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Charter a yacht in Greece and experience the beauty and wonders of a nation made of over 6,000 islands and over 13,500 km of inspiring coastline. Hop from island to island, stop for a swim in the gorgeous bays or discover ancient ruins before catching the breeze to sail to your next destination. Explore the most amazing islands while sailing in Greece on your next holiday.
Sailing in Greece comes with more than exploring hidden beaches, stunning bays and turquoise waters. Greece’s rich ancient history is visible everywhere you go, delicious dishes like gyros and tzatziki can be enjoyed in local restaurants and fun activities will make your vacation unforgettable.
Blessed with some of the world’s most stunning beaches, a sailing holiday in Greece must include a stopover at some of these natural beauties.
Casual dining in Greece:
Beach restaurants in Greece:
Fine dining in Greece:
Known as the country with the first democracy, Greece’s rich history hasn’t always been one of peace. Many eye witnesses describe battle scenes when the city states were going to war with one another or when politicians were fighting inside the system - sometimes even with unfair methods. Discover the country’s rich history by visiting some of the most famous landmarks. Explore the Acropolis of Athens where a variety of buildings are located that were built during the reign of Pericles, including the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike. In 1687 the Venetians sieged the city and seriously damaged these historical sites.
Greece is a country that is not only rich in history, but also rich in mythology. The Greek gods play a huge role in these myths and legends.
You might have heard of the oracle of Delphi where Pythia, the priestess at the temple in Delphi, was giving prophecies. This is a custom that has continued for many centuries in Ancient Greece and was one of the most powerful positions for a woman during this era. Today no one knows for sure how the priestess spoke about the prophecies, but we do know that it was common practice to consult Pythia. Many Greek philosophers and writers speak about it. You can still visit the temple of Apollo in Delphi, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Greece.
Whether you are seeking a romantic getaway, a family vacation or fun with friends, you’ll be sure to find your own piece of paradise on a sailing holiday in Greece. Greece enjoys a warm, sunny climate with a sailing season that starts as early as April and lasts throughout November.
Greece is the ideal location to charter a yacht thanks to its pleasant weather conditions and winds that make sailing a breeze. Go island hopping in early or late summer (end of April until around mid-October) for the finest weather with sea temperatures in the low to mid 20’s. Excellent sailing conditions for both beginners and experienced sailors ensure that you will enjoy your sailing vacation fully.
Going on a sailing holiday in Greece in the summer also means you’ll experience vibrant nightlife, bustling yacht parties, and inspiring landscapes full of blooming wildflowers, olive trees and grapevines.
If you want to rent a sailboat, you should visit the places in Greece that offer the best wind conditions. Cruise around the inland sea, where you’ll find many harbours and anchorages in addition to ideal wind conditions. Many of the island regions offer ideal sailing conditions for chartering a yacht, including those located in the Saronic Islands and the eastern coast of the Peloponnesian Gulf.
If you plan to charter a yacht in the Cyclades, you should know that it is one of the most challenging, yet fun sailing areas due to strong winds in July and August. We recommend this route only to very experienced sailors.
Renting a boat in Greece doesn’t have to be expensive. On average it costs 50 EUR per person per day to rent a sailboat in Greece. It’s one of the cheapest and most popular options in this part of the Mediterranean. A motorboat is the priciest option with an average price of 190 EUR per person per night. Renting a catamaran comes at an average price of 150 EUR per person per day in Greece. If you are looking for a more affordable option, rent a gulet at an average price of 105 EUR per person per day or a RIB for 93 EUR per person per day. You see that it is not necessarily more expensive to rent a boat compared to a regular hotel room. After all, these are only average prices and you can rent boats in Greece cheaper than this. If you are just travelling as a couple, renting a small boat in Greece at a lower price might be a great option for your sailing holiday here.
A skippered yacht charter is the perfect choice for anyone looking at enjoying their holidays to the fullest without any worries. But keep in mind that the prices above are only average prices for bareboat charters. Booking a skippered yacht comes at a higher price.
Depending on the type of boat holiday you want to experience when sailing in Greece, you should choose your boat wisely. Catamarans are the type of vehicle to rent if you want to go slower and take in your surroundings while enjoying all kinds of amenities on board that anyone could wish for while a sailboat is the type of boat you would rent when looking for an adventure in this part of the Mediterranean.
Pros of renting a catamaran in Greece
Renting a catamaran in Greece comes with many advantages. Contrary to classic sailboats, catamarans don’t have a keel which might prevent you from sailing closer to the shore. And you do want to be as close to the shore as possible. After all, when anchoring in one of Greece’s many hidden bays with the most beautiful beaches, you wouldn’t want to waste all your precious time and energy to swim there for eternity or worse end up having to enjoy the view just from a distance.
