Yacht Charter in Greece in August: What to Expect
August is the single busiest month to charter a yacht in Greece — not necessarily the most expensive week-for-week (July runs close, sometimes even slightly higher for the same boat), but the month where availability disappears first and the meltemi wind is at its strongest and most persistent. This page is part of our guide to yacht charter in Greece. For the full season picture, see the best time to charter a yacht in Greece; for the month before, our July yacht charter guide.
The meltemi at its peak
August is when the meltemi is most likely to blow for several consecutive days rather than a single afternoon. In the central and southern Cyclades, sustained 25–30+ knots is genuinely common, with stronger gusts around headlands and straits. This has two direct, practical consequences:
- Catamarans need to arrive at anchorages early — by 2–3pm, popular bays and marinas are full, and a wide multihull competing for space with monohulls in a crowded, gusty port is a real problem, not a theoretical one (more in our catamaran vs monohull guide).
- Route flexibility isn’t optional. A fixed day-by-day plan with no bailout options is the single biggest mistake first-time August charterers make in the Cyclades. Our 7-day Cyclades sailing itinerary shows how to build in bailout options.
If high wind isn’t your idea of a relaxing week, the Ionian Sea (Lefkas, Corfu, Paxos) is sheltered from the meltemi almost entirely and is a genuinely better choice for August than fighting the Aegean.
The holiday nobody warns you about: August 15th
Dekapentavgoustos (the Assumption of Mary, August 15th) is one of the biggest holidays in the Greek calendar — effectively a second, smaller “August exodus” on top of the already-packed month. Expect:
- Ferries and domestic flights booked out well in advance around this date.
- Marinas and popular anchorages busier than any other week of the year.
- Some island businesses closed or reduced for the holiday itself.
If your dates are flexible at all, avoid the week either side of August 15th — the rest of August is already peak, but this specific week is peak-of-peak.
What an August charter costs
| Monohull, 35–40 ft (bareboat) | €2,900–4,300 |
| Monohull, 45 ft+ (bareboat) | €4,300–6,300 |
| Catamaran, 42–46 ft (bareboat) | €6,800–10,500 |
| Crewed sailing yacht | €8,000–15,000+ |
Interestingly, average weekly sailboat rates across Greece run marginally lower in August than in July in some fleet data — the gap is small and boat-dependent, so don’t assume August is automatically the pricier month. Compare every season on our Greece yacht charter prices page. What August does guarantee is that the best boats are gone first: by May, strong August weeks are already thinning out.
Booking timeline
For an August charter, particularly around the 15th, book by December or January of the same year if you want a specific boat. Waiting until spring means choosing from what’s left, not what’s best.
Frequently asked questions
Is August the most expensive month for a yacht charter in Greece?
August is one of the two most expensive months, alongside July, but rarely much pricier than July. The real risk in August is availability: the best boats and weeks sell out early, so book well ahead.
What is Dekapentavgoustos and how does it affect a yacht charter in Greece?
Dekapentavgoustos is the Assumption holiday on 15 August, one of the busiest travel dates of the year in Greece. Ports and anchorages are packed around it, so if you want to avoid crowds, plan your charter for a different week.
Is Greece too crowded for a yacht charter in August?
The most famous Cyclades anchorages are very busy in August. For the same quality of sailing with noticeably fewer boats, choose the Ionian Sea or parts of the Dodecanese.
Is a catamaran a good choice for an August charter in Greece?
Yes, with planning. Catamarans need more space and Greek ports were not built for wide multihulls, so in August you should reach anchorages and marinas earlier in the day than a monohull would.
