Athens
Cast off beneath the Acropolis and reach Aegina by lunchtime, Athens is where every great Greek sailing story begins.
Why Charter a Yacht IN ATHENS
The capital of ancient history and the busiest yacht charter starting point in the Mediterranean.
WHY ATHENS IS ONE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN'S MOST REQUESTED CHARTER DESTINATIONS
A yacht charter Athens departure gives you the fastest route into the islands of Greece: Aegina lies barely seventeen nautical miles from Alimos Marina, the largest marina in Greece, and the whole Saronic Gulf opens up within a single day’s sail. The season runs from late April to October, with July and August the busiest weeks on the water. For peak dates and for the Athens Epidaurus Festival period in high summer, we advise confirming your yacht six to nine months in advance.
Few cruising grounds reward a first-time visitor so generously. South of Athens, the Attica coast sweeps past Vouliagmeni and Astir Beach to Cape Sounion, where the Temple of Poseidon has guided sailors since 440 BC. Beyond lie the Saronic islands — Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses — and the quiet harbours of Methana and Ermioni on the Peloponnese shore. From Lavrio, a second departure port near Sounion, Kea and the western Cyclades sit within comfortable reach for longer sailing itineraries.
West Coast International curates a fleet of luxury yachts based between Alimos, Flisvos and Zea Marina, crewed motor yachts, sailing yachts and catamarans, each personally vetted by our brokers. As MYBA and ECPY members we arrange priority berths in Hydra’s narrow harbour, tables at the Athens Riviera’s best restaurants and seamless VIP transfers from the airport to your aft deck. To see how a crewed charter unfolds from enquiry to embarkation, contact us.
chartering in ATHENS
attractions & activities
Cape Sounion
Alimos Marina
Hydra Harbour
Spetses Old Harbour
Temple of Aphaia
Astir Beach
Poros Love Bay
Epidaurus Theatre
Athens Riviera
Best Time To Visit: The Athens charter season opens in late April and runs to the end of October. May, June and September offer warm seas, steady breezes and uncrowded anchorages; July and August bring the liveliest atmosphere ashore and the Athens Epidaurus Festival, whose performances in the ancient theatre of Epidaurus (June to August) are reachable from a Saronic anchorage. Early September adds the Armata of Spetses, a spectacular re-enactment of the 1822 naval battle culminating in a fireship burning in the old harbour. October remains gentle enough for a final cruise.
Key Cruising Areas: Charters embark at Alimos Marina, thirty minutes from Athens International Airport, or at Flisvos and Zea Marina, home to the capital’s superyacht berths. The classic route runs south past Cape Sounion into the Saronic Gulf: Aegina and Agistri first, then Poros with its sheltered strait, car-free Hydra, and elegant Spetses. The gulf enjoys kinder sailing conditions than the open Aegean Sea, as the Etesian wind blows noticeably lighter here, making it ideal for families and first charters. From Lavrio, Kea opens the door to the western Cyclades.
Don’t Miss: Anchor beneath Cape Sounion at dusk, when the Temple of Poseidon catches the last light above your masthead. Ride by tender into Hydra, where mules, not cars, carry luggage up stone lanes. Swim at Love Bay on Poros before coffee at a waterfront kafeneio. And on Aegina, walk the ruins of the Temple of Aphaia, then taste the island’s celebrated pistachios in the harbour market before sailing home past the fortified islet of Bourtzi off Spetses.
Best Spots for Wining and Dining: Varoulko Seaside in Mikrolimano, Piraeus, holds a Michelin star for chef Lefteris Lazarou’s seafood and looks straight onto the yacht harbour. On the Athens Riviera, Island in Varkiza pairs Aegean cooking with a clifftop terrace, while the beach club at Astir Beach in Vouliagmeni sets the standard for a pre-charter afternoon of sun tanning and spritzes. In the islands, book Omilos on Hydra’s waterfront rocks and On the Verandah at Spetses’ Poseidonion Grand Hotel, a Belle Époque dining room facing the old harbour.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
- Dine at Varoulko Seaside, Mikrolimano, Piraeus, Michelin-starred seafood beside the fishing harbour
- Reserve a daybed at Astir Beach, Vouliagmeni, the Athens Riviera’s most polished beach club
- Book a table at Omilos, Hydra, built on the rocks where guests swim between courses
- Take dinner at On the Verandah, Poseidonion Grand Hotel, Spetses
- Taste Aegina pistachios in the island’s harbour market, protected by PDO status
- Attend a performance at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, reachable from your Saronic anchorage in summer
Enquiry now:
- CALL US - +44(0)7885 912 512
- charter@westcoastint.com
- Sterling House, Fulbourne Road, E17 4EE London UK
or Request Your Personal Proposal
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ATHENS YACHT CHARTER ITINERARIES
Where to go & what to see
From a week in the Saronic Gulf to twelve days reaching the Peloponnese, every Athens sailing vacation is tailored around you.
