saronic gulf
Suggested for 1 week
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Suggested for 2 weeks

Sailing routes and places to visit in Cyclades

PLAN YOUR CATAMARAN HOLIDAY FROM ALIMOS MARINA

Plan a Cyclades catamaran charter from Athens

Explore the western Cyclades on our suggested one-week route via Cape Sounion, Kea, Kythnos, Sifnos and Milos. For two weeks, the proposed route also takes in Syros, Mykonos and Paros before continuing through Sifnos, Milos and Kythnos. Both plans start at Alimos Marina and require an agreed return to base.

These are illustrative holiday plans, not fixed departures or navigation instructions. Stops, direction and timing depend on weather, berth availability, the yacht and the skipper’s judgement. A charter week includes embarkation, the return to base and check-out; it is not seven full days of island passages.

Saronic Gulf or Cyclades: which suits your group?

Start with your group’s comfort with time underway, rather than the number of islands on a map.

Choosing a sailing region from Athens
Planning questionSaronic GulfCyclades
One-week approachAegina and Poros, with Hydra as a possible extension.Cape Sounion area, Kea, Kythnos, Sifnos and Milos, followed by the agreed return to Alimos.
Two-week approachMore time at each stop; consider Spetses, Ermioni or an Argolic Gulf extension.Cape Sounion area, Kea, Syros, Mykonos, Paros, Sifnos, Milos and Kythnos, followed by the return to Alimos.
Sailing conditionsGenerally more sheltered than the Cyclades; strong winds and rough conditions are still possible.More open-water exposure; summer Meltemi conditions can change crossing plans.
Group preferencesWorth considering for mixed-experience groups who want shorter island-hopping plans.Worth considering for groups comfortable with open-water passages and changes of plan.

If your priority is a shorter island loop from Athens, compare the Saronic Gulf sailing guide.

An illustrative one-week itinerary

Suggested sequence: Alimos Marina → Cape Sounion area → Kea → Kythnos → Sifnos → Milos. The rows show route stages, not fixed overnight dates. This is a passage-intensive one-week proposal: the skipper must assess the full route, including the return from Milos to Alimos, against the forecast and charter timing. Stops may need to be shortened or omitted.

Proposed one-week route stages, subject to conditions
StageAreaPlanning focus
EmbarkationAlimos MarinaBriefing and provisioning before departure.
Stop 1Cape Sounion areaBegin the outward route when departure conditions permit.
Stop 2KeaFirst Cycladic island stop.
Stop 3KythnosContinue the western Cyclades route.
Stop 4SifnosIsland visit, subject to the agreed passage schedule.
Stop 5MilosOutward destination; allow for the return passage.
ReturnAlimos MarinaReturn routing and timing must be agreed with the skipper before departure.

What changes with a two-week charter?

Our suggested two-week sequence is Alimos Marina → Cape Sounion area → Kea → Syros → Mykonos → Paros → Sifnos → Milos → Kythnos, followed by the return to Alimos Marina. Agree overnight stops, time ashore and the return schedule with your skipper according to the forecast.

The additional week allows a broader island route, with time allocated for visits and weather flexibility. The final itinerary remains subject to conditions and the skipper’s judgement.

If a particular island is essential, tell our team before booking so the route, duration and return requirements can be assessed.

Explore Kythnos, Sifnos and Milos in our destination guides.

How far will you sail?

For a sense of scale, the legs below use approximate nautical miles (NM). The time estimates are calculations at an assumed average of 5–6 knots, not promised yacht speeds. Actual passages depend on the chosen harbours, safe routing, wind, sea state and stops.

Illustrative passage scale, not a passage plan
Example legApproximate distanceTime at 5–6 knots, before stops
Alimos Marina to Cape Sounion23 NMAbout 4–5 hours
Cape Sounion to Kea14 NMAbout 2.5–3 hours

How does the weather affect your route?

The summer Meltemi can bring strong winds and rough seas in the Cyclades. Reaching an island does not guarantee a comfortable return passage. Keep time in reserve and agree changes with your skipper before committing to distant stops. Consult current Hellenic National Meteorological Service forecasts and warnings and your charter briefing; this page is general planning guidance.

Which catamaran should you choose?

Compare our Bali and Lagoon catamaran fleet from Athens by sleeping arrangements, registered capacity and charter type. A larger yacht does not remove weather constraints. Send your dates, group size and preferred pace to our charter team, and review the booking FAQs before planning.

