Best Sailing In Greece: The Ultimate Guide
The best sailing in Greece is hard to pin down. There are so many factors that make up a great cruising ground, from weather conditions to good anchorages to the places to explore on land or in the sea.
Yet, ‘Where can I find the best sailing in Greece?’ is one of the questions we get asked the most after three years of living aboard here and sailing (almost!) all of this incredible country.
Because it’s impossible to pick the very best sailing grounds in Greece, we’ve gone one step better and provided you with a detailed guide to sailing each unique and varied area of Greece to help you make the best decision for you.
We’re sharing our own experiences along with the helpful advice and tips we’ve received from others we’ve met along the way, so apologies in advance if this is not what you’ve experienced! We would love to hear different opinions in the comments section below.
The Best Sailing In Greece: The Ionian
Welcome to some of Greece’s most beautiful and busy sailing grounds. The Ionian is a treat on the eyes, but you had better be brushed up on your col regs before you book a trip here!
Sailing the Ionian is popular with charter boats and liveaboards alike, and you’ll rarely be sharing an anchorage with less than half a dozen other boats (on a good day).
Weather
The Ionian is known for its calm winds during the summer, and temperatures here are pleasant, though make sure you’ve stocked up on sun cream and packed a cover-up or two.
Typically, the wind picks up in the afternoons and mornings are very still. With so many islands and mountainous areas, the wind direction can be a little sporadic, though the prevailing winds are from the north.
We never experienced more than 30knts of wind and even then this was very unusual. The wind tended to be more like max 20knts.
We found the forecasts here to be pretty unreliable, probably due to the fact the landmasses control a lot of the wind.
The running joke about the Ionian is that there is never wind when it’s forecast, and when there is it will always be on the nose. This was bang on for us, and we did a whole lot more motoring than we’d planned!
During the shoulder seasons and even during the summer months, thunderstorms weren’t uncommon. The storms here are usually brief but bring lots of rain and often very high winds. They don’t always show up on the regular forecasts so check Blitzortung daily to keep an eye on approaching storms in the area.
Sailing Spring and Autumn in the Ionian tends to be quieter but also cooler. If you like your sea warm then it might be best to sail Greece in the summer.
By September in the Ionian, the sea was noticeably cooler. It’s also worth bearing in mind that September and October have bought with them Medicanes in the past so you’ll want to be zooming out on your wind forecasts to spot them coming and prepare.
Ionian Anchorages For Sailing In Greece
If you’re particular about where you anchor, nervous about manoeuvring in tight spaces, or worried about changing overnight anchorage plans last minute then you’ll want to make sure you get to your anchorage before lunchtime.
Most people leave before midday so the anchorages and town quays tend to clear in the morning and start filling again in the afternoon.
The great thing about sailing the Ionian is that there are so many anchorages to choose from, and most of them are stunning! You won’t find it hard to get shelter from any wind direction.
Anchorages in the Ionian can be quite deep (Navily usually warns you) and there’s a good choice of anchorages with sand or mud bottoms and good holding. Long lines to the rocks are common practice here and help create more space in busy bays.
Facilities
The Ionian is well set up for sailing tourism and you’ll find good facilities in most towns.
Town quays are usually pretty busy but tend to cost little (if anything at all!) Though this seems to be rapidly changing, so it’s always best to read up before you head there and find out what others have experienced. Town quays often have water and electricity meters that you can top up by card.
The best chandlery we found in the Ionian is the one in Nidri, which is incredibly well-stocked. There is also a good range of boat services available here (just ask at the chandlery and they’ll point you in the right direction!)
Head to bigger towns to find better-stocked supermarkets at cheaper prices! We had success asking in petrol stations for gas refills.
Ionian Highlights, Sailing In Greece
Natural Beauty Sailing In Greece
This is pretty hard to narrow down – everywhere you find yourself will probably take your breath away. For us some read highlights were:
- Atokos – a tiny uninhabited island. One house bay is the popular choice but we headed to cliff bay just round the corner and had the place to ourselves overnight. The water was just incredible, and being surrounded by huge cliff listening to owl echoes all night was a real highlight. Beware, it’s deep so you’ll need to take long lines.
- Kastos – read our full review on Kastos island.
- Zakynthos blue caves – if you get the right weather window (super duper calm) then anchor here overnight. You’ll have this stunning place all to yourselves from around 5pm until morning when the hoards of trip boats return.
Local Life
Every town is quite unique in the Ionian. Although I don’t think they quite compare in prettiness to the stunning white-washed towns and villages of the Cyclades, Kioni on the island of Ithaki comes pretty close. Make sure you walk to the windmills and treat yourself to dinner out in the harbour.
