The Saronic Gulf Circle: Athens and Back in 7 Days

Route Overview: 100 NM in 7 Days

The Saronic Gulf sits between the eastern Peloponnese coast and the Attica peninsula, forming a natural shelter that keeps the notorious Meltemi firmly on the other side of Cape Sounion. That geography makes this the single best place in Greece for a first charter. You can see land at all times, daily passages stay between 10 and 18 NM, and harbours are spaced closely enough that you always have a bail-out option if the weather changes.

Detail	Value
Total distance	~100 NM
Duration	7 days / 6 nights
Daily passages	10-18 NM
Difficulty	Beginner-friendly
Typical wind	Force 3-4 (7-16 knots)
Meltemi exposure	None
Base marina	Alimos (Kalamaki), Athens
Best months	May to October

If this is your first Greek charter, start with the Saronic. A week here gives you a real foundation before you graduate to the Athens-to-Mykonos route the following year.

Day 1: Alimos to Aegina (18 NM)

Departure from Alimos Marina

Alimos Marina, also called Kalamaki, sits 20 minutes by taxi from Athens city centre and a short walk from Alimos metro station on Line 1. Most charter companies schedule handover between 17:00 and 18:00 on Saturday. Plan to sleep aboard and depart Sunday morning. Top up provisions at the Sklavenitis supermarket 600 metres from the marina gate.

The Passage

Head south-southwest out of the marina, passing the island of Fleves to starboard. In a Force 3-4 afternoon breeze, this 18 NM passage takes roughly three to four hours under sail. Salamis sits behind you; the Peloponnese coast runs along your port side the entire way. It is a good day to practise tacking in open but calm water.

Aegina Town

Pick up a berth in Aegina's main harbour. Stern-to mooring costs approximately EUR 10-15 per night for a 40-foot yacht. Aegina produces 80% of Greece's pistachio crop, so buy a bag from the harbourside vendors, ideally still warm. The Temple of Aphaia, built around 500 BCE, sits 12 km east of town and rivals the Parthenon in its state of preservation. A taxi costs about EUR 15 each way.

Day 2: Aegina to Poros (15 NM)

The Passage

Sail south from Aegina, passing the small island of Moni, which is worth a swim stop if you depart early. The 15 NM route tracks along the eastern Peloponnese coast. Expect a gentle Force 2-3 in the morning building to Force 4 by early afternoon. Keep an eye on ferry traffic from Piraeus. High-speed catamarans create a substantial wake.

Poros Channel

This is the highlight of the week. The narrow channel separating Poros island from the Peloponnese mainland is only 200 metres wide at its tightest point. Sailing through feels like motoring down a canal lined with neoclassical houses. Balconies hang directly above your mast. Residents wave from their gardens. There is nothing quite like it elsewhere in the Med.

Moor stern-to along the Poros town quay or pick up a mooring ball inside the channel. The town has two good chandleries, a fuel dock at the southern end, and a water tap every 50 metres along the quay. Dinner at Poseidon taverna on the waterfront runs about EUR 15-20 per person for fish, salad, and local wine.

Day 3: Poros to Hydra (12 NM)

The Passage

A short 12 NM hop south brings you to the most iconic island in the Saronic. Depart late morning if you like. Even at 4 knots, you will arrive before lunch. The sea between Poros and Hydra is well sheltered by the Peloponnese to the west and rarely exceeds Force 3.

Hydra

No cars. No motorbikes. No airport. Hydra banned wheeled vehicles decades ago, and the rule holds today. Supplies arrive by boat. People and goods move by donkey or on foot. The result is an island that sounds different: hooves on stone, conversation, seawater lapping against hulls.

Leonard Cohen lived here from 1960 to 1966, writing his first novels in a house he bought for USD 1,500. The stone waterfront curves around a compact harbour where yachts raft up three deep in July and August. Arrive before 14:00 to secure a spot on the quay. Mooring is free but a harbourmaster may collect EUR 5-10. Fresh water is scarce on Hydra, so fill your tanks in Poros before arriving.

Walk up to the Lazaros Kountouriotis Historical Mansion, entry EUR 4, for views over the harbour. In the evening the waterfront bars fill up, but prices stay reasonable: a beer costs about EUR 4, a cocktail EUR 8-10.

Day 4: Hydra to Spetses (12 NM)

The Passage

Another easy 12 NM leg, continuing south along the Peloponnese coast. The passage crosses a slightly more open stretch of water, and in July or August you may see Force 4-5 in the afternoon. Leave by 10:00 to arrive in calm conditions.

Spetses

Where Hydra is stone and severity, Spetses is pine trees and Edwardian elegance. The island covers 27 square kilometres and is ringed by a coastal road popular with cyclists. Dapia harbour, the main port, offers stern-to mooring along a wide quay. Water and electricity hookups cost around EUR 8-12 per night.

Spetses has some of the best fish tavernas in the Saronic. Try Patralis near the old harbour for grilled red mullet at roughly EUR 14 per plate. After dinner, rent a bicycle for EUR 5 per half-day and ride 3 km west to Agioi Anargyroi beach, the island's best swimming spot.

If you are sailing with children, Spetses works well as a two-night stop. The pine forest trails behind town are shaded and flat, ideal for small legs.

