Bareboat sailing holidays in Greece

Location of Greece

Greece – or officially the Hellenic Republic – is located in southeast Europe in the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered by Albany, Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of continental Greece and the Ionian Sea to the west. There are several islands in the region. It has a total area of 131, 990 km2 including 1300 islands, of which only 170 are inhabited. The population is approximately 10, 815, 197.

Can you rent a bareboat motor yacht in Greece – do I need a license?

Small boats (under a certain horsepower or length), electric boats, crewed yacht charters and gulet charters may not require a license. Larger boats or those with more powerful engines need a skipper’s license. Before you confirm your sailing trip to Greece, please send us a copy and we will check it for you. You need to have the original copies with you on-board, so don’t forget to take them.
To sail in Greece, one of the following qualifications is necessary: • ICC (International Certificate of Competence), International, with valid Navigational and VHF licenses, Prerequisites: RYA “Day Skipper Course” or complete the ICC Assessment form to prove competence from previous experience.• IPC (International Proficiency Certificate), America, Prerequisites: ASA 104 or US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course” OR: • NauticEd SLC (International Sailing License and Credentials), International, • UK – RYA Day Skipper practical, • USA – US Sailing “Bareboat Cruising Course”, ASA “104 Bareboat Cruising Course” or above, • Germany – “Sportbootführerschein See“ or above, • Belgium – Algemeen Stuurbrevet/ Brevet de conduite général, • France – LE PERMIS PLAISANCE
If you do not have a skipper license, it is also possible to rent a boat with a skipper

Bareboat sailing holidays in Greece – the main ports

The sailing sector is significant in the country due to its location and the archipelago it has. There are numerous ports in Greece used for both passenger and goods transport. Besides several other ports, the most popular ones from both aspects are Aegina, Antirrio, Korfu, Heraklion, Mykonos and Zakynthos. Most of these ports are well-equipped and offer the best services; they are also often located near the downtown areas. Greece is the land of ancient mythology. If you love archaeology, history, art and philosophy, you definitely have to visit the country. It has dozens of idyllic islands covered with fine white sand, surrounded by the blue sea. These beautiful coastal towns have ancient ruins and museums as well. Explore them all on a yacht! More sailing routes Greece or choose another bareboat sailing charter in the Mediterranean

Main sights in Greece

It would be almost impossible to list all the sights offered by Greece in a few sentences. Rebellious towns like Athens and small villages – in Greece provides visitors with several different experiences and stunning sights. The capital of Greece is Athens; a place famous for the Acropolis. Once in Greece, this is probably the first sight that you should visit. You can admire the complex made of shining marble and the famous statue of Athena. Those who are interested in ancient architecture can see the Doric columns and temples while walking around the area, enjoying the sight of the amazing Parthenon as well. The Greek islands not only offer the finest beaches to tourists but also take them back in time, to the history of Crete, Naxos, Paros, Ios, Milos, Mykonos and Rhodes.

Which period is best to sail in Greece?

The climate of the Greek shores in the Mediterranean – the air is exceptionally clear and dry. It is characterized by a lot of sunshine, while the amount of precipitation is low. Read about sailing in Greece in September

The climate of Greece is primarily the Mediterranean, featuring mild winters and hot summers. Summers are usually hot and dry and the winters can be quite cold and wet. The northern part of Greece can be very cold during the winter and snow is not uncommon. The mountainous areas of Northwestern and central parts of Greece have an alpine climate. For the south of Greece and the islands, the winters will be milder.

The spring is pleasant and sunny in most of Greece, with fewer and less frequent rainy days. On the coasts and the islands, it almost never rains in the summer. Summers are hot, and in July and August temperatures usually reach 30 to 35°C, but sometimes even 40°C and more. While on the islands and along the coasts the heat is tempered by sea breezes, on the continent, especially in inland areas and in large cities, the heat is intense.

The area of Greece is constantly windy. These winds, however, are always changing. So when we are traveling in continental Greece it is most likely that we won’t meet any stable winds. Each location has its own conditions. It is advised to plan a sailing route from the south to the north in and autumn, the north-south in summer. Sirocco blows in Greece as a south or southwestern wind. It mainly blows from November till May and sometimes brings with it sand from Africa. “Lefkotonoi” winds bring fine weather in spring. There is a strong northern wind called the “Meltemi” which usually sweeps through the east coast of Greece during July and August, and this offers a welcome relief to the heat.

