Greece is located in the Meditteranean sea and it’s one of the must-visit countries for sailors. The sailing period in Greece begins in May but the best time to sail during the winter is in the middle of January. The name of these winter days is “Alkyonides”, and they’re somehow like a short summer. However, it’s always a good time to appreciate the beauty of wonderful Greek seascapes, villages, archaeological sites, and green or dried landscapes. The Greek archipelago is suitable for both experienced and new sailors, with numerous hidden coves and beaches that are only accessible by boat. In this article, I’m going to inform you about the best marinas in Greece, some well-known and others less uncrowded.

General Info about Greek Marinas

Greece has more than 3,000 islands and islets, each one with its own unique character. The white-blue and dry Cyclades islands with their crystal clear water. Dodecanese islands with luscious green and deep blue waters. In the Sporades, and in the Ionian Sea you can experience a combination of green, rocky, and sandy landscape.
Nowadays, new harbors and marinas are building in the entire Mediterranean area in the last 20 years. However, several marina build projects have started but haven’t been completed yet. There are more than 500 harbors but around 25 marinas today, and not all of them are well-developed. However, there are many picturesque harbors such as Simi, Kioni, and Port Gaios, among others, where you can truly moor your sailboat in the middle of the central market square!

Furthermore, the mooring fees are cheap at around 10 euros but unfortunately, there’s no structured organization for the management of the Greek marinas. Moreover, in Greece, there are a plethora of anchorages. You can drop anchor into crystal-clear waters with a quite good holding ground in a sandy seabed.

Best Marinas in Crete

  • Venetian Inner Harbor, Iraklion: Heraklion Marina functions as a shelter for fishing boats and as a marina for sailboats and yachts. The space is limited but the number of boats that are hosted is larger than in the past, as it is now better exploited by creating a floating pier for yachts. The marina of Heraklion is quite organized and provides parking, security, electricity and water, fuel, and a ramp for lifting or launching boats.
  • Agios Nikolaos Marina: Agios Nikolaos Marina is one of the largest tourist ports and serves for sailboats that travel in the southeastern Aegean. It has a 255 berth capacity, both permanent and floating piers, while there are wintering facilities for about 165 boats.
  • Rethymno Marina: The marina of Rethymno has 176 boat seats on floating piers and around the quays for larger boats. Specifically, sailboats of various types and sizes can moor there, from 5 to 40 meters long, with a draft of up to 3.5 meters. It’s located in the eastern part of the port of Rethymno, within the city. It has a 49,900.00 sqm land port area, a 116,000.00 sqm seaport area, and a capacity of 176 boats, with dimensions up to 25 meters.

Best Marinas in Cyclades and Dodecanese Islands

  • Naxos Marina: At the main port, you can moor your sailboat on the outside of the pier, but be careful not to block the entrance for bigger ships. It’s advisable to moor to the new marina. The marina’s seabed holds up very well. Moreover, there’s good anchorage protection inside the Marina from north and east winds. The services provided at the port pier are water and electricity supply. Other services and amenities in the Marina are fuel, supermarkets, taverns, and local souvenir shops.
  • Naousa Marina, Paros: The marina in Naoussa can accommodate up to 74 boats and has a maximum draft of 3 meters. The marina’s amenities provide drinking water, electricity up to 16Aber, showers with hot water, and an engine oil storage area. Furthermore, there are fuel services and services for minor repairs in case of electrical and mechanical problems. There’s also the possibility of lifting a boat at the local boatyard if needed.
  • Leros Marina: This is the first marina with wintering areas of the southeastern Aegean. It has a 50-meter high granite rock behind the marina that protects it from the occasional strong local winds. Another important characteristic is that it has a massive curved breakwater that fully protects the boats in the port. The marina has floating piers with 220 berths and wintering places for 500 boats.
  • Kos Marina: Kos is a picturesque Dodecanese island and one of the best sailing destinations in Greece. The marina of Kos offers 250 berths, water supply, electrical power supply, telephone connection, and satellite TV. The wintering area is capable of accommodating 150 boats and has technical equipment such as a 100t boat crane and a 35t hydraulic trailer.

Best Marinas in Athens

  • Agios Kosmas Marina: Agios Kosmas is situated in the coastal area of south Attica. It is a private marina that can accommodate a total of 337 boats, both on permanent and floating piers. Agios Kosmas accepts boats 15 to 80 meters long for annual or shorter stay mooring.
  • Alimos Marina: This marina is one of the biggest in Greece with 1080 berths. It also has a wintering area for about 600 boats. Moreover, the marina can accommodate yachts up to 40 meters long. The maximum depth of the marina is 6.5 meters. Finally, the Alimos marina is considered one of the most well-equipped marinas in Greece.
  • Olympic Marina – Sounio: Marina Olympic has an important strategical location in Greece that allows easy and fast access both by land and sea. It receives Blue Flag awards since 2000. The marina offers 680 mooring places for boats up to 40m and the possibility of wintering for 700 boats. Furthermore, it has 3 Cranes (Travel Lift) available for lifting and launching for 40t, 65t, and 200t vessels.

Most Luxurious Marinas in Athens

  • Astir Marina – Vouliagmeni: Vouliagmeni area is one of the most beautiful and luxurious in Athens. There are several restaurants, hotels, a long sandy beach, and other amenities. It has 103 berths and can accommodate yachts up to 50 meters. The marina has a maximum draft of 5.5 meters.
  • Flisvos Marina: The marina is just 6 km from the center of Athens, located in Paleo Faliro, and the first exclusive marina in Greece that offers high-level mooring opportunities for high-end yacht owners. The marina has 303 berths and can also host luxury boats larger than 35 meters. Moreover, the marina has won 5 Golden Anchors and has received the “Clean Marina” award from the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA). Marina Floisvou is also a corporate member of the Hellenic Association for the Protection of the Marine Environment (HELMEPA).

Best Marinas in the Ionian Sea

  • Gouvia Marina – Corfu: This marina is 6km far from the island’s main city. It offers various facilities and services of high standards. Its total capacity is 1235 berths, both on permanent and floating piers. It also has wintering facilities for about 520 boats. Mooring is possible for sailboats up to 80m long with a draft of 5.5m.
  • Cleopatra Marina – Aktio, Preveza: The marina is located on the Aktio peninsula, in the heart of the Ionian Sea, nearby the cities of Lefkada and Preveza. It can accommodate 100 boats up to 30m long and there’s the possibility of saily, monthly or annual mooring contract. The wintering area of ​​the marina covers 11 acres and offers various kinds of wintering services.
  • Lefkas Marina: The marina is located on the east side of Lefkada, within the city and right next to the main port of the island. The total capacity of the marina is 620 boats up to 45m long with a max draft of 4,5m. There are also wintering facilities for about 280 boats. The marina offers a full range of technical services such as electrical and water supply, a travel lift, and repair facilities.

Summary

Greece is certainly a worth-visiting country, especially for us sailors. We all know the natural and historical gifts of this beautiful country. Blue waters, archaeological heritage, exceptional flora and fauna, sandy or rocky beaches, lush vegetation, dry islands, and much more. There are 21 marinas currently in Greece, with a total of 6,661 berths. Some of them are more well-equipped and developed than others. Several of these marinas have received awards from the “Blue Flags of Europe” program. The above-mentioned marinas are considered the best marinas in Greece that provide the ultimate sailor’s experience!