Greece
Vathy Bay, Meganissi
Symi Harbour
Hydra Harbour
Loggos, Paxos
Elafonisos
Sail the sheltered coves of the Ionian Islands
Explore the ancient site of Delphi
Hike the Samaria Gorge in Crete
Wander Hydra’s car-free harbour town
Dive the clear waters of the Dodecanese
Athens
Crete
The Peloponnese
The Ionian Islands
The Dodecanese
May, June, September, and early October offer the most comfortable sailing, with warm water and lighter winds than the height of summer. July and August bring the meltemi, a strong seasonal northerly that can reach force 6 or 7 through the Cyclades and central Aegean, so itineraries built for those months typically favour more sheltered routes through the Ionian or Saronic islands instead.
Athens International Airport (ATH) is the main hub and the natural starting point for charters based in the Saronic Gulf or the wider Aegean. For itineraries focused on a single island group, flying directly into a regional airport, such as Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, or Rhodes, often cuts hours off the transfer and lets the yacht meet guests closer to where the cruise actually begins.
The Ionian Islands are known for calmer water and wooded, sheltered bays, making them a comfortable choice for first-time charter guests. The Dodecanese and Cyclades offer more dramatic, exposed anchorages with stronger scenery but also stronger winds in summer, while the Saronic Gulf, closest to Athens, suits shorter charters that still want a genuine island atmosphere within a short sail of the mainland.
A week is the practical minimum to properly explore one island group, whether that’s the Cyclades, the Ionian, or the Dodecanese, without spending every day underway. Two weeks allows a more considered pace or a crossing between groups, such as combining Athens and the Saronic Gulf with a run south to Hydra, Spetses, and the Peloponnese coast.
Foreign-flagged yachts, whether privately owned or on charter, are required to carry a transit log, a stamped booklet recording each port of entry and exit, obtained from the port authority on first arrival. The exact requirements can vary slightly by vessel type and flag, and a broker or agent typically handles the paperwork on the guest’s behalf, but it’s worth confirming details ahead of a first Greek charter rather than assuming rules from elsewhere in the Mediterranean apply directly.