Athens Yacht Charter & Sailing Holiday

While Athens is always a fantastic port of call for adventurous sailors, some of the best places to sail in Athens 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.

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.

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.
Read our When is the best time to sail in Greece blog 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 north-westerly meltemi winds (the Greek Etesian) flow across Athens in June-September, aiding your cruise across the cerulean waves. 
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! Sunsail only offers bareboat charters in Athens, so this will always be consistent, but other factors affecting the cost of your holiday include:

• The duration of your trip – how many nights do you need to explore Athens to your heart’s content?
• The type of yacht you choose – are you content with a monohull, or do you prefer a more spacious catamaran?
• Any charter extras you would like to round out your holiday.

Start building your quote today to see how much it costs to charter a yacht in Athens with Sunsail.

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.