6,000+
Islands and islets
Greece has more than six thousand islands and islets scattered across three seas. Only around two hundred are inhabited, which means you can drop anchor in a completely deserted cove just a few miles from the busiest harbour.
3,000
Years of history
Doric temples facing the sea, hilltop acropoles, Phoenician harbours and Venetian fortresses. Sailing through Greece means sailing through the history of Western civilisation itself.
24–28 °C
Warm, clear water
From June through October, both the Aegean and the Ionian reach ideal swimming temperatures. Underwater visibility in the quieter spots regularly exceeds thirty metres.
May – October
Prime sailing season
Over three hundred days of sunshine a year on the islands. The Meltemi breeze in the Aegean and the gentler Ionian currents make Greece a brilliant sailing destination for a full six months.
Nafplio, the island of poets, with its Venetian fortress and cobbled streets
Sarakiniko Beach in Milos, with its white rock formations sculpted by the wind and sea
Sunset in Santorini, with the caldera cliffs silhouetted against the sky and the Aegean stretching out to the horizon
The windmills of Mykonos, a symbol of the Cyclades
The Greek Islands bring together dream beaches, thousands of years of history and genuinely wonderful food. These are the highlights you can look forward to on a sailing or catamaran holiday.
Every archipelago hides thousands of coves that are only reachable by sea. The marble-pebble beaches of Paros, the emerald waters of the Ionian Islands and the volcanic black beaches of Santorini offer a variety you simply won't find anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
Chargrilled octopus drying on a washing line outside a harbourside taverna, proper Greek salad with locally made feta, dakos from Crete and wine from Santorini. Island food is unfussy, honest and extraordinarily good. Every island has its own speciality worth seeking out.
Delos, the sacred island of Apollo, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world — and you can only get there by boat. Lindos on Rhodes, the Athens Acropolis a short trip from Piraeus, or the ancient theatre at Epidaurus: these are the kinds of stops that make a sailing trip so much more than just a beach holiday.
The clarity of Greek water means you can often see the seabed from the deck. The reef at Navagio on Zakynthos, the sea caves of Kefalonia and the rocky floors around Paros and Naxos are among the best snorkelling spots in the Mediterranean — no advanced kit required.
Oia on Santorini, Fiskardo on Kefalonia and the old port of Mykonos offer some of the most celebrated sunsets in the world. Watching one from the deck of your own boat, glass of wine in hand, is the kind of moment that makes you wonder why you've been booking hotels all these years.
Whitewashed houses with blue doors in the Cyclades, fishing villages in the Dodecanese and Venetian townhouses in the Ionians. Each island has its own personality, and the harbour villages are the best way to discover it. Naousa on Paros, Lipsi in the Dodecanese or Assos on Kefalonia — places that package tourism hasn't managed to flatten just yet.
Three archipelagos, three completely different characters. From the iconic Cyclades to the lush Ionian Islands and the history-soaked Dodecanese: these routes show you the best of Greece under sail.
Practical information to help you plan your Greek Islands sailing holiday, whether you're joining a shared cruise, chartering a private yacht or taking a catamaran.
If this is your first sailing trip in Greece, the Ionians in June or September are the ideal combination — good weather, calm water and a fraction of the crowds you'd find in August.
In small-harbour tavernas, always ask what fish came in today before looking at the menu. The best catch is usually written on a board or just mentioned by the waiter — and it's invariably the right choice.
Flying to Athens and taking the ferry from Piraeus to your first island is often cheaper than flying directly to the islands — and the port of Piraeus is well worth seeing in its own right.
Bring a soft holdall or rucksack rather than a hard-shell case — storage space on boats is limited and soft bags fit into lockers far more easily.
