What You Need to Know Before Chartering a Yacht to Santorini

The Challenge

Before we dive into the solutions, it’s important to understand the challenges of reaching Santorini by yacht:

• Distance: Santorini is the Cyclades island furthest from Athens, over 140 nautical miles away, making it a long journey for a one-week charter, especially in a catamaran.
• Meltemi Winds: These strong seasonal winds blow through the Aegean Sea, sometimes making sailing conditions rough and unpredictable. (If the weather gets very bad, port authorities might restrict you from leaving port.)
• Anchoring Difficulties: Santorini is a large volcanic island with deep waters, making anchoring nearly impossible. Limited mooring spots and exposure to strong winds add to the challenge.
• Overcrowding: In high season (especially August), Santorini is as busy as Times Square on New Year’s Eve—expect heavy tourism and high demand for berths and services.

With these challenges in mind, how can you make your Santorini yacht charter smooth and enjoyable? Keep reading to find out the best yacht options, itineraries, and expert tips.

1. The Best Yacht for a Santorini Yacht Charter

When it comes to reaching Santorini comfortably and efficiently, choosing the right yacht is crucial.

Motor Yacht charters are the best choice for a Santorini yacht charter. We will help you find a motor yacht that offers:

• High speed (important for long distances)
• Stabilizers for comfort in the sometimes choppy Aegean waters
• Newer engines that are more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly

Catamarans & Sailboats: While a catamaran provides stability and space, it takes much longer to reach Santorini—often 24 hours of sailing one way from Athens. Unless you’re in for a hardcore sailing adventure, a motor yacht is the way to go.

Some of Our Favorite Yacht Options

See All Santorini Yacht Charters

2. Start Your Yacht Charter in the Cyclades

On a one-week charter, your time is precious; we therefore recommend starting in the Cyclades, like Mykonos or Santorini. However, since there are no charter bases or marinas there, securing a yacht requires planning. We can arrange yacht delivery from Athens, or if you book early (9-12 months ahead), we may find a yacht already in Santorini or Mykonos, saving you delivery fees.

Starting your yacht charter in Mykonos is a great alternative. Some yachts are based there, while others can be delivered from Athens or may already be finishing a charter nearby. Since Mykonos is 85 nautical miles from Athens, starting here can save you two days of cruising time. Mykonos has an airport, making it easy to fly in and start your trip.

Starting your yacht charter in Santorini is another option. If Santorini is your must-see, the safest bet is to fly in and start your charter from there. Availability is more limited, but we can help you find the right yacht to start directly from the island.

3. Best Time to go to Santorini on a Yacht Charter – Weather and Crowds

Santorini is stunning, but August is peak season with extreme crowds, and the reality is that most owners will not agree to this deal in July and August due to Meltemi. We, therefore, recommend you charter in either May-June or September when the crowds are fewer and the Meltemi is less strong.

4. The Best Itinerary for a Santorini Yacht Charter

Are there any Destinations that are Better Than Santorini?

While Santorini is the most famous, it’s far from the top choice for yacht captains. At the Poros and Nafplion yacht shows, we asked over 100 captains their favorite Cyclades destinations—none picked Santorini. Instead, Milos, Polyaigos, and Folegandros came out on top for their raw beauty, authentic charm, and yacht-friendly anchorages.

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