Day 5: Spetses to Epidaurus (18 NM)

The Passage

This is the longest day of the trip, heading northeast across the Saronic toward the Peloponnese mainland. At 18 NM, budget four to five hours. The route crosses open water where a Force 4 from the west can build short, choppy seas in the afternoon. If seasickness is a concern for anyone aboard, depart early and take motion sickness tablets 30 minutes before casting off.

Ancient Epidaurus

Anchor in the small bay of Palea Epidavros, known as Old Epidaurus. The holding is good on sand in three to five metres of water. From the bay, the ancient theatre of Epidaurus lies 9 km inland. A taxi costs about EUR 15 each way, or you can hire one of the local minibuses that meet arriving yachts in summer.

The theatre, built around 340 BCE, seats 14,000 and is famous for acoustics precise enough that a coin dropped on the central stone can be heard from the back row. Entry costs EUR 12, reduced to EUR 6 for EU students. Visiting between late June and mid-August? Check the Athens and Epidaurus Festival schedule: performances of ancient Greek drama take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, with tickets starting at EUR 15.

Back at the anchorage, Palea Epidavros village has a handful of tavernas. This is one of the quietest nights of the trip, well clear of tourist crowds and charter flotillas.

Day 6: Epidaurus to Poros or Methana (15 NM)

Option A: Methana (10 NM)

Methana is a volcanic peninsula with natural hot springs. The town harbour is small but functional, with stern-to mooring and a fuel dock. A volcanic hot spring sits 2 km north of town, free to use, where water reaches 34°C. If you enjoy geology, the dormant volcanic crater is a 45-minute hike from the harbour.

Option B: Return to Poros (15 NM)

If Poros appealed on Day 2, sail back for a second night. This time, anchor in Russian Bay on the south side of the island instead of the town quay. The bay offers good holding in four to six metres over sand, surrounded by pine trees, and stays quiet even in peak season. Swim, read, and do nothing. You have earned it.

Either option positions you 15-18 NM from Alimos for an easy final-day passage.

Day 7: Return to Alimos (15 NM)

The Passage

Most charter companies require yacht return by 09:00 on Saturday, which means arriving Friday evening. The 15 NM passage from Poros or Methana to Alimos is straightforward. Depart by noon, motor-sail if the wind drops, and plan to pick up your berth by 16:00-17:00.

Handover and Dinner

The charter company will inspect the yacht, check the engine hours, and process your security deposit return, usually EUR 1,500-3,000 depending on yacht size, refunded within 7-14 days if there is no damage. Once you are free, walk 15 minutes south to Mikrolimano harbour in Piraeus. It is a crescent-shaped bay lined with fish restaurants, and a full seafood meal for two with wine costs EUR 50-70. A fitting way to close the loop.

Why the Saronic Is Perfect for Beginners

Four factors combine to make this route the gentlest introduction to Greek sailing.

• No Meltemi. The Meltemi blows Force 6-7 through the Cyclades from June to September but does not penetrate the Saronic Gulf. Cape Sounion acts as a natural windbreak. Typical summer conditions inside the gulf are Force 3-4, occasionally Force 5 on exposed stretches.
• Land always visible. The Saronic is roughly 30 NM across at its widest. You can always see at least one shore, usually two or three. This removes the psychological pressure of open-water sailing and simplifies navigation considerably.
• Short passages. No day exceeds 18 NM. Even at a conservative 4 knots, you are never more than four to five hours from port. If someone gets tired or the weather turns, you can cut a passage short without drama.
• Infrastructure everywhere. Every island has a harbour with mooring, fuel, water, a mini-market, and a taverna. You are never more than 30 minutes from help, and mobile signal covers the entire gulf.

If you have no sailing experience at all, book a skippered charter. A professional skipper costs EUR 150-200 per day and handles all the sailing while teaching you the basics. By mid-week, most guests are helming and trimming sails themselves. For those deciding between bareboat and skippered, the Saronic is one of the few places where bareboat is genuinely safe for confident beginners holding an RYA Day Skipper or IYT Bareboat Skipper certificate.

What It Costs

A 38-40 foot monohull in the Saronic charters for EUR 1,800-3,500 per week depending on season, with June and September offering the best value. A catamaran of similar length runs EUR 3,000-5,500. Add EUR 200-300 for fuel, EUR 50-100 for mooring fees across the week, and EUR 200-400 for provisioning from the supermarket. For a detailed cost breakdown, see our 2026 charter pricing guide.

Split among a group of 6-8 friends, a week in the Saronic can cost less per person than a mid-range hotel in Athens. For couples, the route works well on a smaller 32-34 foot yacht, which charters from EUR 1,200-2,000 per week. Read more on why a yacht holiday works for two.

What to Bring

Pack soft bags, not hard suitcases. Yacht lockers do not accommodate rigid luggage. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and deck shoes with non-marking soles. For a full checklist, see our packing guide.

Where to Go Next

After the Saronic, many sailors want more. The natural progression is Athens to Mykonos in 7 days, which introduces Cycladic open-water sailing and proper Meltemi conditions. Alternatively, Turkey's Lycian coast offers similar shelter to the Saronic but with a completely different cultural experience. And if you want to explore further across the Med, Croatia's Dalmatian coast is a strong option for your second or third charter.