Wildlife In The Ionian
If you’re looking for some great experiences with the local wildlife then head to Zakynthos. Keri is a protected area for sea turtles and you’ll almost certainly have the chance to swim with them here. Just be careful to follow the charts and pilot guides carefully to make sure you anchor in the right spot.
Boat Yards And Winter Months
The Ionian is well set up for getting professional work done on your boat. There is just about every service imaginable in the Nidri area and around the boatyards near Preveza. Both areas have good chandleries and a range of professionals.
For the winter months, the three boatyards opposite Preveza (Cleopatra, Ionian Marine, and Aktio) are all popular. Cleopatra is the more expensive of the three but arguably has nicer facilities.
People do comment that they don’t allow outside contractors though so bear this in mind and enquire before you book if you anticipate needing this. We liked Ionian Marine but they were a little harder and slower to communicate with! We ended up using several outside contractors instead.
If you’d rather be in a marina over the winter then Lefkada is a popular choice among liveaboards with a good community over the winter months. People also head to Messolongi or the newish marina in Preveza.
We ended up in Preveza marina (it wasn’t really by choice!) but we were actually very happy there. There was a very small liveaboard community so don’t come here for winter company by the facilities are beautiful and it’s well enough protected.
The Best Sailing In Greece: The Peloponnese
The Peloponnese has a tendency to be overlooked by sailors who want to pass through the infamous Corinth Canal. If you do choose to take the long way around you won’t be disappointed! It was a real highlight for us and many other sailors we’ve met along the way, so consider it if you haven’t already!
Weather
We found the weather in Peloponnese very similar to that of the Ionian, with the chance of bigger seas when the wind blew. The winds were predominantly from the North or North-East during the summer and in certain places, like headlands or channels, the winds were usually stronger – sometimes very unexpectedly so be prepared when you round headlands!
Occasional southerlies were usually stronger and stormier than expected so keep an eye out for those as well!
The Best Sailing In Greece: Peloponnese Anchorages
Anchorages are slightly further apart along the mainland but you still have a good choice of protected bays and town quays.
Without as many islands to hop to the anchorages are predominantly found around the castle towns, so the water wasn’t usually as inviting as in the Ionian. Not to worry though, the towns of the Peloponnese are what really sell this cruising ground.
Facilities
Just as with the anchorages, the facilities in the Peloponnese are slightly more spread out too. There are a couple of free town quays and a few marina-type town quays that charge a little. These have water and electricity.
The best chandlery we discovered in the Peloponnese was in Pilos. Just ask in town for the marine shop and you’ll be pointed in the right direction. He sells pretty much everything or will order it in for you, and he’ll also give you a welcome glass of cool orange squash and maybe even a bottle of his homemade olive oil. He’s also where you want to head for gas here though you’ll want to get there early as he often sells out.
All of the main towns in the Peloponnese have mini-markets you can stock up, but your best bet for a bigger provision after leaving the Ionian is Kyparissi.
There’s a free town quay with water and lots of shops in town – you can get gas here too. Make sure you walk up to the hilltop castle where the views are quite something!
Highlights
Pilos is spectacular. Anchor at the northern end and walk up to the ruined castle for views over the horseshoe bay below.
The castle towns of Methoni and Koroni are also impressive and we loved the island of Kythira (though once you get this far East you can get the tail ends of the Meltemi winds, so keep an eye on the forecast!)
Along the East coast make sure you don’t miss stopping at Monemvasia. The old town will take your breath away.
Head here for a more in-depth guide to sailing the Peloponnese for all of the highlights in these incredible Greek sailing grounds.
Boatyards And Winter Months
We spent the winter (and lockdown) in Basimakipoulos boatyard in Kilada. The boatyard itself is probably the smartest we’ve been to, with good contractors and friendly staff.
The facilities are basic but good for a boatyard and we liked the little town of Kilada (though there isn’t a big supermarket within easy walking distance – there is a Lidl about an hour’s walk or a short car drive away).
We know of other cruisers who have been very happy with the services in Kalamata and some people who have spent the winter months in the water in Pilos, though there were mixed opinions about whether this was a good idea or not!
The Best Sailing In Greece: The Saronic Gulf
This is a little hard for us to write about objectively because we really didn’t think much of the Saronic Gulf. The good news is though, that many people love sailing in this area and there are some simply stunning spots.
For us, it had nothing to do with beauty and everything to do with the sheer amount of ‘traffic’ on the water. It’s obviously going to be a very busy area considering its proximity to Athens and it being the exit (or entry!) to the famous Corinth canal.
