Catamaran hire in Athens with or without skipper

Hire a Catamaran in Athens

As the capital of Greece, Athens was once at the heart of one of the most powerful ancient civilisations and many of the ancient buildings that once made Greece so spectacular are still standing to this day. Bordered by white sand beaches and crystalline seas that boast favourable winds for sailing, Athens is a very popular boating vacation destination. The perfect blend of beaches and ancient ruins make for a unique holiday that is simply unmissable, and that’s not even taking into account that many of the Greek Islands are within sailing distance from Athens, including Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini and Lesbos.

How much does it cost to hire a catamaran in Athens?

There are many different things that can influence the price of catamaran hire in Athens. A few of these things include the model and size of the boat, how many people are going, the duration of your trip, the season and whether or not you want to hire with a skipper. In general though, hiring a catamaran in Athens costs around £3450 per week in high season and £1490 per week in low season.

Do you need to hire a catamaran with a skipper in Athens?

No, in Athens it is possible to hire a catamaran both with and without a skipper. However, it is a good idea to only consider a bareboat catamaran hire if you have a boating licence. Even though you don’t legally need a licence to drive boats with an engine power of less than 30 horsepower in Greece, boat owners are generally much happier to offer bareboat hires to those in possession of the appropriate licence.

If you have the necessary licence, there is no better feeling than to be the captain of your own boat, able to travel freely where you please. If you aren’t in possession of a licence though, or simply want a more relaxing holiday, you should hire a catamaran with a skipper and let them take you to all the best places, while imparting knowledge that only an experienced local sailor would know.

What are the weather and sailing conditions like in Athens?

The weather in Athens changes a lot depending on the season, but in general, the air temperature stays between 5.56 and 33.33°C, peaking in July at an average of 32.78°C and at its coldest in January. The water temperature is at its coldest in February at just 14.44°C but can reach around 25.56°C in August.

Athens’ driest month is July, with just 0.2 inches of rain, but this increases to around 2.4 inches in November, Athens’ wettest month. Wind speeds peak in February at 11 mph, but drop down to around 8.2 mph in May.

When is the best time to go sailing in Athens?

It is generally agreed that the best months to go sailing are June and September. During these months, there will be fewer tourists and it will also be less expensive with more manageable temperatures that are still suitable for sailing and swimming and a wide range of other water based activities. Even spring and autumn can be a pleasure for sailing in Athens though, if you want to ensure that you completely miss the summer rush.

Where are the best sailing areas around Athens?

There are many fantastic areas to go sailing around Athens, but some of the best are:

• Nafplio
• Astros
• Tyros
• Leonidion of Laconia (aka Plaka)
• Poros
• Aegina
• Angistri
• Methana
• Spetses
• Hydra

Where are the best harbours and marinas in Athens?

There are actually a wide range of amazing harbours and marinas to visit while in Athens, but our top 5 are:

• Vouliagmeni Marina
• Flisvos Marina
• Alimos Marina
• Athens Marina
• Zea Marina

What to see in Athens?

There is so much to see and do while you’re in Athens that it’s unlikely you’ll manage to fit it all in. However, here is a list of our favourite things:

• Acropolis
• National Archaeological Museum
• Parthenon
• Temple of Hephaestus
• Erechtheion
• Museum of Cycladic Art
• Plaka
• Temple of Athena Nike
• Benaki Museum
• Temple of Olympian Zeus
• Kapnikarea
• Ancient Agora of Athens
• Panathenaic Stadium
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus
• Mount Lycabettus
• Philopappos Monument
• Byzantine and Christian Museum
• Theatre of Dionysus
• Areopagus
• National Garden
• Psiri
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier