Quick answer: A crewed yacht week in Greece usually stays in one island region. This guide compares the five regions we cover, the Saronic, the Cyclades, the Ionian, the Dodecanese and the Sporades, and ranks 10 islands across all five: Hydra, Spetses, Meganisi, Symi, Kefalonia, Paxos, Skopelos, Milos, Folegandros and Patmos. A short week from Athens: the Saronic. Green islands and short legs after a summer flight: the Ionian. The famous names: the Cyclades, with a long first crossing or an island start. Medieval harbour towns: the Dodecanese. Pine forest and the shortest hops: the Sporades.
How we made this list: This is an editorial ranking of how easy each island is to build a week around, not of scenery, and not a sailing order. First come islands reached with no flight beyond Athens. Then islands that need a domestic or summer flight, ordered by the first leg from where the week usually starts. Then the long 85 nm crossing from Athens into the Cyclades. Last, islands that suit a narrow brief. No region has more than three places.
- How the five regions compare
- 1. Hydra
- 2. Spetses
- 3. Meganisi
- 4. Symi
- 5. Kefalonia (Fiskardo)
- 6. Paxos
- 7. Skopelos
- 8. Milos
- 9. Folegandros
- 10. Patmos
- Which region in which month
How the five regions compare
Distances are approximate nautical miles (nm). At 10 knots, 10 nm is about an hour.
| Region | Usual start | Airport | Legs | Wind to plan for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saronic | Athens | Athens | About 15 to 40 nm | July, August (meltemi) |
| Cyclades | Athens, or Mykonos or Paros on some yachts | Athens, Mykonos, Paros | About 20 to 40 nm between islands; Athens to Mykonos or Milos about 85 nm | July, August (meltemi) |
| Ionian | Lefkada or Corfu | Preveza (summer), Corfu | About 10 to 35 nm; Lefkada to Paxos, the longest, about 35 nm | Summer afternoons (the maistro) |
| Dodecanese | Kos or Rhodes | Kos, Rhodes | About 10 to 40 nm | July, August (meltemi) |
| Sporades | Skiathos or Volos | Skiathos (seasonal) | About 5 to 20 nm; Volos to Skiathos about 45 nm | Sheltered from the worst of the meltemi |
Choosing between the Saronic, the Cyclades and the Ionian alone? Our Cyclades vs Ionian vs Saronic comparison goes region by region, by guest type and by yacht type, and where to go on a Greek catamaran charter covers the catamaran choice. This page adds the Dodecanese and the Sporades and picks the islands.
Cyclades. From Athens, the first crossing is about 85 nm, 7 hours at 12 knots or 8 to 9 at 10 knots. Kea lies about 12 nm off Cape Sounion; a night there splits the crossing. A Mykonos or Paros start, on yachts that offer it, avoids it. Cyclades yacht charter.
Dodecanese. Medieval and neoclassical harbour towns near the Turkish coast. A long way from Athens by sea, so guests fly in. Dodecanese yacht charter.
Sporades. Pine forest down to the waterline and a national marine park around Alonissos. The hops between the main islands are some of the shortest in Greece. Sporades yacht charter.
Saronic: Saronic Gulf yacht charter. Ionian: Ionian yacht charter, and our 7 best Ionian islands for the region in depth.
Crete and the North Aegean are outside this comparison. The Greece charter areas guide shows which region works in which month.
1. Hydra
Region: Saronic. Start: Athens, about 35 to 40 nm away.
Hydra bans private cars and motorbikes.
Donkeys and water taxis do the work. The stone town climbs straight up from the quay.
It ranks first because it is the closest island on this list to Athens, about 35 to 40 nm, with no flight beyond Athens. It suits couples, first charters and families with older children.
Two things to know. The town is steep stone steps, not pushchair streets. The swimming is off rocks and from the yacht, not sandy beaches.
2. Spetses
Region: Saronic. Start: Athens.
Spetses lies at the southwest end of the Saronic, off the Peloponnese coast, about 15 nm on from Hydra, so about 50 to 55 nm from Athens by way of Hydra.
Captains’ mansions line the waterfront. The Old Harbour still has traditional wooden boatyards.
It ranks second, below Hydra, because it is the second stop of a Saronic week rather than the first: Athens, Hydra, Spetses and back, with Hydra or Poros on the way home. No flight beyond Athens.
3. Meganisi
Region: Ionian. Start: Lefkada, about 10 to 15 nm away.
Meganisi lies off the east coast of Lefkada.
Vathy, not the Vathy on Ithaca, and Atherinos are two of its north-coast harbours. Yachts berth there or anchor in the bays nearby, such as Spilia and Abelike, for a swim stop and a quiet night.
