Saronic Gulf

The Saronic Gulf sits on Athens' doorstep, making it one of the most accessible sailing grounds in Greece - yet once you're out on the water, the city feels far away. The gulf is compact enough to cover in a week but varied enough to reward longer stays, with islands that each offer something different.

Aegina is the first island most sailors reach heading south from Athens and it earns its place on any itinerary. The harbour town is built around a waterfront lined with fish tavernas and the morning market and the island's interior is known for its pistachio groves and the Temple of Aphaia, one of the better-preserved ancient sites in the region.

Hydra is the island of no cars, no motorbikes, just a harbour town that climbs the hillside on foot and by donkey. It gets busy in summer but retains a character that other islands in the gulf have lost and the anchorage in front of the town, with the stone houses rising behind it, is one of the more memorable spots in Greek sailing.

Spetses lies further south, with a car-free harbour and a sailing culture that runs deep. The town comes alive in the evening, with tavernas spilling out onto the quay and the channel between the island and the Peloponnese coast is one of the more pleasant stretches of water in the gulf.

Porto Heli lies just across that channel on the mainland shore—a sheltered bay that draws yachts looking for a well-protected overnight stop. The town is quieter than the islands, the holding is good, and it makes a natural turning point before heading back north through the gulf.