Yachtcharter Athen

For a cruise in the relaxing Saronic Gulf or for a sporty cruise to the Cyclades the marinas in the port of Piräus in Athens are a good starting point with a wide range of yachts. You can reach the capital of Greece directly from many airports in Germany.

In addition, you start in one of the most historic cities in Europe, combine your Törn with a city trip and sightseeing. The past is present everywhere amidst the modern, bustling life of Athens. Let yourself be inspired by Athens' 5000 years of moving history, told by the monuments and buildings from ancient times. Stroll through the old town of Plaka or the trendy Gazi district with its modern nightlife.

Next to Lavrion, Athens is the starting point for a cruise in the southwestern Aedean. You can either set out for a relaxing sail in the calm area of the Saronic Gulf and visit the islands from Ägina to Hydra and Spetses. Or steer around the peninsula as an experienced crew for an island-hopping trip to the southern Cyclades.

Climate: Mediterranean with temperatures between 24 and 30 degrees
Winds: Meltemi
Sailing season: April to October

Yacht charter Athens

Athens, the capital of Greece, is located in the Attica region on a peninsula and is enclosed on three sides by the Hymettos, Pentelikon, Parnes and Aegaleo mountain ranges. The last side of Athens opens to the Saronic Gulf.

The cultural and historical center of the country can look back on 5000 years of history, during which time the origin of democracy and the emergence of Greek culture took place. The past is present everywhere amidst the modern, bustling life of Athens. Between the ancient and venerable ancient buildings such as the famous Acropolis of Athens or the Parthenon nearby, there are always modern buildings.

From the marinas like Marina Pireas or Marina Alimos along the west coast of Athens you are on the Saronic Gulf with short and convenient sailing destinations. Sailing conditions in the Saronic Gulf, which is protected from the mainland, are calmer than in the windier Cyclades and are best suited for family vacations and less experienced sailors. Climatically, you can expect a warm summer season with consistent winds.

Besides Lavrion, Athens is also a great starting point for sailing trips in the Cyclades area, south of Athens, and is ideal for more demanding trips with experienced crew.

In Greece you need as skipper and as co-skipper a Sportbootführerschein See (SBF See). However, it is sufficient if the co-skipper confirms his or her sailing skills in writing in the form of a port statement. Nevertheless, you should discuss the regulations with your charter company before each start of the cruise in Greece due to changed regulations regarding the SBF-See.

Arrival: To Athens you arrive relaxed by direct flight from Germany to the airport Athens-Eleftherios Venizelos. From there you can go by bus or train transfer or even by train or streetcar to the marina in Athens.

Athens - Modern life between ancient columns

In Athens you will not be able to get out of the amazement due to the abundance of sights. Probably the most fascinating highlight of the city is the Acropolis of Athens with its various temples and the great Parthenon in the center. Take time to visit the sacred site, which sits at 156 meters above sea level and has been around for thousands of years. The remains of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that you can still see today date back to the "Golden Age" of Athens.

On the southern slope of the Acropolis is the Theater of Dionysus, the birthplace of ancient Greek theater. At the foot of the hill, learn all about the exciting history of the city and the relics of the Acropolis at the Acropolis Museum.

Plaka is the historic center of Athens with ruins of temples and agoras amidst busy streets full of restaurants, small stores and market stalls. In the Monastiraki district, you can stroll through second-hand markets and buy souvenirs in the small alleys. Restaurants and nightlife can be found in the Psirri and Gazi districts.

The famous Acropolis is still the focal point as well as an impressive backdrop above the city's rooftops at night. milangonda/AdobeStock

Saronic and Argolic gulfs - easy sailing with plenty of cruising opportunities.

West of Athens in a kind of big bay between Attica and the Peloponnese lies the area of the Saronic Gulf with several islands. In contrast to the Cyclades, you will find relaxed conditions here, making the area ideal for family and recreational cruises. The further away the islands are from Athens, the quieter it gets. The islands all offer beautiful sandy beaches and charming small villages.

Go island hopping with short distances between the Saronic islands of Aegina, Poros, Salamina, Angistri and the Medina peninsula. Depending on the duration of your cruise, you can also include the islands of Hydra and Spetses in the Argolic Gulf, located south of the Peloponnese.

You can make swimming stops and snorkeling breaks in this area at the beautiful sandy beaches of the islands of Salaminas and Poros and in the bays around Angistri. Historical sights such as the Temple of Aphaia and the Temple of Apollo await you on the second largest island of the Gulf, Aegina. In addition, the island is known for its pottery and pistachios.

The islands of Spetses and Hydra south of the Peloponnese are quieter. Here, too, you will encounter beautiful architecture from the 18th century. On Hydra you can also look forward to a lively nightlife. Cars are not allowed on both islands, horses and carriages as well as donkeys are the means of transportation. If you want to stay among sailors, go to Dokos. The island is no longer permanently inhabited, the bay Ormos Skintos in the northeast offers itself as an anchorage.

The island of Poros with its picturesque main village is always worth a visit. Max Topchii/AdobeStock

Cyclades - Challenging area for experienced crews

The most relaxed way to set off for the popular and infrastructurally well-established area of the Cyclades is from Athens or Lavrion. In the circular archipelago (Kyklos) around Delos there are 56 islands, some of them untouched and off the beaten track. You should not miss sailing especially to Mykonos, Poros and Naxos. If you have a time budget of 14 days, you will also manage to include Santorini, the southernmost island of the Cyclades, in your itinerary.

The scenery of the island world is characterized by the snow-white houses and blue domed roofs of the settlements, amidst a landscape of gray-reddish rock, framed by the blue sea and sky.

The Meltemi from the north can come suddenly, especially in August and September, and provides a steep sea with winds from 6 to 8 Beaufort. The strong wind periods of Meltemi last from one to three days. In addition, you should be aware of the effects such as downdraft gusts in the lee and occurring cape or jet effects in this area. More experienced sailors and crews will find ambitious conditions for sportive sailing in the Cyclades.

Especially the longing place Mykonos, 90 SM away from Athens, enchants with its cube-shaped white houses in front of a sky-blue sky and windmill towers. Mykonos is arguably the most popular tourist destination in the Cyclades and has plenty to live it up in terms of nightlife. Contrast this with the historic center of Mykonos Town.

A short detour to Delos, the cultic center of antiquity, takes you to the most important ancient archaeological site in Greece with many relics scattered around the island. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, the island is a tranquil place where one can relax from the sporting sailing or tourism crowds.

The island of Poros, which consists of two parts and is separated from the Peloponnese only by a narrow channel, offers itself as a worth seeing cruise destination on every route to enjoy "golden beaches" like the Hrysi Akti in the southeast or the beach of Santa Maria overlooking Naxos, away from large tourist crowds. The main village Parikia with its old houses is also worth seeing.

The largest atoll in the Cyclades, Naxos, is less than 10 SM from Poros and shines with its typical whitewashed houses. The mountainous island with beautiful green plateaus is not yet developed by mass tourism. You will find here picturesque beaches with snow-white sand and turquoise water, which are considered the most beautiful beaches in the Cyclades.

The volcanic island of Thira, also known as Santorini, differs from the other Cyclades islands with its unique volcanic landscapes. Enjoy the unique views overlooking the caldera.

The small islands of Schninoussa, Koufonissi, Keros as well as Iraklia and Ios south of Naxos are also worthwhile additions to any cruise in the Cyclades as your sense of adventure grows and your time budget increases.

The old harbor of Mykonos with cafes on the waterfront and the old town with its small alleys. moofushi/AdobeStock

Yacht charter Athens - set sail with 1aYachtcharter!