SARONIC GULF · SAILING GUIDE
Sailing the Saronic Gulf: the best islands and anchorages
I grew up on Aegina, in the middle of the Saronic Gulf. This is my guide to the islands, harbours and bays you can reach by sailing boat in a week from Athens, and how to put them together into one relaxed trip.
FROM ATHENS
Aegina ~20 nm, 3–4 h
BETWEEN STOPS
12–35 nm
SEASON
May – October
BEST FOR
First-timers, families
Why sail the Saronic Gulf
The Saronic Gulf starts right outside Athens. Distances between stops are short, the water is protected and the summer wind is usually gentler than in the Cyclades, so you spend more time swimming and less time crossing open sea.
In a small area you get a bit of everything: an island of pistachios and fishing harbours, a car-free island of stone mansions, a town built around a narrow channel, an ancient theatre and uninhabited islets with water you can see the bottom through. It is the calmest way to try a sailing holiday in Greece, and you don’t need any experience.
WHERE TO SAIL
Islands, harbours and bays
ISLAND · ~20 NM FROM ATHENS
Aegina
The closest island to Athens and the island where I grew up. The harbour is lively, with neoclassical buildings, cafés and tavernas along the waterfront. Beyond town you find the Temple of Aphaia, quiet beaches on the east coast and the pistachio orchards the island is famous for. Aegina works perfectly as the first or the last stop of a week.
Temple of Aphaia · Perdika fishing village · Aegina pistachios
Read the Aegina sailing guide →
ISLET · NEXT TO AEGINA
Moni
A small uninhabited island just off Aegina and one of the best places to anchor in the whole gulf. Pine trees come down to turquoise water, peacocks and deer roam free, and visibility is excellent for snorkelling. Moni is less about going ashore and more about the sea itself: swim straight off the boat.
Snorkelling · Peacocks and deer · A calm day at anchor
MAINLAND HARBOUR · PELOPONNESE
Palaia Epidavros
A calm, traditional harbour on the Peloponnese coast with tavernas right on the water. From here you visit the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, famous all over the world for its acoustics. In the bay you can snorkel over the remains of the sunken ancient city.
The ancient theatre · The sunken city · Fish tavernas on the quay
ISLAND · NARROW CHANNEL
Poros
Poros is one of the most sailor-friendly islands in Greece. The town climbs up the hill around a narrow channel that separates it from the Peloponnese, which makes the harbour naturally protected. Sailing in through the channel in the afternoon is always a highlight, and everything is within walking distance of the boat.
Sunset from the Clock Tower · The old harbour lanes · Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi
Read the Poros sailing guide →
ISLAND · NO CARS
Hydra
Hydra has no cars. Stone mansions surround the harbour, and you get around on foot or by donkey. It is an island of galleries, coastal walks and elegant evenings, and arriving by boat is the way it was meant to be seen. For a quieter night we anchor in Mandraki or off the island of Dokos.
The harbour front at sunset · Donkeys, not cars · Mandraki and Dokos
Read the Hydra sailing guide →More places to add
Agistri
Smaller and greener than Aegina, with pine forests and turquoise water. Ideal for a swimming stop, paddleboarding or a low-key night away from busier ports.
Spetses
Larger and more open, with a strong naval history, pine forests, good beaches and an atmospheric Old Harbour. Quieter anchorages lie along the south coast.
Ermioni & Porto Heli
Calm mainland waters and a relaxed rhythm. Ermioni feels traditional and intimate, Porto Heli more cosmopolitan, and both are close to secluded bays.
AN EXAMPLE WEEK
A one-week route from Athens
One balanced way to see the gulf in seven days, about 110 nautical miles in five legs. It is only a starting point: if you love a place, you stay another night.
Athens → Palaia Epidavros
35 nm. Sail along the coast to the quiet harbour below the ancient theatre.
Epidavros → Poros
20 nm. Cross the gulf and slip through the narrow channel into Poros town.
Poros → Hydra
12 nm. A morning’s sail along the Peloponnese coast to the car-free island.
Hydra → Aegina
25 nm. The longest leg, north past the Methana peninsula, with a swim at Moni.
Aegina → Athens
20 nm. A direct sail back across the central gulf, with a last swim at anchor.
WHEN TO GO
The Saronic Gulf month by month
May – June
Light breezes and quiet anchorages. The sea warms up through June.
July – August
Peak season: the warmest weather and the busiest harbours. The northern meltemi wind blows, usually lighter here than in the Cyclades.
September – October
The sea is at its warmest, the winds are calmer and there are fewer boats.
Questions about sailing the Saronic Gulf
Is the Saronic Gulf good for first-time sailors?
Yes. Short distances, protected water and safe anchorages make it the calmest place in Greece to try a sailing holiday. You don’t need any experience: a local skipper sails the boat.
How far are the islands from Athens?
Aegina is about 20 nautical miles from Athens, three to four hours under sail. Poros and Hydra are further south, and most legs between stops are 12 to 35 nautical miles.
How many days do we need?
A week lets you see Epidavros, Poros, Hydra and Aegina without rushing, with time to stay longer where you like it. With fewer days, it makes sense to stay around Aegina, Moni and Agistri.
Saronic Gulf or Cyclades?
The Saronic is calmer, closer to Athens and the hops are shorter. The Cyclades mean more open sea and stronger summer wind, for groups who want a bit more adventure.
FREE PROPOSAL
Plan your week in the Saronic
Tell me your dates, who is coming and what you love. I reply personally with two or three boats, a route and an indicative estimate.