Renting a boat in the Greek Cyclades

The Greek Cyclades are among the most popular holiday destinations in Europe with its beautiful beaches and unique landscapes and culture. Cyclades are perfect destinations for all types of travellers such as families, group of friends or couples. The high season starts in the summer from June to the end of August, but due to the amazing weather you can go sailing in spring and autumn too, when the crowd is gone.

You can rent on a boat in many of the bigger islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros. If you rent a boat there, you will have a chance to visit the smaller, less popular islands too. You can choose among sailboats, motorboats, and catamarans that allow you to sail with or without skipper. Depending on your qualifications, you can either rent a bareboat or with a skipper if you lack experience or want a stress free vacation.

Pricing and information about hiring a boat in the Greek Cyclades

When renting a boat in the Greek Cyclades, you'll have to keep in mind that the season will dictate the price along with any extras you might need. When chartering a yacht for example in Mykonos you'll have extra fees including fuel, port fees, and any crew you would like on board. When chartering a catamaran, you will pay around 400€ a day and for sailboats, the rates are a bit less averaging 300€ a day. Prices change depending on the island you are planning to visit. Outside of the high season, you will notice that the prices will change drastically and you’ll have much lower rates. 

For motorboats, the range is much wider as there is a larger selection. Based on your needs, you can rent a motorboat to see the coast, partake in water sports, go fishing, or simply find the best swimming spots. Due to this, we recommend looking for the most suitable boat for your activity. 

Boat availability in the Greek Cyclades

Regarding availability for day boats we suggest you start the booking process at least 2 months in advance to ensure you get the boat you need, especially if you plan to go during high season. If you plan on going on a charter, you should start the process even earlier to guarantee to find the best boat for your needs. 

Do you need a license to rent a boat in the Greek Cyclades?

If you are coming from inside the European Union, then your license is automatically valid and will be accepted anywhere in Greece. For those coming from outside the EU, they accept the license if it meets the EU standards, so better to check before you leave! Keep in mind that licenses in languages other than English or Greek will have to be translated. When renting motorboats specifically, any boat having more than 30 horsepower will need a license to be rented. For motor boats under 30hp, you will not need to have a license.  

If you choose to rent a bareboat, you will have to present a nautical CV detailing your previous experience including when, where and what type of boat you controlled. If you feel that you do not have enough experience to rent a bareboat, you can choose the option to rent a boat with a skipper. When hiring a local skipper, you’ll immediately notice that you’ll receive some of the best advice on the sailing area since all skippers will be of the area. Since most skippers are local, they will be able to show you places that you would normally don’t visit! 

Overview of the Greek Cyclades

The Cyclades are located in the Aegean Sea, southeast to the mainland of Greece. The name refers to the circle shape the islands form around the island of Delos. The largest island is Naxos, but the group also includes some of the most popular European holiday destinations such as Mykonos, Santorini, Ios, Paros, but there are plenty of smaller minor islands in the area too. The Cyclades consist of a lot of diverse islands each having beautiful different landscapes and some unique characteristics that are worth visiting! However, all of them share an amazing local cuisine with excellent restaurants, unique architecture in the typical greek white and blue colours and style, sandy beaches with  crystal clear waters, amazing weather. Some islands such as Mykonos and Santorini also have famous nightlife, so ideal for a group of friends too. 

Practical Information:

Most of the islands in the Cyclades are easily reachable by plane from abroad or with domestic flights from the mainland.The main airports are located on the most popular islands on Mykonos and Santorini and also in Paros. If you prefer to take a ferry, there are plenty of opportunities in Athens to the majority of the Cyclades islands.