We were like, “Okay, let’s do a week in Athens first and then a week on the islands, but which ones though?” And then it hit me, why not sail between them? So I went searching high and low for the perfect charter, and I think I hit the jackpot with Greek Seas Sailing Charters. They were super organized from start to finish, and nothing was too much trouble for them. Think dietary restrictions and different requests from two families. I would recommend them to everyone, and I will even return one day. Thank you for everything!
We had a blast in Athens and were super excited to continue our adventure at Zea Marina. This cute marina, tucked next to the bustling Pireus Marina, was the perfect place to kick off our journey. When we arrived, our captain, Yiannis, and our hostess, Anastasia, gave us a warm welcome. Stepping onto our spacious Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 catamaran with 5 cabins and 5 bathrooms, we were excited to go. Traveling with another family of four, our group included 4 adults and 4 lively kids aged 12, 12, 10, and 8. As we settled in, we chatted about our plans for the week with the crew. The great thing about planning with the captain was how it gave us flexibility, letting him tailor the trip to our wishes and make all the necessary arrangements, like organizing fun water sports activities in Poros. Our week’s schedule was set to be fantastic: mornings started with breakfast on the boat, followed by a refreshing swim. Then we enjoyed a tasty onboard lunch before sailing to a different gorgeous island to dock overnight and explore. Evenings were a time to enjoy dinner onshore and shop at our own pace. This well-organized plan let us fully embrace the spontaneity of the journey while making unforgettable memories.
The Islands we visited were in the Saronic Gulf:
- Aegina
- Poros
- Hydra
- Agistri
- Epidaurus (part of mainland Greece)
Each place was about 2-3 hours apart, kind of busy, but not as crazy as Athens or Santorini, and each had its own thing going on. We got lucky that the winds were pretty chill for this time of year, but between Hydra and Agistri we did hit some rough waters. Want to avoid getting seasick? Check out my travel store for some tips on dealing with motion sickness: Kids who Puke and Adults. My kids who usually get motion sickness were fine on this boat, and the captain was really good at helping them find the right spot to sit and things to do to feel better.
Viator trip from Athens equivalent:
- Agistri, Moni, and Aegina Cruise- all day cruising
- Hydra, Poros and Aegina Day Cruise with Optional VIP upgrade
- Of course I loved the sailing charter, but if you only have a few days, check out the Viator tours.
Aegina
Aegina is known as the Pistachio Island. Everything you eat or snack on has some pistachios in it, showing off what they do best. And hey, if you’re crazy about pistachios, this place is made for you. Before we got there, we had a little swim, then parked the boat for the night.
Poros
We ventured out into the tranquil sea for a memorable paddle boarding session and swim into small caves, the kids really enjoyed this part. After this new adventure, we sailed to the island of Poros. This island in the Saronic Gulf has a great marina, nice shopping areas, and a well-known clock tower that has been a landmark for decades. We strolled along the waterfront promenade, admiring the colorful boats and soaking in the breathtaking views of the crystal-clear waters. As we explored the charming streets, we stumbled upon quaint cafes serving traditional Greek delicacies, tempting us to indulge in some local foods. The kids were thrilled to discover a small arcade near the marina, where we joined in on the excitement. After a filling dinner we headed to our captains’ favorite ice cream spot on the island. A perfect end to a perfect Greek Seas day.
Hydra
Hydra was pretty cool because the island doesn’t allow cars. I really liked that because you don’t have to stress about the kids and traffic, which always made me anxious in Athens. The marina was super busy so we had to dock next to another boat in the harbor, seems like alot of boats were doing the same thing. Then we hopped on a water taxi to the main shopping area, just a quick 5 minute boat ride away. Our captain picked us up in our dinghy attached to the catamaran after dinner. We texted via What’s App. See Tip. There were a few nice spots to swim near the marina coast, and the sunset bar is where we got some amazing sunsets pictures (check them out below). The shopping scene was fancier here, so if you’re after higher end stuff, this is the place to go.
Tip: Use Airalo eSim Cards for a data connection in other countries. Works really well with What’s app and Google Maps. iMessages, not so great but use that with WiFi when you get back to your boat/hotel.
Agistri
Upon leaving Hydra, the winds really picked up, and the boat was bouncing all over the place. The kids totally loved it though, and I’m so glad no one got seasick. Check out my travel store for recommendations if you need anti-nausea stuff. We made a stop on the coast of Poros to let the kids do some watersports, and they had a blast. I think this was the highlight for them. We paid for all the activities ourselves, but honestly, I’d do it all over again just to see their happy faces. After having lunch on board, we headed to Agistri, which is a chill island, perfect for biking around and chilling at the beach. We spent an hour at the beach, caught another amazing sunset, and then grabbed some ice cream for a movie night on the boat. My friend brought a projector, which you can also find in my travel store : Travel Tech. It was fun watching Sonic the Hedgehog on the boat and then calling it a night. Tip: If visiting Poros only, watersports name: Askeli Water Sports
Epidaurus (part of mainland Greece)
After we left the sleepy island of Agistri, we had a busy day ahead of us. We made two swim stops, both perfect for our last day on our Greek odyssey, one being the Ancient Underwater City of Epidavros. After we docked, we headed to the ruins of the Amphitheater of Epidaurus and healing sanctuary of Asclepius. We headed to the ruins via a van that the captain arranged for us before dinner. The cost was about 100 Euros roundtrip along with the tip. Dinner was on the beach that night and was our last dinner with our awesome crew so we invited them to join us. Everyone was sad to leave but we had one more day to sail back to Athens, so we needed to make the best of it.
Viator trip from Athens equivalent: Snorkeling at Ancient Sunken City of Epidaurus private (Nafplio, Epidaurus, and Corinth Canal
Tip: Bring water shoes for sea urchins at the Ancient Underwater City of Epidavros, especially if entering from the beach.
Athens
We had one last swim stop before we docked in Athens and planned our way home. This swim spot was next to the island of Aegina and was as beautiful as all of the rest. The sea greens and blues were really beautiful this day, maybe because it was our last day, but I was going to miss our boat, our crew, and the relaxing week of sailing around the Greek Islands. We had a surprise visit by dolphins on our way home as well, and the captain turned off the boat and was happy to help the kids spot all the dolphins around the boat. It was really a “one with nature” kind of moment.
Until next time Greek Seas!!! You will be missed. If you reach out to Greek Seas Charter Sailing, let them know that Journeyology101 sent you for a nice discount!!!!
Don’t have the time for this cruise or want a more budget friendly option. No worries, check out TourRadar for a 3 day Sailing Adventure to the Saronic Island.
