopping or waltzing around the historic streets of the capital. 

The Meltemi wind can occur anytime between May and October but is most frequent in summer, June through  September. Its maximum strength and duration is during July and August. It may blow for a single day or up to a week, although usually, 3 to 4 days is most common. This wind can offer welcome relief on a hot summer day when temperatures in and around Athens can be very hot. 

The Aegean Sea can be a little choppy, with wind speeds reaching up to 20mph (17 knots), which are challenging conditions for new sailors to charter a yacht in. This isn’t always the case – we recommend checking the local forecast and wind speeds before arranging your sailing holiday. You can find a more detailed guide to the Athens Sailing Conditions in our useful information section.

The cost of chartering a yacht in Athens will vary depending on how your dream holiday takes shape: 

• The duration of your trip – how many nights do you need to explore Athens to your heart’s content?
• When you visit – Your Athens yacht charter may cost less if you set sail during the shoulder seasons (April/May and September/October).
• The type of yacht you choose – are you content with a monohull, or do you prefer a more spacious catamaran?
• Do you want to challenge yourself and take the helm on a bareboat charter or hire a skipper to navigate the crystalline waters?
• Any charter extras you would like to round out your holiday.
  

Ready to explore Athens by sea? Start building your quote today and plan your perfect Greek sailing adventure with Sunsail.

Our state-of-the-art catamarans and monohulls will be equipped with all the essentials you need to enjoy an adventure to remember around Athens, plus some extras for added comfort.

Included in the cost of your Athens yacht charter, you’ll receive a full cruising area and yacht briefing before departure, starter cleaning pack (washing up liquid, sponge/cloth, etc.), and benefit from our 4-hour service guarantee.

You’ll also have:

• Generic Equipment – Including RIB dinghies with outboard engine, autopilots, fully equipped galley, GPS chart plotter, wind instruments and more.
• Cockpit and deck – Including bow anchor with chain and warp, boat hook, mooring lines, deck scrubber and more.
• Sails – Including mainsail cover, sailties, furling genoa and more.
• Security – Including life jackets, fog horn, first-aid kit, fire extinguishers and more.
• Navigation – Including compass, binoculars, chart, VHF radio, navigation ruler and more.

Take a look at our bareboat charter page to learn more about what’s included in your overall Athens yacht charter cost.

When working out your total Athens yacht charter cost, you may need to take the following into account:

• Flights, transfers and related taxes
• Mooring and marina fees
• Food and drink – we do have provisioning available
• Excursions and activities
• Children’s life jackets (we recommend bringing your own) 
• Beach towels and other beachwear
• Wireless Internet Connection
• Masks and snorkels (we recommend you bring your own)

To make your yacht charter around Athens even more idyllic, we offer a range of optional extras, from WiFi to early boarding.

You can expect the mooring fees in Athens to be similar to average mooring fees across Greece, which range from €30-80. This is usually dependent on the size of your yacht, and you may be expected to pay a supplement of 50-60% if you’re sailing on a large catamaran.

The mooring fees in Athens will vary with each marina, and other factors to consider include how long you plan to moor there and explore that island, as well as the time of year you are visiting, as spots are more competitive in the peak seasons.

Athens offers countless wonders to behold for sailors on an Athens yacht charter, so how long does it take to sail to Athens and make the most of this destination?

Are you more interested in the city of Athens itself, and the major towns and cities surrounding it? In this case, a shorter charter may suit you better – you can spend your mornings and evenings soaking up the culture on land, and enjoy leisurely afternoons of sailing, swimming, diving and kayaking.

However, if you really want to test your sailing skills, a longer charter of up to two weeks is better. There are over a dozen picturesque islands in the Cyclades, each with its own unique attractions. Leaving yourself plenty of time to travel across the Aegean Sea and navigate these islands is crucial.