Yacht charter and Boat rental in Greece

Greece has around 6,000 islands and islets, of which roughly 200 are inhabited. Many lie close enough together that a short passage of two or three hours puts you at a new anchorage or a different island altogether. Yacht charter in Greece covers several distinct island groups, each with its own character, wind pattern and pace.

Why Sail in Greece

The main draw is the number of islands within reach of each other. In the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, passages between islands are often under 20 nautical miles, so a one- or two-week route can cover five or six islands without long open-water crossings.

Conditions vary by sea. The Ionian, sheltered by the Greek mainland to the east and Italy to the west, has lighter and more predictable wind through most of the season. The Aegean, home to the Cyclades, Dodecanese and Sporades, is shaped by the meltemi, a north to north-westerly wind that builds through summer.

Along the way: the Acropolis in Athens, the medieval Old Town of Rhodes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the volcanic caldera of Santorini, and the ancient sanctuary on Delos, a short sail from Mykonos.

When to Go

• May, June and late September: milder temperatures, fewer boats, moderate wind, lower charter prices.
• July and August: warmest sea, busiest marinas and anchorages, and the meltemi at its strongest and most frequent, especially in the Cyclades - afternoon wind of Beaufort force 4-6, occasionally higher.
• The Ionian stays calmer through peak season than the Aegean, which is why it's often chosen by less experienced crews sailing in July and August.

The meltemi typically builds through the morning, peaks in the afternoon and drops by evening. It's well forecast a few days ahead, so routes are usually adjusted rather than cancelled.

Charter Options: Bareboat, Skippered, Crewed

Bareboat charter in Greece. You sail the boat yourself. Greek port authorities require an internationally recognised sailing qualification, such as an International Certificate of Competence, RYA Coastal Skipper or higher, or an equivalent national licence; since 2019, an RYA Day Skipper certificate is no longer accepted on its own. A second crew member with some sailing experience is also expected aboard, usually without a formal licence requirement.

Skippered charter in Greece. A professional skipper handles navigation and the boat. Suits crews without the right qualification, families, or anyone who wants to relax rather than manage the passage. The skipper needs a cabin aboard and is paid separately from the boat rate.

Crewed charter in Greece. Skipper plus hostess, cook or deckhand. This is the usual setup for a luxury yacht charter Greece or a gulet cruise Greece, where the crew sails, cooks and plans the route.

Types of Yachts in Greece

Sailing yacht rental Greece (monohull)

From around nine-metre boats with two cabins to fifteen-metre yachts with four or five. Common brands include Beneteau, Jeanneau, Bavaria and Dufour. They sail closer to the wind than catamarans and carry 4-10 people. The right choice if you actually want to sail. Available bareboat or skippered.

Catamaran rental Greece

Two hulls, minimal heeling, shallow draft and much more deck and cabin space. Brands such as Lagoon, Bali and Fountaine Pajot. Usually 4-6 cabins for 8-12 people, which splits the cost across a group. The shallow draft allows anchoring closer to beaches in the Cyclades and Ionian alike. More expensive than a monohull of similar length. Works well with or without a crew, given enough experience.

Motor yacht rental Greece

Engine instead of sails, so you cover distance quickly - useful for reaching outer islands such as Milos or the southern Dodecanese within a limited week. Sizes range from small day boats to crewed yachts over 20 metres. Higher fuel use, less time under sail. Good if your schedule is tight.

Gulet cruise Greece

Large wooden motor-sailers, usually crewed and booked by the week. Typically 5-8 cabins for 10-16 guests, with generous deck space. They motor between anchorages and drop anchor daily rather than sail continuously. Closer to a small cruise than a sailing trip.

Where to Sail in Greece

Ionian Islands

Yacht charter Corfu and yacht charter Lefkada are the two main bases in the Ionian. The islands here are greener than the Aegean, with more rainfall over the year, and sailing is generally calmer, with the afternoon maistros a lighter breeze than the meltemi further east. From Lefkada you can reach Kefalonia and Zakynthos within a day, along with smaller islands such as Meganisi, Kalamos and Paxoi. Distances between anchorages are typically short, often under 15 nautical miles.

Saronic Gulf and Athens

Yacht charter Athens is based mainly around Alimos Marina, one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean with about 1,100 berths, roughly 8 km south of Piraeus. It's the busiest charter base in the country by fleet size. From here, the Saronic Gulf offers short hops to Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses, most under four hours' sailing, which makes it practical for a one-week trip without long passages. Lavrion, on the southern tip of Attica and about 30 minutes from Athens International Airport, is used as an alternative starting point for routes toward the Cyclades, cutting several hours off the crossing to islands such as Kea and Kythnos.

Cyclades

The best-known island group, including Mykonos and Santorini, along with Paros, Naxos and Milos. White cube houses, arid and rocky terrain, and some of the longest open-water crossings in Greek waters. This is also where the meltemi is felt most strongly in July and August, so routes here are usually planned with more flexibility around wind days. Delos, a short sail from Mykonos and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.

Dodecanese

Rhodes and Kos anchor this group in the south-eastern Aegean, close to the Turkish coast. Rhodes' medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Distances between the main islands are longer than in the Cyclades or Ionian, and the season here often runs a few weeks longer at each end, since the water stays warmer into October.

Sporades

A smaller, greener group in the northern Aegean, including Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. The waters around Alonissos form the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades, the largest marine protected area in Europe at around 2,260 km², established in 1992 to protect the Mediterranean monk seal. Fewer charter boats operate here than in the Cyclades or Ionian.

What It Costs to charter a yacht in Greece

Price drops noticeably in the shoulder season across most boat types. A sailing yacht for a week (Saturday to Saturday) costs about €1,026 in the September shoulder season, rising to about €1,235 in peak season (July-August). A catamaran runs from about €3,203 up to €3,851, a motor yacht from about €1,303 up to €1,539, a power catamaran from about €4,028 up to €6,595, and a motorboat from about €768 up to €864 across the same window. A gulet, Greece's crewed traditional wooden vessel, was the one exception, holding steady at about €6,000 in both periods checked.

Yacht charter and Boat rental in Greece

Charter a yacht and explore Greece! Prices start from 50 £ per day. Choose from the largest selection of sailboats, catamarans, motor boats, motor yachts, gulets and power catamarans.

Popular regions are Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, Ionian Islands, Attica, Saronic Gulf, Lefkada, Cyclades, Corfu, Dodecanese, Dodecanese Islands, Thessalia, Rhodes, Kos, Crete, Paros, Mykonos, Peloponnese, Sporades, Halkidiki, Santorini, Skiathos, Zakynthos, Macedonia, Epirus, Paxoi, Kefalonia, Milos, Skopelos, Sifnos, Salamina, Aegina, Naxos, Patmos, Hydra, Andros, Ithaka, Lesvos, Antiparos, Limnos, Skyros, Thasos, Chios, Kalymnos, Syros, Icaria and Ios.