Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The Ionian: the gentle one
The Ionian sea, on the west side, is where most first charters go and where most families go.
- The wind is the maistro, a north-westerly that typically builds in the early afternoon and drops in the evening. It is predictable and usually moderate.
- The islands are close together. Lefkada, Meganisi, Ithaca, Kefalonia and the Kalamos group are short hops, often two or three hours.
- There is shelter almost everywhere, and the water is green rather than blue because the islands are wooded.
Lefkada is the main charter base, with Preveza and Corfu behind it. If you have a licence and limited experience, this is the sea.
The Cyclades: the demanding one
The central Aegean is the postcard and it is a harder sail.
- The meltemi is a strong, dry northerly that blows through the summer, often for days at a time, and can reach gale force. It is not a squall to wait out; it is the season’s weather.
- Distances are longer, anchorages are more exposed, and getting into a harbour in a blow is the skill the trip actually tests.
- Going north against it is the hard direction. Most sensible Cycladic routes run downwind and plan the return.
The reward is Santorini, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Amorgos and the Small Cyclades from the water, which is the best way to see them.
The other two
- The Saronic, out of Athens: Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses and the Peloponnese coast. Short distances, light winds, and you can start sailing an hour after landing at the airport.
- The Dodecanese, out of Kos or Rhodes: Symi, Nisyros, Kalymnos, Astypalaia. Meltemi-affected but with more shelter than the open Cyclades, and the most interesting harbours in Greece.
Bareboat, skippered or flotilla
- Bareboat means you take the boat yourself. Greece requires the skipper to hold a recognised certificate of competence, and a second crew member is normally required to be named as co-skipper. Check the specific requirement with the charter company, because what is accepted has changed over the years.
- Skippered puts a professional aboard, which is the usual answer for the Cyclades if your experience is thin.
- A flotilla is six to twelve boats sailing the same route with a lead crew, briefings each morning and help on the quay. It is how most people learn Greek sailing, and it is not the compromise it sounds like.
Practical notes
- Mooring is stern-to against a quay with a laid anchor or a lazy line. It is the manoeuvre that decides how your evening goes, and it is worth practising.
- Water and fuel are taken on at the bigger harbours, not everywhere.
- The season runs roughly April to October. The meltemi is strongest in July and August; June and September are the better months for the Aegean.
- Book early. Charter boats for the summer weeks go months ahead.
Last checked August 2026. Licence requirements and charter terms change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Where is the best sailing in Greece for beginners?
The Ionian, out of Lefkada, and the Saronic Gulf out of Athens. Both have short hops, sheltered anchorages and moderate, predictable wind.
What is the meltemi?
A strong dry northerly wind that blows across the Aegean through the summer, often for days at a time and sometimes at gale force. It shapes every Cycladic sailing plan.
Do you need a licence to charter a yacht in Greece?
For bareboat, yes: the skipper must hold a recognised certificate of competence, and a co-skipper is normally required too. Requirements have changed over the years, so confirm with the charter company.
What is a flotilla holiday?
Six to twelve boats sailing the same route with a lead crew who brief each morning and help with mooring. It is the usual way to learn Greek sailing.
When is the best time to sail in Greece?
June and September for the Aegean, when the meltemi is less relentless than in July and August. The Ionian season runs from about April to October.
Next
Read Lefkada, the Cyclades, or how the ferries work.