Greece Yacht Charter Itinerary
If you didn’t already know, Greece is a country located in southeastern Europe. It is home to thousands of islands found throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. Most known for its ancient history, Greece is the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games. Its capital, Athens, is one of the oldest cities in the world. With over 6,000 different islands and islets located in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, of which only 170 are inhabited, Greece is a must-visit destination. However, with over 15 international airports and so many different islands, it can be overwhelming to choose where to go first. And we don’t blame you, but we are here to help.
This specific itinerary is focused on the Cyclades Islands, the most famous island group in the Aegean Sea. These islands are renowned for their architecture in white and blue, traditional lifestyles, picturesque villages, beautiful landscapes, and idyllic beaches. A typical 7-day Athens to Athens itinerary centers on sailing into islands such as Kea, Syros, Mykonos, Paros, and Kythnos. We can add more islands on longer cruises or create a different itinerary depending on your specific needs.
Are you ready to begin your yacht experience in Greece? Let’s go.
SAMPLE ITINERARY*
Day 1: Our crew will be happy to coordinate a taxi pick-up once you arrive at the airport. Our driver will meet you at baggage claim and take you to meet the crew at the marina. Once aboard the boat, you will be briefed before settling in and enjoying your welcome cocktail on board as we set sail from Athens to the island of Kea.
Kea or Tiza, as the locals call it, is the gate to the Cyclades and is often overlooked by most tourists. Once we anchor for the day, guests can go ashore and explore Ioulida, the capital of Kea. Here we will get lost in the whitewashed sokakia (lanes) before visiting the island’s mascot: Leaon, the lion of Kea. This lion is carved into the rock, smiling at the town below it, and dates back to 600 BC. Then we will head back to the village and grab a bite at Louilida’s central square. Guests are encouraged to try local Kean specialties like loza (the prosciutto of Kea) or paspalas (pork roasted with tomatoes, eggs, and cheese).
In the afternoon, we will head to the Southern Side of the Island to the prehistoric settlement of Karthea. This settlement was the most important of the four ancient cities of Kea, and although not much of it remains, it is still quite a sight to see. Then we will head to one of the 30 beaches on the island, most of which are only accessible by boat.
Day 2: After breakfast is served, we are off to the island of Syros, the administrative capital of the Cycladic Islands. The island itself is famous for its beaches, history, culture, and great restaurants.
Once we arrive, we will head straight to the beach. Although Syros is small, it has several great beaches for swimming and sunbathing, including Galissas, Kini, and Finikas Beach. Lunch will be served at one of the local beach restaurants.
In the afternoon we will visit Hermopolis (also known as Ermoupolis). Many of the buildings in this town are made of marble and were built in the mid to late 19th century. In the evening, we will head to the quaint hillside neighborhood of Anos Syros for a glass of wine and an epic sunset.
Fun fact: try fennel pie, which is common on the islands. Also, look out for honey, olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, and walnuts.
Day 3: We’re off to Mykonos! The largest town on the island, Once we anchor for the day, we’ll head into the largest town on the island Mykonos Town. The town is best known for its luxurious hotels, seafood restaurants, and music venues. There are also many sandy beaches on the Island.
During the day, we will explore Mykonos Town. We will head to the beautiful white-washed church, the Panagia Paraportiani. Other sites to see include the Municipal Library and two museums, the Archeological Museum of Mykonos and the Aegean Maritime Museum. If you aren’t interested in exploring the town, guests can opt to go scuba diving, horseback riding, or hiking.
Once the sun starts to go down, guests will get to experience the party-side of the island. After dinner, we will head to one of the popular nightclubs on the island to party the night away.
Day 4: Today is all about relaxation. We set sail for the nearby islet of Rinia, accessible only via a yacht, making it a small, quiet, exclusive paradise compared to busy Mykonos. Here guests will be able to snorkel or swim in the blue lagoon’s crystal clear waters before enjoying a delicious lunch onboard.
In the afternoon, we will set sail to the island of Delos, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is also widely considered one of Greece’s most important historical, mythological, and archeological sites. If you’re a true lover of ancient Greek culture, this is the place. The island is full of the remains of ancient buildings and works of art.
We will have dinner on board before heading to sleep.
Day 5: After breakfast, we will head over to Paros, an island famous for its phenomenal beaches and beautiful Cycladic villages of snow-white houses. Imagine a Greek island with white-washed houses, seemingly endless mazes of alleys, framed by Bougainvillea blossoms—that’s how perfect Paros is.
Our mornings and afternoons will be spent beach-hopping through some of the most beautiful beaches on the island. One of those stops will be to Kalogeros beach, where we will cover ourselves with black mud, which is supposed to be healing mud that cleanses and rejuvenates the skin.
For lunch, we will head to the town of Parikia or Naoussa before visiting some of the island’s historical sites. Some options include the Archeological Museum of Paros, the Ancient Marble Quarries, the Frankish castle in Parikia, or the Sanctuary. If there is still time, we will visit the Moraitis Winery to learn about the culture and history of wine production in Paros.
For dinner, we are heading back to the beach. We will be dining at Fisilanis in Logaras Beach. Fisilanis restaurant is run by the third generation of the family that initially opened the restaurant in 1964.
Day 6: After breakfast, we will set sail for Serifos. In ancient Greek mythology, Serifos is where Danaë and her son Perseus washes ashore after her father Acrisius set them adrift in a wooden chest at sea. The island itself has an intense raw beauty and is relatively untouched by tourism.
In the morning, we will lounge about at Platis Gialos Beach, which is made up of two small sandy bays on the northern coast of Serifos. Don’t expect to see any other tourists, which is a definite plus. We will head to a local tavern to eat some octopus and feta cheese while washing it all down with a nice cold beer (or glass of wine) for lunch.
Fun fact: If you are a scuba diver, you can opt to explore an underwater shipwreck and discover a Spanish cargo steamship on the seabed.
After lunch, we will visit the Monastery of Taxiarches to visit the island’s first and only winery. To close off the day, we will head to Chora and stroll through Piazza Square before enjoying a glass of local wine and some dinner.
Day 7: For our last day on charter, we will head to the Greek Island of Kythnos. In the morning, we will head to the picturesque village of Dryopidae, where we will also explore one of the largest caves in Greece. The cave’s name (Katafiki) comes from the Greek word for refuge (katafigio), from the days when it was used as a hideout from pirates. We will also stop to try a Kythnos traditional wedding sweet, pasteli.
We will then head on over to the main town of Messaria or Hora, which has been continuously inhabited since the 17th century. Here we will explore the labyrinth of cobblestone alleys before sitting down at a local restaurant to enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, we will head over to the Kythnos thermal spring in Loutra. We will then visit one of the more than 100 beaches on the island. Kythnos has more beaches than any other island in the Cyclades! For dinner, we will sit down at family-run tavernas, where we will order sfougato, a croquette made with local cheese, and one of the traditional dishes of Kythnos.
Day 8: Good morning! It’s time to sail back to Athens. We will briefly stop at Sounion, which is home to the temple of Poseidon. In the late afternoon, we will reach Athens, where you will disembark and bid the crew goodbye. Until next time!
*Remember that we are here to help you plan your dream vacation, so the itinerary outlined above can be changed. All you need to do is discuss your needs with our crew, and we will do our best to make it happen. Do you want to stay one day longer for a particular bay or move on to a new experience? No problem, we are here to make your visit to Greece unforgettable.