7 Days Yacht Charter Itinerary in ATHENS
Depart Alimos Marina and reach Aegina for a first swim off the Temple of Aphaia coast. Continue to Poros through its narrow strait, then on to Hydra for a car-free evening ashore. Days four and five belong to Spetses and the quiet Peloponnese harbours of Ermioni and Porto Cheli, before returning via Methana’s volcanic peninsula and a final sunset anchorage beneath Cape Sounion. Barely one hundred nautical miles, and every night somewhere memorable.
10 Days Yacht Charter Itinerary in ATHENS
Twelve days allow the full sweep of the Saronic Gulf at an unhurried pace, Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses, with time added for the Peloponnese coast, an evening performance at Epidaurus in season, and a detour to Kea on the Cycladic edge. This is our signature Athens yacht charter itinerary, already mapped in detail on the site.
YOUR NEXT VACATION IS IN ATHENS
MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
There is a particular pleasure in watching the Parthenon shrink astern as your captain sets a course for open water, the city’s noise replaced, within the hour, by halyards and cicadas. Evenings settle into a rhythm of harbourside tavernas and quiet anchorages; mornings begin with snorkelling over seagrass before the day’s short passage. By the time Hydra’s amphitheatre of stone houses appears, Athens feels a world away.
the perfect yachts for the perfect escape
choose your yacht for your athens holiday
Every charter type is available for a luxury yacht charter Athens departure: crewed sailing yachts and catamarans, motor yachts and superyachts. Whether you prefer a nimble monohull or a wide-beamed catamaran, our brokers will find a yacht that fits your party precisely.
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DISCOVER OTHER DESTINATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
YACHT CHARTERING IN THE MEDITERRENEAN
Yacht Charter Greece
Athens is the natural gateway to a wider yacht charter in Greece, from the Cyclades to the Dodecanese. Explore the full country hub for routes, seasons and the complete Greek charter fleet.
Yacht Charter Ionian Greece
On Greece’s western side, Corfu, Paxos and Lefkada offer green islands, sheltered channels and the country’s gentlest sailing conditions, a perfect second Greek charter after you have sailed Athens and the Saronic Gulf.
Yacht Charter Turkey
Across the Aegean, the Turkish Riviera pairs beautifully with Greece: gulet traditions, pine-fringed gulfs and the superyacht marinas of Bodrum. Many guests alternate Greek and Turkish waters from one summer to the next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yacht Charter in athens
Late April to October, with June and September the sweet spots: warm seas, reliable breeze and quieter harbours. July and August are the liveliest months and coincide with the Epidaurus performances, but berths in Hydra and Spetses fill quickly. October still offers settled weather for a final Saronic cruise.
The Saronic Gulf is the classic playground: Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses, plus Methana, Ermioni and Porto Cheli on the Peloponnese coast. Longer charters reach Kea, the western Cyclades and even the Little Cyclades. Our 12-day Saronic Greece itinerary shows how these stops combine at a relaxed pace.
Every type of yacht is based here: monohull sailing yachts, spacious catamarans, fast motor yachts and full-size superyachts at Flisvos and Zea Marina. Athens also has Greece’s deepest bareboat fleet, though most of our clients choose a crewed luxury yacht, the difference in comfort, local knowledge and dining is considerable.
The Charter Fee includes the exclusive use of the yacht, the services of the professional crew, crew wages and meals, yacht insurance, ship’s linen laundry, and all standard onboard equipment in working order. Operating expenses such as fuel, guest food and beverages, marina fees, local taxes, communications, and other charter-related expenses are not included and are covered through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), together with any applicable VAT and delivery/redelivery fees.
One week, Saturday to Saturday, is standard in July and August. In shoulder months many owners accept four- or five-day bookings, which comfortably cover Aegina, Poros and Hydra. Day charters along the Athens Riviera to Cape Sounion are also available on selected motor yachts.
Athens International Airport (ATH) is around 35 minutes by private transfer from Alimos Marina and the Athens Riviera ports. Most charters embark at Alimos, Flisvos or Zea Marina in Piraeus; departures from Lavrio, near Cape Sounion, suit itineraries heading straight for Kea and the Cyclades. Your broker coordinates every transfer.
Gentle by Greek standards. The Etesian (meltemi) wind that whips the central Aegean in July and August blows noticeably lighter in the Saronic Gulf, where islands sit close together and sheltered anchorages abound. Passages rarely exceed twenty nautical miles, which is why Athens is considered Greece’s most forgiving charter ground.
Charter yachts must be licensed for commercial use in Greece and embark guests from a Greek port, both handled by your charter company. Mooring fees in Athens marinas and island harbours are modest by Mediterranean standards and are settled through your APA. Popular quays like Hydra’s work first-come, first-served, so crews arrive early.
Absolutely, most guests add a night or two ashore before embarkation for the Acropolis of Athens, the Acropolis Museum and dinner in Plaka. Among the best things to do in Athens pre-charter is a sunset drive down the Riviera to Cape Sounion, previewing the coastline you will sail past the next morning.