We didn’t explore all of this area as we hot-footed it out of there pretty pronto. There were some real highlights here though and we’d love for some feedback in the comments section below if you’ve got more experience sailing here.
Sailing In Greece: The Weather
Although perhaps windier than the Ionian during the summer months due to this area receiving the tail end of the Meltemi winds, the fact it’s a sort of bay gives it some protection and it tends to miss the worst of the high winds.
We had a few days of gusting 30knts while the Meltemi was raging outside but there are plenty of well-protected areas to run to if you don’t fancy sailing through it.
During the winter months, it gets colder here than in the Cyclades and Peloponesse so bear that in mind if you’re booking later in the season. It just might mean a little less time in the sea and a bit more time hiking the surroundings, so it all depends on what you’re heading there for!
Anchorages
If you’re here during the summer months then expect anchorages to be BUSY, especially during the day. The positive to this is that you’ll usually have some neighbours around to pass you some sugar, or hopefully some beer.
The bad news is that you’ll likely have some anchoring drama, it will be tricky to find space if you arrive somewhere in the afternoon, and you’ll want to put out fenders.
That being said, we did find a few anchorages to ourselves (or with just one or two others). If you’re seeking privacy head to the bays that look a little harder to anchor in – one’s where you have to tie lines to shore or that aren’t as protected as others around.
Town quays and marinas were also packed when we were there during the summer so call ahead if you’re desperate for a spot or risk disappointment! We were there during the height of the pandemic and this was still the case, so I imagine it’s only busier now.
Facilities
One thing you’ll find here in abundance is facilities! The Saronic Gulf is well set up for cruisers, and every town has decent food markets and nice restaurants and bars. As I said before, we didn’t spend long here, but it’s definitely a good place to be if you need services of any kind!
Sailing In Greece Highlights
We didn’t explore the area as fully as we would have liked, as we hot-footed it out of there in the wake of many a huge powerboat! The places we enjoyed the most were Poros and some of the quieter anchorages on Aegina.
Poros is a great place to head to in any kind of wind, and there are several quieter anchorages away from the main town that are lovely places for a swim. The town is also pretty with some good restaurants!
Hydra is somewhere we were sad to miss out due to unfavourable winds, but people rave about it so it would be worth a visit if you’re in the area! And the island of Spetses is also classed as a Saronic island and has a very smart town and some quieter anchorages for swimming.
Not technically the Saronic Gulf, but if you’re sailing from Athens then you might want to consider heading up further north to the famous islands of Skopelos and Skiathos (best known as the locations for the filming of Mamma Mia!)
These islands tend to miss the worst of the Meltemi winds and are incredible beautiful too.
Boat Yards And Winter Months
We looked into wintering in Aegina which people seem to rate, but if you head up further north to the Petalioli Gulf there are quite a few great options.
There are a few well-reviewed marinas and some super cheap boat yards too, so it might be a good idea to head slightly further from Athens to get better prices, but still the convenience of being close to the capital!
There are yards and marinas on both sides of the gulf, though obviously being on the side closest to Athens would be easier for those looking to fly home or needing supplies!
The Best Sailing In Greece: The Cyclades
The Cyclades was a real mixed bag for us. On the one hand, it is some of the most beautiful cruising grounds we’ve found in Greece, some of the prettiest towns and some of the best history. But on the other hand, the strong Meltemi winds made it difficult to fully enjoy at times.
We wouldn’t recommend it for a charter holiday unless you’re keen on sailing in some extreme conditions and are prepared for potential damage and ripped sails (as we saw on a few occasions!)
The Meltemi makes the Cyclades a tricky place to sail on charter holidays, as you’re well-laid plans to be back on certain dates might mean you have to set off in the middle of a severe blow. We’ve seen it happen to many!
If you are chartering around the Cyclades then the best thing to do would be to head north in good weather. Then if you get caught out at least you’ll be sailing downwind to get back to base.
We wouldn’t recommend the Cyclades for beginner sailors, but it was a great place to stretch ourselves with a year of sailing under our belts.
Weather
Famous for the dreaded Meltemi winds, the Cyclades are a bit of a strange one when it comes to weather.
The positives about sailing these stunning Greek islands is that you’ll almost always have wind. Even on days when the Meltemi isn’t blowing, you’ll usually have some decent sailing wind in the summer months and it will usually come from some variation of the north.
This makes actual sailing a little easier, especially if you’re used to the often non-existent winds of the Ionian.