It ranks third, below the two Saronic islands, because it needs a summer flight to Preveza first. Once there, the legs are short, which suits first weeks and families alike.
Preveza airport (PVK) takes summer flights and is about 30 minutes by road from Lefkada.
4. Symi
Region: Dodecanese. Start: Rhodes, about 22 nm away.
Its harbour, Gialos, is lined with neoclassical houses climbing the hillside.
Day-trip boats from Rhodes come and go during the day. A yacht that stays overnight has the harbour in the evening and the early morning.
It ranks fourth, below Meganisi, because its first leg, Rhodes to Symi, is about 22 nm, longer than Lefkada to Meganisi. Within a Rhodes week, Symi is the night to keep.
5. Kefalonia (Fiskardo)
Region: Ionian. Start: Lefkada, about 25 nm away, or 20 nm on from Meganisi.
Explore Kefalonia (Fiskardo) →
Fiskardo is the harbour village at the northern tip of Kefalonia, about 20 nm from Meganisi.
The 1953 earthquake destroyed most of the island’s towns. Fiskardo came through largely intact, and its Venetian-era houses still line the waterfront.
It ranks fifth, below Symi, because its first leg from Lefkada, about 25 nm, is a little longer. A Lefkada week can break the run at Meganisi, about 20 nm short of Fiskardo.
Ithaca is across the channel, so one week can take in both. See our Ithaca guide.
6. Paxos
Region: Ionian. Start: Corfu, about 30 nm away.
Gaios, the main harbour, sits behind a narrow channel and a wooded islet.
Antipaxos, just south, is known for its clear water. Voutoumi and Vrika are its beaches, and the yacht anchors off for the day.
It ranks sixth, below Kefalonia, because the flight is followed by a 30 nm first leg from Corfu, about 3 hours at 10 knots. From Lefkada, Paxos is about 35 nm north, the longest leg of a Lefkada week, so a Lefkada start usually leaves it out.
7. Skopelos
Region: Sporades. Start: Skiathos, about 12 nm away, or Volos.
Skopelos is one of the greenest islands in the Aegean. Aleppo pine, oak and olive run down to the sea.
Yachts anchor in Panormos Bay on the west coast, or berth at Skopelos Town. Dinner up in Glossa, the hill village in the northwest, is the evening to plan around.
Kastani beach, on the southwest coast, was the main location for the 2008 film Mamma Mia!. The beach bar and jetty built for filming were removed afterwards.
It sits last in this tier, below Paxos, on access rather than distance: from Skiathos the first leg is only about 12 nm, but the airport is small and seasonal. Volos, on the mainland, has a bigger marina and more yacht options, at the cost of a first leg of about 45 nm to Skiathos. Once there, the legs are about 5 to 20 nm, and the Sporades are sheltered from the worst of the meltemi. Our 7-day Sporades itinerary adds Alonissos and the marine park.
8. Milos
Region: Cyclades. Start: Athens, about 85 nm away, or Paros, about 40 nm away.
Kleftiko, on the southwest coast, is a set of sea caves and white rock arches. Most visitors reach it by boat. It is best visited in calm weather.
Sarakiniko is a bay of smooth white volcanic rock on the north coast. Klima is a row of painted boathouses at the waterline.
It ranks eighth, below Skopelos, because it needs the 85 nm crossing from Athens, or a domestic flight to Paros and a 40 nm leg, and July and August bring the meltemi to the Cyclades.
9. Folegandros
Region: Cyclades. Start: Paros, about 35 nm away. Milos to Folegandros is about 25 nm.
Yachts use the port, Karavostasis. The Chora sits on the edge of a cliff, about 3 km up the road by taxi or bus. A path climbs from there to the church of Panagia.
It ranks ninth, below Milos, because it suits a narrower group: couples who want a quiet Cyclades week. Pair it with Milos in one western Cyclades route.
10. Patmos
Region: Dodecanese. Start: Kos, about 40 nm away.
Yachts use Skala, the main harbour.
The Monastery of Saint John the Theologian sits above the Chora like a fortress. The Historic Centre of the Chora, with the monastery and the Cave of the Apocalypse, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The summer meltemi reaches Patmos too, so the captain times the leg from Kos.
It ranks tenth, below Folegandros, because it suits the narrowest brief: a slow week, history over nightlife, a group happy to fly to Kos.
Which region in which month
Most crewed yachts in Greece run from late April or May to October.
June or September. The meltemi is usually weaker than in July and August, so the Cyclades are easier.
