Greece yacht charter: week prices, meltemi and paperwork

When to sail in Greece

Greece’s sailing season runs from March to November, and the Aegean Meltemi is strongest in July and August. Sail Connections recommends May, June, September and early October for sailing; Kavas says the Meltemi can make Aegean sailing more demanding.

Distinguish sailing conditions from the operator’s pricing season. Ask which dates count as low, mid and high season for your yacht, rather than assuming those labels follow the wind calendar.

Greece Travel describes the Saronic Gulf near Athens as more sheltered when winds are heavy. If your group wants less demanding sailing, discuss that area before committing to an Aegean itinerary, and ask which official marine forecast the operator uses.

• March–April: within the sailing season; ask about conditions and the operator’s price band.
• May–June: among the months Sail Connections recommends for sailing.
• July–August: strongest Meltemi months; Greece Travel also recommends them for swimming and island nightlife.
• September–early October: another sailing window recommended by Sail Connections.
• Late October–November: within the stated season; confirm availability and weather planning.

Week prices and added costs

Bareboat sailing monohull medians are €2,500 per week in low season, €3,900 per week in mid season and €4,500 per week in high season. Bareboat sailing catamaran medians are €10,500 per week, €14,500 per week and €17,500 per week respectively. Each yacht-type, crew-option and season category contains 1 published price from 1 company, so its median equals that single price; prices are as checked on Oct 14, 2026.

Skippered sailing catamaran medians are €17,300 per week in low season, €20,700 per week in mid season and €22,900 per week in high season. These are different charter categories, not a quoted skipper surcharge for the same yacht. Use the table above and the calculator alongside the week-charter cost guide to compare the whole bill.

Greece Travel’s 2017 article gives an additional skipper cost of €910–€940 per week and a customary skipper tip of about 10% of the skipper’s fee. Treat that older skipper figure as a question for your quote, not a replacement for the operator’s written price. For a crewed charter, ask whether an advance provisioning allowance, or APA, is payable and how unused funds are settled.

AADE says TEPAI applies to vessels over 7 meters in Greek territorial waters and is paid monthly or for several months in advance. Ask whether the charter price includes it and who handles payment. Also request written confirmation of VAT, any cruising permit or per-person tourist charge, fuel, provisioning, marina fees and crew gratuities.

• Water: Greece Travel lists €5–€10 per tank fill.
• Government docks: Greece Travel describes variable charges of a few euros per night, rather than a fixed tariff.
• Private marina and mooring charges: ask for the charges expected along your proposed route.
• Skippered quotes: confirm whether the skipper is already included before adding a separate fee.
• Gratuities: distinguish the skipper’s fee from an optional tip; see the captain and crew tipping guide.

Bareboat qualifications and company approval

For bareboat charter, Sail Connections says the nominated skipper needs a recognized sailing qualification and sufficient practical experience. It describes Greek regulations as normally requiring both a qualified skipper and a competent co-skipper. Confirm the applicable requirements with the Greek authorities before relying on a particular certificate.

Company approval is a separate question from the regulatory requirement. Send your proposed skipper’s certificate and sailing history to the charter company, and ask it to confirm acceptance in writing, including what it needs from the co-skipper. Greece Travel mentions a certificate or verified experience, but do not assume experience alone will satisfy your booking.

Use the bareboat sailing certificate guide to prepare your questions. If nobody in your group can meet the requirements, compare a charter with a skipper through the bareboat, skippered and crewed charter guide.

Athens bases and sailing areas

Lavrion and Kalamaki in Athens are bases for access to the Cyclades and the Saronic Gulf, according to Greece Travel. The same article names Mykonos, Santorini and Paros among Cyclades destinations reachable from Athens bases. That does not mean every destination belongs in a single charter week.

Ask the company quoting your yacht to identify its exact departure marina and confirm where handover takes place. Check whether the quoted boat starts at Lavrion or Kalamaki, rather than treating an Athens-area listing as an exact berth location. Discuss your preferred sailing area before comparing quotes.

Planning a charter week

A Saronic Gulf week is worth discussing if sheltered sailing matters more to your group than reaching the Cyclades. Greece Travel describes that gulf as more sheltered in heavy winds, while Sail Connections describes Greek itineraries combining mainland and island stops.

Start with your departure base, preferred sailing area and return requirements, then ask the operator for a day-by-day itinerary with charted distances. For a Cyclades proposal involving Paros, Mykonos or Santorini, have the skipper assess the passages and alternatives before you commit. Keep the route flexible around the weather rather than treating every named stop as guaranteed.