Best Sailing Destinations in Greece

Discovering Greece by boat is probably one of the best decisions you can take this summer. Sailing holidays hopping between islands and exploring beaches, undiscovered bays and stunning nature is an amazing way to travel and can be more accessible than you might have imagined. Greece is an increasing popular destination for yachting and sailing is the best way to do it.

Most of Greece’s seabed is sandy so it gives you excellent anchorages, giving you the possibility to not be limited to marinas. Because waking up anchored on a secluded bay and taking a dive in transparent water in the morning is just the best way to start the day!

So, here is our choice of best sailing destinations in Greece for your next holidays.

Where to start your charter from?

The most popular and practical departure point is Piraeus port and its different marinas on the south coast of Athens: Zea, Flisvos and Alimos. Lavrio, on the eastern coast of Greece is also a sailing departure for many sailboats and is the ideal port if you want to cruise around the Cyclades islands.

Where to sail?

Greece is surrounded by the Aegean and the Ionian seas. The former is a very popular destination among sailors, thanks to the sunny and mostly stable weather, the lack of tides or strong currents. Here you will find the perfect picture of Greece: crystal clear water, picturesque ports and countless islands and bays as magnificent one from the other. The main thing you will have to count with here is the Meltemi, this northern wind that blows during summer, from May to September, and can get pretty strong, up to force 9 on the Beaufort scale.

The Ionian sea is not as famous as the Aegean sea but offers beautiful locations, which makes it a great reason to go explore it. June to September are the best months for sailing there, with a sea usually calm and a gentle wind blowing steadily, with occasional gusts. While the water is generally very calm in the south, sailing can be a bit rougher in the north.

Let’s take a closer look at the different islands that you should explore during your sailing holidays.

The Cyclades

This archipelago is made up of thirty larger islands and approximately another 190 islets with a total area spanning over 2,500 km2. As the islands are not too far apart, the Cyclades offer an amazing diversity of experiences. In a week, you can already explore many ports and bays, visiting a different island everyday if you wish. As it is a popular destination, we advise you to stay away from the busiest islands, Mykonos or Santorini as the archipelago has so much more to offer.

• Milos

If you decide to go sailing in the Cyclades, Milos will probably be your favourite destination (and maybe we are not so objective here …). The island has everything you can wish for and you can easily spend 2 to 3 days sailing around and explore its numerous secluded beaches. You will also find here very unusual rock formations and high cliffs that plunge into the sea, making it a breathtaking landscape. Milos has the largest number of beaches of all the Cyclades islands so it will be easy to have some privacy, even in the middle of August as there will always be a bay where you will be alone. Spending the night in the famous bay of Kleftiko and its white rock formations and its caves, exploring the West side of the island and its wild beaches, arriving by sea to the famous Sarakiniko bay, these are some of the best things to do around Milos. It is also very easy to take a look at the nearby non-inhabited island of Poliegos, with it crystal-clear waters and its hidden little bays.

• Paros and Naxos

Paros is situated in the heart of the Cyclades and is famous for its many sandy beaches, beautiful countryside and traditional villages. Discover hidden alleyways in Parikia, leisure in the afternoon in Naoussa or immerse yourself in Kolymbithres Beach, the seawater sculptures of golden sand around granite rocks.  This is also the perfect spot for kitesurfing or windsurfing, the strong winds blowing regularly around there.

Naxos, located on its opposite side is the largest island in the Cyclades. You can enjoy the many beautiful beaches here and discover mountain villages off the beaten track when you take a trip by land. You can also enjoy the sunset, heading North of the capital to Palatia islet and its unfinished Temple of Apollo. The 2500-year-old marble doorway, named Portara, faces the island of Delos and is the most famous picture of the island, when the sun sets over this mythical gate of the god Apollo.

• Koufonisia

The islands of Koufonisia in the Small Cyclades archipelago are probably the most beautiful tourist destination for those who are looking for idyllic, tranquil evenings. In modern Greek slang, the word “Koufo” means “unbelievable” and when you arrive, you’ll see why. These small, unspoilt islands have surprisingly good sailing infrastructure, so disembarking won’t be a problem and we recommend exploring the whole archipelago, Kato Koufonisia, where you’ll find only a few fishermen’s houses and a picturesque church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Koufonisia itself, the smallest but most densely populated island of the Cyclades with a population of around 350. The main occupation here is fishing, making the island a genuine fishing village, where visitors can enjoy fresh fish and seafood. It’s also worth mentioning the village of Chora on the southwest coast of the island as a typical example of Cycladic architecture.

• Delos and Rineia

Not far from Naxos and Mykonos lies the small uninhabited island of Delos, which is way quieter option than its neighbours.  You can only reach the island by boat and no one is allowed to stay for the night here as a big part of the island is ancient archaeological sites and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is here that Apollo and Artemis are considered to have been born and as the legend goes, nobody is allowed to give birth or die on the island. After visiting this magnificent site, you should sail just a bit and anchor at the nearby small island of Rineia, where you will find dreamy bays and secluded sandy beaches.