July or August. The meltemi, a strong north wind, can blow in the Saronic, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese for several days. In the Cyclades, start on Mykonos or Paros if the yacht offers it, and leave a spare day. The Ionian has its own afternoon wind, the maistro, so captains make the longer legs in the morning. The Sporades are sheltered from the worst of the meltemi.
October. The season ends during October, so check the yacht’s last week. Preveza and Skiathos flights are seasonal; late in October check the schedule, or fly to Corfu or Athens. Autumn storms happen, and the captain moves legs around them.
Not on the list. Mykonos: yachts berth at the new port at Tourlos and anchor off the south coast when the north wind blows. It is 85 nm from Athens and in the meltemi’s path, so it works best as a start port or for two nights. Our Mykonos yacht charter page covers it. Santorini: the caldera is deep, so yachts mostly anchor off or visit by day, and it works as a stop, not a base. Paros: not an entry, but a start port for Milos and Folegandros. Corfu: the start for Paxos, covered on our Ionian page. Skiathos and Alonissos: the rest of a Sporades week.
For which region suits which group, see the Cyclades vs Ionian vs Saronic comparison. For general planning, 13 things to know before chartering a yacht in Greece.
Five sample weeks
Approximate legs. The captain sets the final route by the weather.
Saronic, from Athens. Athens, Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Hydra, back to Athens. Legs of about 15 to 40 nm.
Ionian, from Lefkada. Lefkada, Meganisi, Fiskardo on Kefalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi, back to Lefkada. Legs of about 10 to 20 nm.
Cyclades, from Paros. Paros, Folegandros, Milos, Sifnos, back to Paros. Legs of about 20 to 35 nm.
Sporades, from Skiathos. Skiathos, Skopelos (Panormos Bay, then Skopelos Town), Alonissos and the marine park, back to Skiathos. Legs of about 5 to 20 nm.
Dodecanese, from Kos. Kos, Patmos, Leros, Kalymnos, back to Kos. One leg of about 40 nm, the rest about 10 to 20 nm.
Three yachts: Athens-based and Ionian-based
KALIMERA (12 guests, motor yacht) and LA LIBERTA (10 guests, motor yacht) are based in Athens. KALIMERA is €69,000 a week in July and August and €59,000 from September to June. LA LIBERTA is €70,000 a week in July and August and €65,000 in June. ARIVA (10 guests, power catamaran) is based in Corfu and suits the Corfu and Paxos end of the Ionian; her rate is €48,000 a week in July and August, €43,000 in June and September and €34,000 from October to May; our Ionian catamaran list has more. Ask which regions, islands and start ports each offers for your dates. None of the three is based in the Dodecanese or the Sporades; for a week there, ask us which yachts are available. How we pick them: a yacht goes on this list on her July and August rate, from €60,000 a week for a motor yacht and from €30,000 for a crewed catamaran. The card shows a different number: the lowest weekly rate on her listing as of November 2, 2026, with the months it covers. Card prices are before VAT and the APA (usually 30 to 40% of the rate), so confirm the rate and extras for your dates.
Prices shown are listing snapshots dated November 2, 2026. Availability and the final weekly rate must be confirmed for your dates.
Frequently asked questions
What does “plus expenses” mean on a yacht price?
The weekly rate covers the yacht and crew. Fuel, food, drinks and berths are paid from an advance, the APA. In Greece it is usually 30 to 40% of the weekly rate, set by each yacht. VAT is added on top of the rate. Crew gratuity is at your discretion; 10 to 15% of the rate is common. Our VAT, APA and extra costs guide explains it.
Which islands are best for families with children?
Meganisi, for its sheltered anchorages and legs of 10 to 15 nm. Skopelos, for short legs in water sheltered from the worst of the meltemi. Hydra suits older children rather than toddlers: the town is steep stone steps.
How much does a crewed yacht week in Greece cost?
From about €30,000 a week for a crewed catamaran and from about €60,000 for a motor yacht. Below €60,000, a crewed catamaran usually gives a better week than an older motor yacht. July and August rates, the APA and VAT come on top. Our Greece yacht charter cost guide has the breakdown.
Which region suits July or August?
The Ionian or the Sporades. In July and August the meltemi, a strong north wind, can blow in the Saronic, the Cyclades and the Dodecanese for several days. The Sporades are sheltered from the worst of it. The Ionian has its own afternoon wind, the maistro, so captains make the longer legs in the morning.
Does the week have to start in Athens?
No. Ionian weeks start in Lefkada or Corfu, Dodecanese weeks in Kos or Rhodes, and Sporades weeks in Skiathos or Volos. Some Cyclades yachts start in Mykonos or Paros, which avoids the 85 nm first crossing from Athens. Ask which start ports a yacht offers for your dates.
Last updated: November 5, 2026.
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