Saronic Gulf Yacht Charters | Sail from Athens

The Saronic Gulf – Greece's Historic Islands on Athens' Doorstep

The Saronic Gulf is one of Greece's most accessible and rewarding yacht charter destinations, combining sheltered sailing waters, fascinating history and charming island communities just a short distance from Athens. Ideal for both first-time charterers and experienced sailors, the region offers relaxed cruising with short passages between picturesque harbours, secluded bays and some of Greece's most significant archaeological sites.

Stretching between Athens and the Peloponnese Peninsula, the Saronic Gulf enjoys generally protected sailing conditions throughout the main charter season. The close proximity of its islands allows for leisurely cruising, giving you more time to swim, explore ashore and experience the welcoming atmosphere of traditional Greek towns. It's an excellent choice for those who prefer shorter sailing days without sacrificing the variety and beauty that make Greece one of the world's great sailing destinations.

The islands of Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Agistri and Salamina each offer their own unique character. Wander through elegant waterfront towns, visit ancient temples and archaeological sites, enjoy lively cafés and waterfront tavernas, or simply relax in peaceful anchorages surrounded by crystal-clear water. Rich in maritime history and local culture, the Saronic Islands provide an authentic Greek experience only a short sail from the mainland.

With Athens serving as the principal charter base, the Saronic Gulf is particularly convenient for visitors wanting to maximise their time on the water. Rather than spending long passages reaching the more distant Aegean Islands, you can begin exploring almost immediately after boarding your yacht. For longer charters, it's also possible to extend your itinerary into the nearby Cyclades, with islands such as Kea and Kythnos providing an exciting introduction to the open Aegean.

Although some of the islands are popular with weekend visitors from Athens, having your own yacht allows you to enjoy a very different perspective. Between the bustling harbours lie countless quiet coves, swimming bays and peaceful overnight anchorages where you can experience the tranquillity of the Greek coast away from the day-trip crowds.

Combining easy access, sheltered sailing, rich history and timeless Greek hospitality, the Saronic Gulf remains one of the Mediterranean's finest destinations for a relaxed and memorable yacht charter holiday..

The map below has been produced using internet tools, and pin placements may not be exact. It is intended as a rough a guide. For further research and preparing itineraries, we suggest you refer to quality on-line maps and charts.

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Our client reviews about charter sailing in Greece

Rating: ★★★★★
Boat was fantastic - was it's first charter so perfect condition. We sailed around Ithica and Kefalonia - both islands were beautiful. Sail connections was easy to deal with. Kurt, Australia, Jul 12th, 2024

Rating: ★★★★★
Boat had plenty of space for the 7 of us. The sleeping cabins were well appointed and clean as were the communal areas.

The skipper Socarates took us to pristine beaches and bays that were not overrun with other boats. Loved being able to sail during the day and then visit the local towns at night. The skipper always gave us recommendations and asked what we would like to do each day. Crew were totally there to make our trip comfortable and to experience the beautiful Greek islands

The booking experience with Sail Connection was good would recommend to friends wanting to charter a boat. Anna, Australia, Oct 2nd, 2024

Rating: ★★★★★
(The boat was) perfect for our family of four. Only slight negative is that the helm position has a fairly large blind spot and there is no shade.
Favourite spot ... Sarakiniko Beach, Ithaka. This beautiful spot offered good anchorage, a local taverna and easy access over the hill to Vathy.
(Your service was) excellent. Dimitri in particular was very accommodating and nothing seemed to be a problem.
Stephen, Australia, Jul 8th, 2024

Rating: ★★★★★
The Lagoon 46 was the best catamaran we have chartered. There was plenty of deck and seating space and all the bedrooms/ensuites were a good size.

Preveza was a great starting point and we enjoyed travelling south to Ithaki and north to Paxi. Kalamos was a highlight we tied up to a pier next to a taverna for the night and it was a lovely spot.

We had very good service from Robert and Sue at Yachting Holidays and dealing with an NZ company gave us peace of mind. The service from Fyly in Greece was also excellent. We really appreciated being able to board the boat early and our skipper was also very friendly and easy to get along with.

Our skipper Adrian Dimitru was keen to get away on Saturday afternoon so we headed south and got a day ahead which was great. .he cruise was excellent and Adrian got us to some of his favourite spots so we were very lucky.

Ithaki not to be missed. Craig, New Zealand, Oct 18th, 2023

Rating: ★★★★★
Dear Sue, we would like to thank you and Robert for all the work you put in to make our charter run so smoothly from your end. We absolutely loved the Greek Islands, they were everything we had ever imagined. Jill and Pip, New Zealand , Oct 9th, 2019

Good breezes that provided just the right level of challenge. Not super crowded - no troubles berthing / mooring / eating / etc. Fairly chilled - at least compared to Croatia. Patmos was very good. John, Australia, Aug 17th, 2019

Had a great time. The wind was terrific - good fun, but nothing too hairy - exactly what we were looking for to take it up a notch or two from Croatia last year. And the Dodecanese were really good - nice ports, not too crowded (esp compared to Croatia) - just felt a bit more out of the way. DYC were fine - a little bit more on the 'smell of an oily rag' end of things compared to the very efficient German-run scene at Trogir, but it all worked and no real issues. Excellent recommendation Robert - boat and destination - you nailed it!

John, Australia, Jul 31st, 2019

The Lucky Clover was fantastic. We travelled around the Saronic Islands which were beautiful. A new adventure every day. One day we hired scooters and explored the islands. Great service thank you. 10 out of 10, a trip of a lifetime! Deborah, New Zealand, Aug 1st, 2017