The big negative of picking the Cyclades as your sailing ground is the Meltemi that blows during the summer months (but from experience expect it to start around May and carry on well into September/October).
These northerly winds can blow for days at a time, sometimes weeks, and are usually howling a consistent 30 knots, sometimes more like 40. They’re well predicted and there are plenty of great places to find shelter, but you’ll want a really good anchor and enough room to put out plenty of chain.
We wouldn’t recommend heading out sailing in the Meltemi as we’ve seen some boats attempt – the seas around the islands can really build and tend to be short and choppy. Not pleasant sailing at all.
Anchorages: Some Of The Best In Greece
The Cyclades is blessed with some absolutely stunning anchorages that tend to get less busy as you head towards the Dodecanese (with the popular tourist islands like Santorini being the exception).
The good thing about the Cyclades is that the anchorages are generally blessed with good holding and there are almost always several good options that are sheltered from the Meltemi winds. It makes things a whole lot easier when you’re planning around the high winds.
That being said, make sure you have a good anchor setup and night watch systems in place. We can’t count the number of times we saw boats dragging during the day or had to wake people up at night as no one was on watch and they were heading quickly towards to rocks!
Facilities In The Cyclades
We actually found the Cyclades a bit of a challenge when it came to finding water. This could just be that we didn’t end up on the right islands, or the fact we really hate paying for marinas! But there were very few town quays compared to other areas of Greece.
The bigger towns had decent supermarkets and most of the smaller towns and villages had decent enough mini markets for provisioning. If you can’t find something (like gas for example), ask at the minimarkets as they can usually get it for you or know where to find it!
We also struggled at times because of the weather. We don’t like to leave the boat in a big blow, so we were often stuck onboard for days at a time making it trickier to get provisions. Don’t let it put you off, it’s just something to consider and plan for when you’re here!
Sailing In Greece: The Cyclades Highlights
Natural Beauty
Milos and the surrounding islands really stood out for us. Head to the famous Kleftiko caves on Milos, or for something similar but far more secluded check out the uninhabited island of Poliegos.
The rock pillars here are stunning (and make our top 10 anchorages in Greece) and the horseshoe bay is also a great place to enjoy a sunset BBQ.
Local Life
It’s hard to pick one place in the Cyclades as all of the towns, villages and cities are simply stunning. Think white-washed houses and beautiful domed churches, with vibrant local restaurants and small family-run stores. Some of the places that stood out for us were Kimolos and Lefkes in Paros.
Culture When Sailing In Greece
Delos has to make the top of our list for culture in the Cyclades. This was a highlight for us for the whole of Greece so try to make it a priority to visit here if you can.
You can anchor just opposite Delos island – the bay is protected from most wind directions but is low-lying so you’ll still get the wind! There’s great snorkelling here, just watch out for all the boats!
In the morning get up early and anchor in the anchorage area just outside Delos. You’ll want to get here as soon as Delos opens as it fills up quickly and the anchorage isn’t huge – we came back from Delos to find a boat had anchored right on our stern, as in touching it!
If you have a powerful outboard you might be better off taking the dinghy from the overnight anchorage.
Boatyards And Winter Months
We don’t actually know anyone who has spent the winter here or spent any time in boatyards in the Cyclades. Because we’re trying to give first-hand opinions we won’t comment on the facilities in this Greek cruising area but if you’ve got experience then we would really love to hear from you so we can update this section!
The Dodecanese
Looking back on the time we’ve spent in Greece, I think we both agree that the Dodecanese was actually our favourite Greek sailing area.
It’s probably a combination of the fact we were there after a season of sailing through the Meltemi, so the calm Autumn days here felt so relaxing in comparison, and the surprise little gems we found while we were there. Sailing the Dodecanese is definitely worth exploring properly!
Weather
The Dodecanese has similar weather to the Cyclades, although tends to get the edges of the Meltemi winds so is (slightly) calmer.
Our favourite time here was sailing in October when you just have the odd southern storm and thunderstorm to contend with. Add a good 10 knots to the forecast prediction when you see southerlies coming and prepare for unsettled weather!
The Best Sailing In Greece Anchorages
The Dodecanese was gloriously empty compared to the Ionian and some areas of the Cyclades. Even more so as you venture up north. We were often the only boat in the anchorage, or even the whole island!
The trade-off was that the anchorages were often a little trickier to navigate – either really deep, bad holding, or small. But that could have just been our bad luck!
Facilities
We found more town quays and marinas here than in the Cyclades. They were busy in the main towns but there were usually options in the smaller towns and villages that were far more inviting to people who don’t like an audience when docking!