Bareboat sailing yacht holidays Greece itineraries

Saronic Gulf bareboat sailing yacht charter itineraries

Day 1. Athens – Selinia Salamis (Salamina island) 9.42 km (5.85 mi), Day 2. Salamina – Aegina 26.25 km (16.31 mi) Day 3. Aegina – Poros (Poros Island) 35.54 km (22.08 mi), Day 4. Poros – Ermioni 40.00 km (24.85 mi), Day 5. Ermioni – Idra (Idra Island) 19.58 km (12.16 mi), Day 6. Idra – Coressia (Kea island) 83.19 km (51.69 mi), Day 7. Kea – Sounion – Athens77.30 km (48.03 mi)

More Athens sailing holidays, sailing from Athens to Mykonos, sailing from Athens to Santorini, sailing destinations in Saronic-gulf

Dodecanese bareboat sailing yacht charter itineraries

Day 1. Rhodes – Ano Symi 45.66 km (28.37 mi), Day 2. Ano Symi – Mandraki 72.02 km (44.75 mi), Day 3. Mandraki – Livadia (Tilos Island)36.33 km (22.57 mi) , Day 4. Livadia – Chalki (Chalki island) 34.47 km (21.42 mi) Day 5. Chalki – Lindos 83.93 km (52.15 mi), Day 6. Lindos – Antony Quinn Beach 28.24 km (17.55 mi) Day 7. Antony Quinn Beach – Faliraki – Rhodes 17.14 km (10.65 mi).

Rhodes sailing tours

Day 1. Kos – Kefalos 46.37 km (28.81 mi), Day 2. Kefalos – Astipalea island 65.13 km (40.47 mi), Day 3. Astipalea – Syrna & Stefania island 35.47 km (22.04 mi), Day 4. Stefania – Krevatia (Chalki island ) 80.75 km (50.18 mi), Day 5. Chalki – Tilos 33.83 km (21.02 mi´) Day 6. Tilos – Mandraki 35.74 km (22.21 mi), Day 7. Mandraki – Agios Fokas – Kos 59.47 km (36.95 mi)More Kos sailing itinerary , Dodecanese yacht routes

Cyclades bareboat sailing yacht charter itineraries

Day 1. Mykonos – Tinos (Tinos island) 17, 58 km (10, 92 mi), Day 2. Tinos – Gavrio 54, 30 km (33, 74 mi), Day 3. Gavrio – Vourkari (Kea island) 46, 33 km (28, 79 mi), Day 4. Vourkari – Merihas (Kithnos Island) 37, 98 km (23, 60 mi), Day 5. Merihas – Livadi (Serifos island) 46, 54 km (28, 92 mi), Day 6. Livadi – Kamares (Sifnos Island) 23, 25 km (14, 45 mi), Day 7. Kamares – Ermúpoli – Mykonos 98, 13 km (60, 97 mi)

Mykonos sailing tours, yacht charter Mykonos to Santorini

Day 1. Fira (Santorini) – Oia 9.53 km (5.92 mi), Day 2. Oia – Karavostasis (Folegandros island) 42.34 km (26.31 mi), Day 3. Folegandros – Alopronia (Sikinos island) 19.87 km (12.35 mi), Day 4. Sikinos – Chora (Ios island ) 12.80 km (7.95 mi), Day 5. Chora – Ag. Georgios (Iraklia island) 38.18 km (23.72 mi), Day 6. Iraklia – Keros island 16.29 km (10.12 mi), Day 7. Keros – Vlychada – Santorini 82.37 km (51.18 mi)

More Santorini sailing tours

Day 1. Adamas (Milos) – Embourios 4.89 km (3.04 mi), Day 2. Embourios – Kamares (Sifnos island) 43.20 km (26.84 mi), Day 3. Sifnos – Livadi (Serifos island) 22.19 km (13.79 mi), Day 4. Serifos – Merihas (Kithnos island) 48.74 km (30.29 mi), Day 5. Kithnos – Ermoupoli (Siros island) 69.45 km (43.15 mi), Day 6. Siros – Paros 47.02 km (29.22 mi), Day 7. Paros – Pollonia – Milos 87.12 km (54.13 mi)

More Milos sailing tour, Cyclades sailing routes

Crete bareboat sailing yacht charter itineraries

Day 1. Heraklion – Agia Pelagia 16, 30 km (10, 13 mi), Day 2. Agia Pelagia – Thira Port 117, 79 km (73, 19 mi), Day 3. Thira Port – Oia – Agia Eirini 12, 41 km (7, 71 mi), Day 4. Agie Eirini – Panagia Kalou – Monolitas 17, 78 km (11, 05 mi), Day 5. Monolitas – Anafi 26, 14 km (16, 24 mi), Day 6. Anafi – Kamari – Vlichada 33, 11 km (20, 58 mi), Day 7. Vlichada – Heraklion 112, 88 km (70, 14 mi)

More about private boat from Crete to Santorini, or choose from Greece sailing destinations