Where to Start Your Yacht Charter in Greece: Best Bases Compared
Where you collect the boat matters more than most first-time charterers expect: it sets your route, your marina costs, how much of the week is spent on long crossings, and how much wind you face. In short, start in the Saronic or Ionian for an easy first week, start in Athens (Lavrio) for the Cyclades, and avoid Santorini and Mykonos as bases for a full week unless you have a reason. This guide compares the main bases for a yacht charter in Greece.
The main bases at a glance
Athens — Alimos: the largest charter marina in Greece, about 30 minutes from the airport. Best for the Saronic Gulf and first-time crews. If you are looking for a yacht charter in Athens, this is where most boats are based. Fleets are large, so prices are often lower than on the islands.
Athens — Lavrio: positioned for an early start toward the Cyclades. Best when your target is Kea, Kythnos, Syros or Mykonos and you want fewer hours in the Athens traffic.
Lefkas (Ionian): the busiest Ionian base, with a strong inventory of newer catamarans. Preveza is the airport gateway. Best for a gentle, sheltered week in the Ionian.
Corfu (Gouvia) and Kefalonia: northern and southern Ionian alternatives, good for one-way or longer trips. A yacht charter from Corfu pairs naturally with Paxos and Antipaxos.
Kos (Dodecanese): well-maintained fleet, airport about 15 minutes from the marina. Best for the Dodecanese and Turkish-coast-adjacent routes.
Paros: a secondary Cyclades base, useful if you want to skip the Athens crossing. See our Paros and Naxos guide.
Mykonos: a very limited fleet, useful mostly for one-way charters or day charters.
Santorini (Vlychada): small, and the caldera itself is not a working charter base. See our Santorini guide.
Which base for which trip?
- First bareboat week, beginners, families: Alimos (Saronic) or Lefkas (Ionian).
- Cyclades in June or September: Lavrio or Paros.
- Cyclades in July or August: consider a skippered charter (see bareboat vs crewed), or start in the Ionian instead.
- Big group needing a catamaran: Lefkas or Athens.
- Dodecanese: Kos.
What it does to your budget
A 45 ft monohull runs roughly €4,500–€7,000 a week across bases for a mid-June week on one operator’s price list, with catamarans roughly one and a half to two times that, and security deposits typically €3,000–€5,000. Starting at a big fleet hub is often cheaper than starting on a famous island. See our cost page.
One-way charters
Many operators allow one-way charters (for example Lefkas to Corfu, or Athens to a Cyclades island), usually with a repositioning fee. Ask before you compare quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to start a yacht charter in Greece?
For most first-timers, Alimos (Athens) or Lefkas in the Ionian. Both have the largest fleets and give access to the gentlest sailing in Greece.
Is it cheaper to start a yacht charter from Athens?
Usually yes, compared with Mykonos or Santorini. Athens marinas have larger fleets and lower pickup costs.
Can you charter a yacht from Mykonos for a week?
Yes, but the fleet is small and prices are high. Paros or Athens are better-value starting points for a week in the Cyclades.
Which Greek charter base has the biggest choice of catamarans?
Lefkas and the Athens marinas offer the widest choice of catamarans in Greece.
