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Balthazar Yachting
Yacht anchored in a turquoise Mediterranean cove

Region · yacht charter

Greek Islands.

The Cyclades, the Dodecanese and the Ionian, from Athens and the islands: Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Corfu.

  • Athens
  • Corfu
  • Mykonos
  • Rhodes
  • Santorini

Overview

What to expect.

The Greek islands are a wind-shaped cruising ground. The meltemi, the dry northerly that blows hardest in July and August, sets the rhythm of an Aegean charter more than the calendar does: it decides which islands are comfortable on a given day and which passages read well. Three grounds share the season: the Cyclades in the central Aegean, the Dodecanese along the Turkish coast, and the Ionian on the western side of the mainland.

Athens is the main base, with most crewed yachts based at its marinas, from Flisvos near the city to Lavrio, the closest to the Cyclades. Mykonos is the hub of the Cyclades, with Delos, Paros and Naxos around it, and Santorini closes the route to the south, its caldera too deep for most yachts to anchor. Rhodes is the eastern end of the Dodecanese, and Corfu the northern gateway to the Ionian, calmer and greener, for longer family weeks.

The season runs from May to October. June and September are the calmest and most comfortable months in the Cyclades; July and August bring the strongest meltemi and the largest fleet. A charter that starts on an island rather than in Athens usually carries a positioning fee, because that is where most yachts are based.

A Greek Islands yacht charter is planned around the wind and run end to end by one advisor: the yachts and crews that know these waters, the embarkation port set to the route, and a day-by-day plan set to the forecast. For July and August, when the best yachts are committed early, planning ahead matters.

Destinations

Where we cruise in the Greek Islands.

5 destinations curated through our network of brokers, owners and management firms.

Athens Riviera coastline with yachts and turquoise water near the Greek islands

Greek Islands

Athens

Corfu Old Fortress overlooking turquoise water and a sailing yacht in the Ionian Sea

Greek Islands

Corfu

Mykonos. Yacht charter

Greek Islands

Mykonos

Rhodes. Yacht charter

Greek Islands

Rhodes

Blue-domed churches in Oia overlooking the Santorini caldera and Aegean Sea

Greek Islands

Santorini

Season

When to cruise.

Best months
May to October
Prevailing winds
Meltemi, July and August
Base ports
Athens · Mykonos · Corfu
Yacht cruising off Santorini in the Greek Islands

The meltemi sets the rhythm: strongest in July and August, softer in June and September. Routes run in the Cyclades, the Dodecanese or the Ionian, and the Ionian, with less wind and calmer water, suits longer family weeks.

Frequently asked

Practical questions.

When is the best time for a Greek islands yacht charter?
From May to October. June and September are the calmest, with lighter winds and fewer boats. July and August are the warmest and busiest, and also the strongest months for the meltemi, the northerly wind that shapes Aegean routes.
What is the meltemi and how does it affect a charter?
The meltemi is a dry northerly wind that blows across the Aegean, strongest in July and August. It brings clear skies but firm seas, so the captain favours sheltered anchorages and adjusts the day's plan to the forecast. The Ionian, on the western side of the mainland, lies largely outside it.
Should I choose the Cyclades or the Ionian?
The Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini and the central Aegean) offer the best-known islands and the liveliest scene, with more wind. The Ionian, on the western side of the mainland, is calmer and greener and suits longer family weeks. The choice usually follows the party and its appetite for wind.
Where do Greek charters embark?
Most often Athens, where most crewed yachts are based, for the Cyclades and the Saronic Gulf; Corfu for the Ionian; and Rhodes for the Dodecanese. Starting away from Athens, on Mykonos, Rhodes or Corfu, usually adds a positioning fee.
How do you reach a Greek islands charter?
Athens is the main gateway, with domestic flights on to Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes and Corfu for island embarkation. The advisor sets the embarkation port to the route and arranges the transfer to the yacht.
What does a Greek islands yacht charter cost?
As a Mediterranean guide, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week before running costs, a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000, and larger yachts are quoted individually. The Advance Provisioning Allowance adds 25 to 35 percent, and with VAT and gratuity a week usually lands at 130 to 150 percent of the base rate. Sailing yachts and catamarans sit lower.
What size of yacht suits the Greek islands?
Both motor and sailing yachts work well. Sailing yachts and catamarans make the most of the meltemi and the island distances; motor yachts suit guests who want to cover more ground between anchorages. The harbours of the smaller islands limit the largest yachts, so the route is planned around them.

Plan your charter

Guides and charter services.

Elsewhere

Other cruising grounds.

Plan a charter

Plan a charter in the Greek Islands.

A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.

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