Guide to the most enchanting Greek islands
Ionian Islands, Cyclades Islands and Dodecanese are just some of the most beautiful destinations for a sailing or catamaran vacation in Greece
Between the Cyclades, the Saronic Islands, the Ionian Islands, the Dodecanese, the Sporades, and the larger Crete and Corfu, Greece is a true marine paradise, with more than 1,500 islands to explore with an experienced skipper to discover hidden nooks and crannies, sheltered bays, and small historic centers enlivened by a simple and authentic culture.
Greece offers an ideal sailing climate, good tourist facilities, and a wide variety of landscapes and conditions, making it an ideal destination for enthusiasts as well as for a first-time boater or family vacation-just take your pick!
Still not convinced? Take a few moments and imagine yourself on the deck of a catamaran, moored in a bay all to yourself, enjoying the sunset with a shot of raki in your hand and delicious local olives as an aperitif. So when do you leave?
The best time
Greece is marked by mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. For a sailing vacation, the weather is ideal from April to October. May, June and September offer perfect conditions; July and August are warmer and windier.
Vacation highlights in Greece
A destination with 1500 islands: a paradise for boating holidays.
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The best areas in Greece to explore by sailboat
Cyclades from top to bottom
Two weeks are required to explore this archipelago, starting from Athens.
Sailing enthusiasts in one week will be able to sail the entire Aegean from west to east, from Athens to Kos, passing Kitnos, Siros, Mykonos, Dhonoussa, Levitha the lonely, and Kalymnos, discovering Greece without crowds and in the right wind.
Those looking for a relaxing week's vacation can choose the smaller Cyclades (Kea, Siros, Tinos, Kithnos), which are more protected from the summer Meltemi, or opt for the Western Cyclades: first stop Milos, then touch on Poliegos, Sifnos, Serifos and its beautiful old town.
On the trail of Ulysses
South of Corfu, the smaller Ionian Islands are a wild and unspoiled archipelago preserved from mass tourism, ideal for a week of relaxation. There are many destinations not to be missed: Fiscardo, the white cliffs northwest of Ithaca, the village of Kioni with its magnificent bay, the remote island of Atokos, not forgetting Kalamos and Kastos. Lefkada will not be far away, the last well-deserved stop before reaching the charming port of Sami in Kefalonia, or to continue on to Zakynthos.
The Dodecanese, middle ground
From the island of Rhodes, the largest of this archipelago suspended between Europe and Turkey, West and East, it is possible to embark on a somewhat wild cruise of constant landscape change. On the agenda: cabotage along the Turkish coast to reach the ruins of Bouzoukale and the charming village of Bosborum, a visit to the island of Symi, the peninsula of Datcha and the small port of Palamut. Finally, the island of Nisyros with its volcano is a final scenic stop before heading back to Rhodes.
Sporades for all tastes
The name means "widespread," because it brings together somewhat all the islands in the Aegean Sea that are not part of the Cyclades, with richer vegetation, terracotta-colored house roofs, and some of the best beaches in Greece. The Saronic Islands, divided into four different archipelagos are among the closest to Piraeus and thus a destination for local tourism; unabashedly beautiful, Hydra, Leonidio, Dokos and Poros are genuine and dynamic. The perfect islands for a sailing tour? Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Kyra Panagia and Peristera.
The 10 Greek islands to discover by sailboat
Hydra
An island out of time in the Saronic archipelago, on which donkeys are the only means of transportation.
Spetses
Still in the Saronic Gulf, but a different environment: elegant mansions delicately painted white or in pastel colors, bougainvillea gardens, and cobblestone streets.
Sifnos
Cyclades yes, but peaceful: a picture-postcard landscape, far from mass tourism.
Koufonisia
In the small Cyclades, a single village, a magnificent turquoise lagoon and the peace that comes with simplicity.
Nisyros
We are in the Dodecanese: a spectacular volcano, golden hills, charming little villages and a magnificent monastery overlooking the sea.
Chalki
A forgotten little paradise a few miles from the island of Rhodes
Kastellorizo
Just a stone's throw from the Turkish coast, a magical island where you can explore caves while immersing yourself in gentian blue water.
Amorgos
A distillation of the Cyclades: blue and white taverns, monasteries clinging to the rock and transparent sea: a timeless atmosphere hard to leave!
Symi
It is the bright colors of houses and fishing boats that give this Dodecanese island a relaxed cheerfulness.
Tilos
It hosts perhaps the most beautiful beach in all of Greece!
Sailing vacation in Greece
The nightlife in Greece, island by island
Mykonos
An undisputed gold medalist and international benchmark for nightlife in the Mediterranean, Mykonos often hosts international DJs for crazy dances by the sea.
Ios
Wild and with a hippie past, the evening in Ios begins on the beach in the beach clubs, then continues in the Chora of Ios Town to the rhythm of drinks and music for every taste and new acquaintances, in an atmosphere of unbridled freedom.
Paros
Nightlife is concentrated in Parikia and Naoussa: the former is more informal, one spends the night going from bar to bar, while Naoussa is perhaps a bit more chic, with pleasant clubs and discos, but a less lively atmosphere.
Zakynthos
In the south of the island, Argassi, Tsilivi, Laganas, Alykes, and Kalamaki combine a beautiful coastline with a wide range of clubs, pubs, restaurants, bars, and discos to suit everyone's pockets and open until dawn.
Rhodes
Rhodes' nightlife is very lively and diverse. There are "historic" discos and disco bars such as the Blue Lagoon, famous for its pool with an attached galleon, but also plenty of clubs and cocktail bars, and even a casino.
Corfù
The Ipsos waterfront is home to taverns, fast food outlets, pubs, and disco bars frequented mainly by young Italians, while Kavos is an exclusive destination for British youngsters.
Kos
In Kos's Bar street in the evening there is an international atmosphere in the various clubs open until late at night, but Kardamena with its cocktail bars is also a good alternative.
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