The Dodecanese

They are a group of islands still in the Aegean Sea belonging to the so-called Southern Sporades. As they lie southwest of the Turkish coast, you may accidentally drift into Turkish waters so be sure to have Turkish flag with you to be sure not to start a diplomatic dispute. Since the archipelago is pretty far from Athens, we recommend you charter your boat directly on one of the islands as you would lose to much time reaching them sailing. Most of the islands are equipped with an airport and regular flights are coming from Athens every day. As in the Cyclades, the islands are close to each other, so it is an easy sail trip from one place to another. Nevertheless, we recommend you try to focus on an area or even on one or 2 islands only as they have a lot to offer and some of them like Rhodes are huge.

• Karpathos

If you spend a day in Karpathos, you can expect to get to know the traditions and people on the island and be amazed at how authentic village life is here. Stroll around the narrow streets, overlook the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea from a balcony and be surrounded by all the greenery scenery of Karpathos. You should hike around the island, Karpathos being one of the most important protection sites in Greece for rare species and ecosystems. The north, above Olymbos, is a great spot to discover species of birds, frogs or even seals at the right season.

• Rhodes

Rhodes is a must destination if you sail in Greece, with its combination of tradition and moder life, its imposing wall, ancient statues and stunning views of the sea. You will therefore find here the old town which is now a Unesco World Heritage site. You should head to the Valley of the Butterflies where, as its name indicates, an amazing amount of butterflies will be flying around you, before going to explore the beaches of Agathi or Kiotari. Faliraki is more for the adrenaline junkies among you, where you will find watersports, bungee jumping or even karting.

• Symi

Very close to Rhodes but very different from it, you will find Symi, a more glamourous, luxurious (and therefore more expensive) destination, with rich history. The small island is worth visiting for its port, Gialos, full of colours and for its beaches that you should go sail to such as Fokospilia, Dysalona or Ai-Giorgi. Food is also important on the island, and you should try the fried shrimps, the specialty of the the village of Chorio.

• Tilos

19 beaches, 12 mountains with natural springs, 7 mediaeval castles, a Byzantine monastery and 200 churches, Tilos is an amazing place to explore, a gem of the archipelago, away from the crowds. The most special day to come and visit the island is on the 27^th of July, name day of the patron saint of the island, Saint Panteleimon. The Monastery dedicated to him, in the middle of the mountains, comes alive and you will be able to take part in some of the most traditional part of the Greek culture here, a real “Panigiri”. The road leading to the Monastery as well as the building itself, hanging from a cliff is already a breathtaking experience. Add to it traditional food, music and dancing (so much dancing) and you will have your perfect Greek night.

The Ionian islands

Changing completely of scenery, a sailing trip to the Ionian islands will also make for some great memories of the country. Here you will have lush countryside, beautiful beaches, calm waters, many secluded bays and good marinas or anchorage points all over the islands, making it a sailing paradise. Zakynthos and Corfu are the most famous islands here, but this means they also come with a big crowd of tourists, visiting them whether by sea or by land. Therefore, we would advise to sail to the less popular but magnificent smaller islands of Paxos and Ithaca.

• Paxos and Antipaxos

The east and west coast of Paxos consist of imposing sheer cliffs, making landing impossible. When the weather is calm, you can get close to the cliffs and explore various caves accessible only by boat. A definite must-see! Moreover, you shouldn’t come here without paying a visit to the nearby little gem of the Ionian Sea which is Antipaxos. Only 3 km South of Paxos, its olive groves in harmony with its large vineyard and the chalk white coast attribute to Antipaxos the unique beauty of an unspoilt paradise. On land, you won’t find any real roads or shops here, and only a few houses scattered on this 5 km island, making it therefore a sailor’s paradise.

• Ithaca

Ithaca is known to be Odysseus Island, as this is from here that he started his mythical journey and adventures. You will find proofs of it at the cave of Loizos, close to the unforgettable Polis Bay, on the Western side of the island. Unfortunately, the cave was left mainly underwater after an earthquake, but where you will find ancient inscriptions celebrating the Greek gods. The bay itself is a beautiful pebbled beach with clear turquoise waters shimmering under the Mediterranean sun. This is an unorganized beach, so you will get a virgin sigh, surrounded by a lush green area, offering you a chance for natural shade. Kioni Harbour is also worth a visit and its picturesque lanes will be sure to leave a trace in your memory. It is well protected from winds, even strong gusts. The island offers many beautiful bays with amazing beaches such as the stunning Pera Pigadi, or the sandy beach of Andri. If you’re lucky, you can collect sea salt from the rock pools during the summer months.