We struggled again when it came to water and it definitely encouraged us to invest in a water maker. If you don’t mind paying for the odd marina then you shouldn’t have a problem!
Leros has free drinking water machines where you can fill up jerry cans easily. There’s one just outside the main marina in Lakki town where you can park up your dinghy just next door!
Highlights Sailing In Greece
Natural Beauty
Lipsi is a beautiful island in itself, but we found several incredible spots just off the main island itself. Makronisi on the south side has a very unprotected anchorage that’s perfect for a lunch stop to explore the underwater life.
There’s a swim through under one of the rocks (research first-Navily has details) that leads to a cool sea lake. On the east side of Lipsi is Makry Apronisi, another great lunch stop where the small island has created a white pebble beach making an ideal spot to completely relax.
If you like to rock climb then Kalymnos will be an obvious choice, but its beautiful mountain ranges make it a spectacular place for anyone who loves scenic anchorages!
Local Life When Sailing In Greece
The Dodecanese may well be our ultimate favourite cruising ground in Greece, partly because of the little local villages surrounded in beauty.
For somewhere touristy but for obvious reason, head to Symi. The town quay there was super busy but we anchored in the little village of Pedi and walked to the main town of Symi. It’s incredibly beautiful.
Astypalea is officially part of the Dodecanese but feels a little more like the Cyclades because of its position. Either way, it’s beautiful and well worth a visit! Don’t visit here during the Meltemi season unless your next destination is Crete – we spent 3 weeks trying to leave!
For something a little different head to Levitha, a tiny island in the middle of the sea. A family lives there completely isolated, growing their own vegetables and farming the land. They run a small restaurant open to cruisers in the evening, so it’s a pretty unique experience!
History
We nearly didn’t stop in Rhodes as we aren’t usually fans of the more touristy islands, but the wind blew us that way and we were so glad it did!
Lindos is a beautiful, protected bay for anchoring (but obviously a little busy!) and although the town is very touristy, it’s also super pretty. For some incredible Greek history head to the castle, and check out the best things to do in Lindos.
While you’re in Rhodes you should also head to Rhodes town (specifically the old town). It surprised us with just how beautiful it was and we ended up spending several days exploring the winding streets and castle grounds.
Boatyards And Winter Months
The island of Leros gets a lot of love when it comes to overwintering here in the Dodecanese. We hate to go against the crowds, but we actually didn’t fall in love with Leros even though we spent the winter here.
There are some really beautiful areas though, and a lot of things to love, so it was probably more the fact we got forced to stay due to lockdown than anything to do with the island!
We stayed in Artemis boatyard in the north, which was a good boatyard with some nice facilities but was very tucked away from the rest of the island. You might want to hire a car if you plan on living aboard so you can get provisions easily.
The main marina in Lakki has a small liveaboard community and lots of returning customers. It’s very close to the town and some great shops, including a large DIY store, a decent chandlery and the best grocery shop we’ve ever visited in Greece!
The marina has a boatyard but the people we met didn’t recommend it, it’s more of an in-the-water destination!
We also met people who spent the winter in Rhodes town marina but there were mixed reviews on this, so we’d recommend Leros if you have a choice!
So there you have it, our ultimate guide to sailing Greece! Hopefully, this has helped you to find the perfect cruising ground for you and has given you a heads up to things you might want to look out for while you’re there.
If you love the sound of all these cruising areas in Greece then you might want to check out our top 10 anchorages in Greece for a little inspiration!
If you found this article useful then we’d love for you to ‘join the journey’ and support us on social media, where we’ll keep you updated about our latest posts and news. We hope to see you out here some day and share a sunset beer (or three!)
About Us!
Hi there! We’re Emily, Adam and Tiny Cat, liveaboard sailors travelling the world on our 38ft sailboat and writing about it as we go. We hope we can inspire you to live the life you’ve always dreamed, whether that’s exploring the world or living a more simple way of life in a tiny home.
Thanks for the good info on Greece Emily
We have just finished a sublime 2 week bare boat charter in the Whitsundays
We are thinking the Ionian Coast for our next 2 week charter based on your blog info
We sailed from Rhodos to the Turkish Lycean coast 30 years ago and had a great time
Regards
Allan
Hello, I’m pleased you’re feeling inspired! I’m not sure the Ionian compares to the Whitsundays (I visited years ago on a sailboat and it’s true paradise, I’m jealous you had so long there!) But the Ionian is definitely one of our favourite areas to sail so far. There’s a lot to see and do there, just be prepared for the crowds if you’re visiting in July or August, though we still found several anchorages all to ourselves in our short time there this summer!