Greek islands yacht charter guide: 6,000 islands, five regions – which is right for your charter?

Greek islands yacht charter: Why 6,000 islands mean no two itineraries are the same

For millennia, the sea has shaped the way people travel through Greece. Thousands of islands are scattered across its waters, making travel by boat not simply a modern pleasure but a tradition stretching back to antiquity — one immortalised in the voyages and adventures of Greek mythology.

But while the likes of Odysseus and Jason endured epic passages in their endeavours, today’s Greek charter guests can enjoy short cruising routes between well-facilitated marinas and secret anchorages, making the Greek Islands the ultimate island-hopping destination.

With no end of beautiful beaches and bays, paired with a variety of cultural experiences – from atmospheric amphitheatres to temples soaked in mythology – a Greek yacht charter is suited to both first-time and seasoned superyacht charterers, whether you’re looking for a quiet escape or to embrace the islands’ lively party scenes.

Follow Edmiston’s guide to Greece’s five main cruising regions, because whatever type of charter you are looking for, you’ll find it in the Greek islands, a land ripe for exploration.

How to choose the right Greek islands yacht charter region for your cruising style

Perhaps the Ancient Greeks had it right, viewing the different island groups as separate states, since each of Greece’s five cruising areas is distinct in its own way, and the key to planning the perfect Greek yacht charter is deciding on which one suits you.

Perhaps you’re tempted by the glamorous reputation of the Cyclades on your Greek islands yacht charter or are looking to cleanse your mind and body amid the lush landscapes of the Ionian Islands. Maybe the cultural depth of the Dodecanese Islands draws you, or perhaps you are looking to enjoy an off-the-beaten-track charter in the Saronic Islands or the even more low-key Sporades Islands.

From fashionable beach clubs to transformative cultural experiences, watersports playgrounds to romantic hideaways, Edmiston’s Greek yacht charter experts can steer you towards your ideal itinerary. Whether you are looking to focus on a particular island group or have ambitions to design your own Greek odyssey through multiple archipelagos, Edmiston’s can help you navigate your way to a sensational superyacht charter in Greece. 

Cyclades yacht charter: Mykonos, Santorini and Greece’s most iconic island-hopping route

With world-famous landmarks, an ultra-luxe social scene, stunning sunsets, and amazing food and drink, this Aegean island group is easily the most coveted cruising region in Greece.

It’s here you’ll find all the ingredients that have come to define a Greek yacht charter: sugarcube villages, glittering waters, clifftop restaurants, and some of the best bech clubs in Greece filled with some of the world’s most beautiful people.

Mykonos especially is renowned for its buzzy nightlife, fun-loving crowds and VIP hangouts – but even here, yacht guests are never too far from a quiet strip of sand to slink away to for a couple of hours of solo sunbathing. A dream mix for a Greek islands superyacht charter.

Santorini is famed for its dramatic Caldera, best viewed from the terrace of a cliff-perched restaurant, and though it can get saturated with visitors, yacht guests have the unique privilege of being able to arrive at a time that avoids peak daytime crowds. 

For an added sense of exclusivity, your in-the-know crew can point you towards under-the-radar tables, such as the sophisticated taverna of Naos, housed in a 19th-century mansion, where you can feast on plates of fresh seafood and locally reared beef complemented by fruit and veg grown in the island’s mineral-rich soils, while still enjoying a legendary Oia sunset.

A Cyclades yacht charter can combine visits to Mykonos, Santorini and Paros – a slower-paced island with picturesque marble-paved hilltop villages – while also including stops at some of the smaller Cycladic islands for a little respite from the hedonism of the main islands.

Saronic Islands yacht charter: The most accessible introduction to Greek island cruising

Thanks to the proximity of its ports and calmer sailing conditions, a Saronic Islands yacht charter allows for a more flexible and relaxed itinerary, just off the east coast of Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula.

Before setting off from Athens, charter guests can spend a day or two getting to know this historic city, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Acropolis and its crown jewel of the Parthenon, while also getting under the skin of the Greek capital’s exciting dining scene, which is both influenced by its past yet is embracing new cooking styles.

From Athens, your captain will plot a course for Hydra, a laid-back island imbued with a bohemian spirit that attracts a jet-setting crowd keen to unfurl themselves from their busy lives and spend their days sipping coffee in peaceful squares overlooked by swaying lemon trees.

More calm and quiet can be found on the isle of Aegina, renowned for its pistachio fields (some say its pistachios are the best in the world), secret beaches, and the ruins of the Temple of Aphaia. Lazy days on deck can be spent moored just off its shores, with the occasional meander inland, before you head on to Spetses, a pretty, sophisticated island whose main town is overlooked by neoclassical villas and old harbour has some authentic seafood tavernas. With sheltered waters, there’s lots of opportunities to delve into the toy box and spend a fun afternoon messing around on the water before taking the tender to shore for a wander round.

