The Saronic Gulf by crewed yacht
The Saronic Gulf is the sea on Athens's doorstep: close islands, short legs, car-free Hydra. May to October is the season; it is calmer than the Aegean in high summer. It suits families and first charters most.
The Saronic Gulf is the sea on Athens's doorstep. The islands are close together and the legs are short. That makes it the easiest charter in Greece to fit around a few days in Athens, or to try for the first time.
Why go, and whom it suits
Families
Short legs, sheltered water, and history you can walk to: the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina, a volcano on Methana, and Nafplio's fortress. Good for children who tire of long days at sea.
Couples
Hydra in the evening, after the day visitors leave, and the empty island of Dokos the next morning. Then the Argolic Gulf, which few charters reach.
Friends
A long weekend from Athens, or a relaxed week. For a real scene, add Mykonos, or choose the Cyclades.
A short charter
Three or four nights suit the short legs here. Shorter than a week is possible on many yachts, priced per day from the weekly rate.
What's there
The Athens Riviera
The marinas at Alimos, Flisvos and Vouliagmeni, and Cape Sounion's temple to the south-east.
Aegina, Moni and Agistri
Close to Athens: the Temple of Aphaia, Perdika's fish tavernas, and swimming off Moni.
Methana
A volcanic peninsula with an active volcano, an old spa town and quiet bays.
Poros
A narrow channel and a small town facing the Peloponnese.
Hydra
A harbour town with no cars, and stone mansions above the port.
Dokos
An almost uninhabited island beside Hydra, with a deep bay for the night.
Spetses and Porto Heli
The southern end of the Saronic, at the mouth of the Argolic Gulf.
Nafplio
At the head of the Argolic Gulf: Greece's first capital, and a base for Mycenae and Tiryns by car.
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When to go
May to October. It is warm early and late in the season, and the gulf is calmer than the Aegean in July and August. In high summer, Athens itself is hot ashore. Plan city sightseeing for early mornings, or for before or after the charter.
What it costs
The fee is each yacht's own weekly rate, shown "from" on her page. VAT is added: a reduced 13% for a crewed charter over 48 hours, the standard 24% for a shorter one, shown in each quote. The APA is paid on top for fuel, food, drinks and berths; budget up to 40% of the charter fee for it, and whatever is not spent is returned to you. The distances are short, so fuel takes a modest share. For what a crewed charter costs, line by line, see our guide.
The weekly rate on each yacht’s page. "From" is her lowest season.
An advance for fuel, food, drinks and berths, spent on your instructions and settled at the end.
Set by the country the charter starts in, added to the fee.
A sample week
Athens to Nafplio. A one-way week from the city to the Argolic Gulf, with a different kind of stop each day.
- Day 1: Athens. Board at the Athens Riviera in the afternoon, and anchor off Aegina for the night.
- Day 2: Aegina and Moni. The Temple of Aphaia in the cool of the morning, then a swim off Moni and dinner at Perdika.
- Day 3: Methana. The volcanic peninsula and its old spa town, then a quiet bay.
- Day 4: Poros and the channel. Lunch in Poros town, then on to Hydra in the late afternoon.
- Day 5: Hydra and Dokos. Hydra's harbour in the evening, after the day boats leave. The night at anchor off Dokos.
- Day 6: Into the Argolic Gulf. Past Spetses towards Nafplio.
- Day 7: Nafplio. The old town and the Palamidi fortress, then disembark. Athens airport is reached by road.
A week can also return to Athens by way of Spetses and Hydra. A one-way week can carry a delivery fee for fuel, crew and berths, stated before you sign. The yacht, the weather and the group decide the real route.
The yachts
Greece has the widest choice of any country we cover: catamarans, sailing yachts and motor yachts of every size. The Saronic is the nearest cruising ground to the Athens Riviera marinas. The yachts on this site are a selection, not the limit of what we arrange: ask about any yacht, of any size.
Practical questions
Rene GaspersicYour broker
How far is the marina from Athens airport?
The Athens Riviera marinas are a drive from the airport.
Can we do a short charter here?
Often, yes. Shorter than a week is possible on many yachts, priced per day from the weekly rate.
Is the Saronic windy?
Less than the open Aegean. On meltemi days it is usually the calmer choice.
Can we combine Athens sightseeing with the charter?
Yes. Spend a day or two in the city before boarding, or after. The crew can suggest the timing.
Are cars allowed on Hydra?
Hydra has no cars. You walk, or take a water taxi or a donkey.
Can we end the week somewhere other than Athens?
Yes. Nafplio, Porto Heli or Spetses all work, with a road transfer back. A one-way week can carry a delivery fee for fuel, crew and berths, stated before you sign.
Can we visit Epidaurus or Mycenae?
Mycenae, yes: Nafplio is a base for it, by car or with a guide. If Epidaurus matters to you too, tell us and the route can be planned round it.
Where can we read about each island?
Greece's national tourist board has a page for each of the Saronic islands.
Talk to a broker
Tell us roughly when, how many of you there are, and what the week is for: a family summer, a honeymoon, a birthday with friends. Dates and budget can stay loose. We come back with a short list of yachts that fit, say plainly what each one is like, and stay your contact from the first email to the last day on board.
Rene Gaspersic
charter broker
Email info@soretoyachting.com · Phone +44 7342 933198 · WhatsApp +44 7342 933198
Plan
The Saronic Gulf by crewed yacht.
Two short steps. Dates and budget can stay loose. We reply personally, by email, phone or WhatsApp.