A 7-Day Saronic Gulf Sailing Itinerary, Island by Island
Of all the routes I sail out of Athens, the Saronic Gulf is the one I recommend most often to people booking a first skippered week — and quietly, it is my own favourite for a relaxed one. Six real islands, short hops between them, sheltered water, and no wasted travel day at either end. Here is the week I actually plan for guests, island by island, with the honest version of the distances and the trade-offs.
The short answer
A classic seven-day Saronic loop runs Athens (Alimos marina) to Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses, then back to Athens — roughly 95 nautical miles over the week, with most days a gentle two to four hours of sailing. The gulf sits behind the Peloponnese, so it stays calmer than the Cyclades even in high summer, which makes it ideal for families, first-timers and anyone who wants swimming and tavernas over white-knuckle sailing. And you are never more than a half-day from Athens airport.
Where does the week start and end?
Every Saronic charter I run starts at Alimos marina — also called Kalamaki — the big charter base about twenty minutes by taxi from Athens International Airport and the city centre. Boats are usually ready to board in the late afternoon of day one and must be back the morning after day seven. I like to treat the first evening as a settling-and-provisioning night: we meet the boat, run the safety briefing, shop for breakfasts and lunches together, and eat the first dinner near Athens rather than sailing off into the dark. Your holiday begins with a calm night aboard, which is exactly how a relaxed week should start.
What does a 7-day Saronic itinerary look like, day by day?
This is the version I plan most often. The distances are approximate and I flex the exact anchorages around the forecast — that is the whole point of having a skipper rather than a fixed timetable.
Day 1 — Athens (Alimos) to Aegina, about 12 NM. A short, confidence-building first leg. Aegina is the pistachio island: buy a bag straight off the quay, and if you like ruins, the hilltop Temple of Aphaia is one of the best-preserved Doric temples in Greece.
Day 2 — Aegina to Agistri or Epidaurus, a short hop or about 18 NM. Agistri is the little pine-covered island next door, all green bays and clear swimming. If the crew wants culture instead, we cross to Epidaurus on the mainland, within reach of the ancient theatre famous for acoustics that carry a whisper to the back row.
Day 3 — on to Poros, up to about 20 NM. Poros hides behind a channel barely a couple of hundred metres wide — you sail through what feels like a river, town on one side, a lemon forest on the mainland slopes opposite. Pretty, sheltered and easy.
Day 4 — to Hydra, about 12 NM. The one everyone remembers. Hydra bans cars and motorbikes outright; goods still move by donkey, and the stone harbour looks much as it did in 1850. It is small and popular, so we arrive early to claim a berth, then spend the afternoon walking the lanes and swimming off the rocks.
Day 5 — to Spetses or Ermioni, about 15 NM. Spetses also keeps cars out of its centre — horse carriages and scooters do the work. Its Old Harbour, where wooden boats are still built by hand, is the quiet, handsome end of the island that most day-trippers never reach.
Day 6 — the return leg toward Poros or Aegina. A gentler day: a long lunch at anchor, a favourite swim stop or two, and a last island evening before the run home.
Day 7 — back to Athens. We ride the usual afternoon breeze north to Alimos and hand the boat over the next morning. If your flight is late, we steal one more Saronic anchorage and swim on the way in.
How far do you actually sail each day?
Not far, and that is deliberate. Most Saronic legs are two to four hours of actual sailing, roughly 10 to 25 nautical miles, which leaves late-morning starts, a lunch swim, and time ashore almost every evening. The whole loop comes to about 95 NM. If your crew catches the bug and wants more time on the wind, I can stretch the legs; if you want more beach and less passage, I can shrink them. The route bends to you, not the other way around.
Is the Saronic a good choice for first-timers, families and non-sailors?
Yes, and this is the honest reason I recommend it so often. The gulf is shielded by the Peloponnese, so the Meltemi that hammers the Cyclades in July and August arrives here much softened — typically 2 to 4 on the Beaufort scale, occasionally 5, against the 4 to 7 you can meet further out. Flatter water, short hops and safe harbours make it forgiving for children, nervous first-timers and anyone who wants a holiday rather than an endurance sport. Very confident sailors sometimes find it gentle; if you specifically want big-wind Aegean sailing, the Cyclades are the other conversation, and I am happy to have it with you straight.
When is the best time to sail the Saronic Gulf?
The season runs from about April to late October. June and September are the sweet spot — warm sea, long light, thinner crowds and prices below the August peak. Because the Saronic is sheltered, it also holds up in July and August when the Cyclades get blowy, so it is a genuinely reliable high-summer choice for families tied to school holidays. Spring and late autumn are quieter and cheaper again, trading the odd cooler, brisker day for near-empty harbours.
Can you change the route once you are aboard?
Always. The day-by-day above is a plan, not a promise. Each morning I read the forecast and the mood on board and adjust — a longer swim stop here, an extra island there, a mainland taverna if the wind gets up. The plan serves the week. That flexibility is the real thing you hire when you take a skipper instead of a bareboat: someone whose job is to move the good days around the weather.
How much does a Saronic sailing week cost?
The Saronic costs the same as any Greek skippered week — there is no island surcharge for the pretty ones. For a group of six on a three or four-cabin yacht in mid-season, a realistic all-in total lands around €3,800 to €5,800, or roughly €90 to €140 per person per day once you split it. I break every line down in what a skippered week in Greece really costs, and you can price your own dates on my Greece charters page. Short on time this trip? A private day sail from Athens is the same water in miniature.
FAQ
Is the Saronic Gulf good for a first sailing holiday?
Yes. Sheltered water, short two-to-four-hour hops and safe harbours make it the most forgiving of the Greek charter areas, which is why I steer most families and first-timers here.
How many islands can you visit in a week?
Comfortably five or six. Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses are the core, with Agistri, Ermioni or Epidaurus added depending on wind and appetite.
Do you need sailing experience to come?
None at all when you sail with a skipper. You can help as much or as little as you like; I handle the boat, the berthing and the weather calls.
Is July or August too windy for the Saronic?
No. Unlike the Cyclades, the Saronic stays relatively calm in high summer because the Peloponnese blocks much of the Meltemi — one reason it works so well for school-holiday weeks.
Can we do a shorter version?
Yes. A three or four-day Saronic sample of Aegina, Poros and Hydra works nicely, or a single private day sail from Athens if that is all the trip allows.
If you tell me your dates and who is coming, I will send back a realistic Saronic plan and an honest price — no "request a quote" games. I reply within 12 hours, every time; it is a one-man company, and that is the point. Check your dates or message me on WhatsApp. — Gediminas, licensed skipper
