The best time to sail in Greece will depend on your personal preferences and the kind of activities you plan to do there. Maybe you have a penchant for crowded places, or perhaps you prefer to relax on one of the beautiful isolated islands. For whatever reason may be, before venturing into these beautiful islands, it would be better to know helpful information to plan your sailing holiday efficiently and with ease!
Let’s begin with the weather!
Greece has a Mediterranean climate with dry and hot summers reaching high temperatures in July and August. The winters are mild and humid, with many sunny days throughout most of the year.
If you plan to enjoy water activities, from June to late October, the sea’s temperature is extremely agreeable and still warm.
In the Aegean Sea, high winds named “Meltemi” frequently blow from North/Northeast, particularly in mid-July and mid-August; take into consideration that these winds can last for several days.
Mid- April to Mid-June
Spring is the best time to enjoy the sun without suffering from warmth. Also, that time of the year allows you to practice plenty of outdoor activities such as strolling, trekking mountains, beach sports, biking, and many other recreations.
Additionally, yacht charters are much cheaper in this season and all the restaurants, bars, hotels, and tourist attractions are open.
Mid-June to late August
As I’ve mentioned above, July and August are the hottest months; the beaches, and many other places, are crowded with tourists.
If you like parties, outdoor concerts, crowds, and noises then the peak season is for you! Know that chartering a yacht in these periods will be more expensive than any other month in the year as yacht charter companies are very busy at that time.
For the tourist attractions, you don’t need to worry as it is evident that all establishments are extremely active during these months.
September to Mid-October
Like spring, autumn has something very special; you can feel the magic in the air. Sailing in this period is extremely pleasant as the water is still relatively warm, the crowds are gone, the tourist places are open to everyone, and the climate is agreeable.
It gets a little cooler on the beaches and the mountains, though, but you will still be able to enjoy many outdoor activities. What can be better!
Plan to sail with your kids?
If you intend to sail with your children, you would agree with me that it would be better to wait until the end of the school year.
There are few breaks during the year, such as Easter in springtime, that last about a week and two months in the summer, depending on the region and the state. So, you’ll need to plan your trip accordingly.
Since all the fun attractions are open from mid-April until late October, both seasons are excellent for a family trip!
Sailing, adults’ time!
Sailing with a group of adults is fabulous, but in peak season, you may end up with plenty of young folks that usually have only one thing in mind, party the whole day until dawn.
If this doesn’t bother you, then it’s fine, but if it does, then it could screw your entire vacation. To avoid this small inconvenience, September and October will be the best months to sail.
So…When is the Best Time?
As mentioned above, the best time will depend on your preferences. My favorite periods are spring and Autumn as I personally don’t like crowded places and high heat.
But, if you decide to sail in the peak season, know that the warmth is much more supportable at sea than onshore, thanks to the winds!
Pros and Cons of Sailing in the Peak Season
Pros
- Good for your children to make some friends
- All the tourist attractions are open
- Plenty of outdoor concerts and parties
- Lots of onshore and offshore activities
- Active nightlife
Cons
- The weather is hot and dry
- Yacht charters’ prices increase
- All the places are crowded
Pros and Cons of Sailing in the Low Season
Pros
- Excellent weather for outdoor activities
- Less crowded
- Yacht charter prices decrease
Cons
- The weather may be unpredictable
- The sea is still slightly cold in early May
My Conclusion
As there are pros and cons to everything, having said that, there really isn’t a better time to sail in these beautiful Greek islands. It is all a matter of your personal choice, so think about what you plan to do in Greece, and from there, get ready to book your boat!
What about you? When is the best time for you to sail to Greece? Please, let me know in the comment below; I’ll be glad to hear your feedback!
Daniella has been passionate about travel, the sea, and nature for many years. As a child, she frequently traveled throughout the Mediterranean and continued with her journeys throughout her adult life.
Her experiences have created the desire within her to share her love for traveling with other passionate and adventurers who want to discover beautiful horizons and new cultures.
I was in Greece in the last century (in 1973 to be exact) during my university days and I have not been back since. I love to return especially to explore the islands. Sailing will be the best way to do this.
Your guide is excellent and will definitely bookmark this for reference.
Summer will be hot (but as you had mentioned in your article, it can be windy at sea) so it is either early Autumn or mid-Spring for me!
Hi there,
It’s been a long time since you’ve been in Greece, a sailing trip to the Greek islands would definitely be a great idea!
If you ever need any help, please let know, I’ll be glad to help!
Thank you for having bookmarked the article and for the comment:) I really appreciate!
I wish you a fantastic day!
Greek islands are on my bucket list.
I’ve been sailing in Australia, Croatia and many times in my own country, Spain.
In my opinion, for those who look like for low season trips, much better in September. Just because the water temperature is much better.
The temperature can slightly drop during the night, but just a sweater is enough to keep yourself warm.
Hi Carlos,
Thanks for the tips, I really appreciated!
Spain and Greece have more or less the same temperatures, so yes, it would be better to wear a light sweater or a jacket in the evening.
Thank you very much for the comment and wish you a wonderful day!
my husband is turning 40 and is in love with cateraman boats and Greek islands. His bday is October 4th what is the cost to go on a Greek island cateraman our with 4 adults?
Hi Shera,
First, happy birthday to your husband:)
I would love to help you, but you need to be more precise. Greece is quite big and has several sailing grounds; therefore you have to know exactly where in Greece you wish to navigate. Would you like a skipper or crew members to navigate the boat? What period of the year would you like to sail? And how long will last your sailing trip? I would suggest you to fill out the inquiry form on my website so that you can receive all the information you need to plan your sailing holidays efficiently in Greece. It’s free, and it doesn’t commit you to anything!
I hope it helped and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further assistance, I am always happy to help!
Thank you for the comment and wish you a wonderful day!
I’m from India and I plan to goto sailing in Greece in September 2018 and traveling alone so I wish to go with small group for sailing to relax and enjoy the sailing.it would be great if any help.
Hi Gali,
That’s wonderful, you’ll have the best time ever, especially in September! The weather is extremely pleasant!
If you want to sail with a small group of people, I would highly recommend you to participate in a flotilla, meaning sailing with other boats that do the same route. It’s really fun!
The other option is to rent a cabin on a boat with other like-minded people:)
Both options are great!
I hope it helped and please, don’t hesitate to contact me with any question, I’ll be more than happy to assist:)
Thank you for stopping by and wish you a fantastic day!
Hi Daniella, I am keen to sail in the islands out of and around Athens in mid-May, but I am concerned that the wind will be light and that true sailing, rather than motoring, will be disappointing. Can you advise about wind speeds in the Saronic Islands in May. Hilton
Hi Hilton,
First, thank you for the comment!
Te Saronic is a well-protected sailing area with mild winds that blow from the North to North East. The average wind speed around May is usually 9 (force 3) and can reach 10 (force 4 to 5) in July and August. The wind blows a bit stronger in some areas, but in general, the Saronic ‘s waters are relatively calm, which is ideal for beginners and more confident sailors.
If you want to have a relaxing sailing trip, then the Saronic will be perfect. But if you seek a thrilling sailing adventure, then the Cyclades or the Dodecanese will meet your requirements.
I hope it helped:) Please, don’t hesitate to contact me with any question. I’ll be more than happy to assist!
I wish you a wonderful sailing trip!