Ionian islands yacht charter: Greener landscapes, calmer seas and a more relaxed pace

While the Cyclades could be considered a place to be seen, Ionian Islands luxury yacht charters are more about finding your own slice of solitude for a relaxed break amid its pure, green environs.

That’s not to say it’s devoid of things to do, far from it, the Ionians are undoubtedly some of the best Greek islands to go to. Here, unhurried days could be spent strolling the cobblestone lanes of Corfu, admiring Venetian architecture, or meeting up with friends in some of the upscale marinas and waterfront restaurants.

Kefalonia is a great option for slower-paced cruising on an Ionian yacht charter, with gorgeous white sands, turquoise bays, pine forests and caves to explore, not to mention turtle sanctuaries where you can witness some of the wonderful work being done to protect these precious locals.

Whether you begin or end your itinerary here, a Corfu yacht charter is an excellent way to experience the Ionian Islands’ relaxed atmosphere, emerald waters and historic coastal towns.

Dodecanese yacht charter: Rhodes, Symi and the eastern Greek islands for culture and history 

Greek charter guests seeking cultural depth alongside coastal cruising, should head to the Dodecanese Islands in the East Aegean, an island group brimming with castles, Ottoman relics and fine Venetian architecture that wears its tangled history of Italian and Turkish rule with pride.

A Rhodes yacht charter offers superb marina access, plus the chance to weave through centuries of medieval history in its namesake World Heritage listed city. The islands of Symi and Patmos have smaller harbours, making them more suited for tender trips to shore.

Symi has a quiet island feel, where stacks of pastel-coloured mansions reach down the hillside towards the shore and there are 275 churches and monasteries to be found, though if you only visit one, make it Panormitis.

With few major sites but lots of smaller, still spectacular places to uncover, including historic villages and little beaches lapped by emerald waters, the Dodecanese offers a much slower pace to your holiday than Mykonos could ever hope to.

Sporades yacht charter: Marine parks, pine forests and Greece’s quietest cruising waters

For an away-from-it-all feel and a complete reset, a Sporades yacht charter offers a nature-led alternative to the Cyclades. The pine-covered group of islands that make up the Sporades and lie off the eastern coast of Greece includes the four main inhabited isles of Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, and Skyros and are among the best Greek islands to visit.

With water so clear you could almost drink it, the scent of pine drifting in the air and numerous marine parks and protected landscapes to explore, the Sporades are like the islands that tourism forgot. You’ll find few resorts here and though more people discovered the island after the film Mamma Mia! was shot here, they too seem to have forgotten it’s here at all.

Spend your days splashing around in secluded coves, take a responsible tour to see a rare community of monk seals at the largest marine park in Europe, head ashore to stroll the warren of streets that wind through Skopelos town, or visit the Sporades’ answer to Shetland ponies – the miniature Skyrian horses found on the rarely visited isle of Skyros.

Far less commercial than the other four Greek island groups, charter guests here can benefit from lower marine traffic and a generally more private cruising experience.

Planning your Greek Islands superyacht charter: Seasons, itineraries and guest preferences

Peak charter season in the Greek Islands is from June to August, when the heat is high and you can expect to find all the main attractions and restaurants open. However, book a charter in May or September – even early October – and you can enjoy the ancient Greek mythology locations and natural attractions with far fewer crowds.

When choosing which island group to explore, it’s worth noting that the length of your yacht charter may rule some destinations out – particularly if you are looking to cross from one island group to another, which requires longer passages.

For Greek yacht charters of a week, you won’t feel rushed in the Saronic Islands, while there is so much to see and do in the Cyclades, you should consider a minimum of 10 days to allow some idling time.

The type of holiday you and your guests are looking for will also play into which island group is best for you, with the Ionian Islands an all-round winner for family travel and the Sporades a smart choice for quieter cruising and nature-inspired itineraries.

Edmiston has lots of superyachts suited to Greek yacht charters, from the refined elegance of the new-to-market 102m charter yacht NIXIE, which blends indoor and outdoor living beautifully, to the proven watersports platform and glamorous sun deck of the 64.5m yacht SILVER ANGEL.

With some of the most varied island experiences, Greece is among the best Mediterranean yacht charter destinations for a luxury summer escape. On a Greek charter yacht, the possibilities are endless. Speak with your Edmiston broker today and allow us to tailor a Greek islands yacht charter itinerary for you.