Cons of renting a catamaran in Greece
Renting a catamaran in Greece is perfect for discovering the many natural wonders the country has to offer, but chartering a catamaran is not just pure joy and sunshine. As this type of boat stands on two hulls, a catamaran is usually quite big. This can make it difficult to moore in the marinas. During high season you might even struggle to find a spot where your boat fits. Additionally, mooring your catamaran at a marina might come at a higher price than mooring other types of water vehicles due its size. This is something to keep in mind - especially when trying to find a spot to spend the night.
Pros of renting a sailboat in Greece
Due to the perfect sailing conditions, renting a sailboat in Greece is the perfect opportunity for those looking at going on a boat to enjoy the experience more than trying to find a hotel room on water. The best spots for renting a sailboat in Greece are the Saronic Islands and the eastern coast of the Peloponnesian Gulf. If you are worried that you might not be experienced enough to sail these routes, you can always rent a sailboat with a skipper who can navigate and operate the boat in Greek waters.
The average price of renting a sailboat in Greece speaks for itself. It is one of the cheapest options to experience a boat holiday on the Greek islands.
Cons of renting a sailboat in Greece
If you are looking at discovering stunning beaches like Kokkini Beach in Santorini, a sailboat is not the best choice. Due to the keel, it can become dangerous to sail in shallow waters and too close to the shore. This would be a downside of renting a sailboat.
Pros of renting a motorboat in Greece
Motorboats as well as RIBs are the perfect choice for anyone planning on sailing around Greece for a couple of days. You can easily spend a few days on these types of boats without missing any of the amenities that other types of boats, like catamarans provide. Renting a motorboat means that you are looking at speeding over the waves and passing by the stunning Greek islands at high speed. The destination is the most important aspect on your sailing trip to Greece, you want to see as many hidden beaches as possible, anchor in a stunning bay for the night to wake up with incredible views and enjoy a refreshing beverage while watching the sunset.
Cons of renting a motorboat in Greece
One of the downsides of renting a motorboat in Greece is that you won’t have as many amenities as you might get with another type of boat. Also, the high speed comes with a hefty price tag with fuel prices steadily increasing. Not necessarily an advantage.
Chartering a luxury yacht in Greece is the perfect option for those who want to enjoy a relaxed and comfortable vacation without any worries. You will feel as though you are sleeping in a luxury hotel room on water. To guarantee your overall well-being, you should also consider hiring a skipper and a cook in addition to your luxury boat. A skipper will take care of maneuvering the boat while the cook will take care of your culinary needs.
Small boats with less than 30hp don’t require a boat licence in Greece, but in general you need to be in possession of a valid boat licence when renting a boat in Greece. Your safest bet is to carry an International Certificate of Competency or short ICC to operate a boat in Greece. If you are a EU citizen, your boat licence is automatically valid in Greece, citizens of other countries need to ensure that their boat licence meets the requirements of the Greek boat licence. Before your boating adventure in Greece you need to ensure that you carry a boat licence with you in either English or Greek. When your licence is written in a different language, you need to get it translated to either English or Greek. This is particularly important as the Greek authorities really check your documents to ensure that the Greek waters remain a safe space for everyone operating a water vehicle.
Rent a boat with a skipper or captain in Greece
Don’t have a boat licence or prefer to spend your vacation without any worries on a boat rental in Greece? Book a skipper or captain in addition to your boat and enjoy your boat holiday. A skipper will navigate and operate the boat, plan the best routes while staying open-minded to your wishes and ideas and tell the most amazing stories of adventures on a boat. Believe me, you will be grateful to have someone so experienced with you on a boat - especially if the weather suddenly changes or you’re lost.
Go island hopping on the Islands of Argosaronic. They are a group of islands located in between Peloponnese and Athens and includes the islands of Angistri, Aegena, Poros, Salamina, Spetses, Hydra and the peninsula of Methana. These peaceful havens are among the most visited Greek islands to visit from Athens due to their close proximity (Aegina is only 16.5 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus). Rent a motorboat to discover these islands and stop by some of the most scenic bays and beaches.
Sail from Athens to the Sporades and discover the natural beauty of Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos and Skyros or take a turn around the Saronic Gulf Islands.
Located on the western coast, the Ionian Islands of Zakynthos, Ithaca, Corfu, Kefallonia, Lefkada, Paxi, and Kythira make up the famous Eptanisa or “the Seven Islands” and are said to be Greece’s most green and fertile islands. While you’re there, discover Navagio beach on Zakynthos.
Greece’s diverse landscapes and multitude of breathtaking island regions provide endless opportunities for sailing. Once you’ve explored one island region, you’ll surely want to discover more. Fortunately, Zizoo offers a variety of yacht rentals in many locations throughout the coast of mainland Greece and the islands so you’ll have the chance to discover more.
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