The maps and destination descriptions on this page show places to explore; they do not guarantee that every place fits your charter. Final routing and return timing must be agreed for your trip.

Dazzling white villages, golden beaches and clear azure water are just the start of what Greece’s most famous island chain has to offer

Within easy reach of Athens, these are the Aegean’s most precious gems. Ancient Greek geographers gave this unique cluster of islands the name Cyclades because they saw that they formed a circle of sorts around the sacred island of Delos. According to myth, the islands were the debris that remained after a battle between giants. In reality, they resulted from colossal geological events like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  

The colours of these islands are blue and white, like the Greek flag, and they come in all sizes. And though the ingredients are the same – incomparable light, translucent water, heavenly beaches, lustrous white buildings and bare rock – each has a distinct character. The group’s stars, Mykonos and Santorini, need no introduction but the lesser-known islands, big and small, are just as rewarding. There’s aristocratic Syros, cosmopolitan Paros, the sculptors’ paradise of Tinos, bountiful Naxos, exotic Milos and historic Delos … not to mention the hidden gems of Tzia/Kea, Kythnos, Sifnos, Serifos, Amorgos, Sikinos, Anafi and Folegandros. 

Whether you’re travelling with family or friends, you’re bound to find your summer paradise in the sun in the Cyclades.

Beaches of indescribable beauty

What’s your idea of the perfect beach? Green-blue water and white sand? Beach bars and water sports? Framed by rocks for snorkelling and scuba diving? A secret Aegean cove accessible only on foot or by boat? You’ll find it in the Cyclades. 

First stop: Mykonos with its extra-golden sand, turquoise water and 5-star facilities. Paradise, Super Paradise, Psarou and Elia all rank amongst the top beaches worldwide.

Next comes volcanic Milos, with its range of colours and rock formations, such as at Sarakiniko and Kleftiko, and Santorini’s black and red beaches like Kamari, Perissa, and Perivolo, revealing the wild side of the Cyclades. Small Serifos is ringed with beaches, while rugged Amorgos can claim the ‘Big Blue’ at Agia Anna beach, where Luc Besson shot his seminal movie about testing the limits of man. Andros’ ‘secret’ sandy beaches, like Ahla and Grias and Pidima, win rave reviews for being extra photogenic, as does Tinos for the round boulders at Livada and the enormous dune at Pachia Ammos (Fat Sand). For getting away from it all, both tiny Polyaigos(between Kimolos and Milos) and the Lesser Cyclades, near Naxos, offer unexplored destinations of raw beauty.

Time for a painless history lesson

Thousands of years of civilisation evolved here in the Cyclades, much of it visible in local archaeological sites and museums. You’ll see its mystique encapsulated on the whole island of Delos and within Santorini’s Akrotiri, the Minoan Pompei. It is also present in the two colossal horizontal statues lying on Naxos and in Kea’s ancient Karthaia. Virtually every island has at least one ancient ruin. 

While beautiful, typically Cycladic churches exist on every island, the most visited are the 19th century Panagia on Tinos, the early Byzantine Ekatontapyliani on Paros, and the 11th-century Hozoviotissa Monastery on Amorgos. The best museums to visit are Santorini’s Prehistoric Thera Museum, Andros’ Contemporary Art and Archaeology Museum, the Industrial Museum in Syros’ Ermoupoli, Amorgos’ Archaeology Museum, Milos’ museums of Mining and Archaeology (with a copy of the famous Venus de Milo), Tinos’ Museum of Marble Crafts at Pyrgos and the Archaeology and Venetian museums on Naxos.

Action against a Cycladic backdrop

Known for the iconic blues and whites of their villages and beautiful beaches, the Cyclades islands also deserve worldwide renown for their crystalline waters and rugged shorelines. From the private coves of the Lesser Cyclades, to wind- and kite-surfing on Paros, and fun-filled water sports, there are options for everyone. On land, discover the well-marked hiking trails on all the islands, especially Naxos, Tinos, Amorgos, Syros, and Andros. They cross rugged landscapes made all the more enchanting by castles, chapels, ruined towers, and temples shrouded in the mysteries of the ages.

Gourmet treats and superior wines

Every island specialises in a local treat with the distinctive flavour of the Aegean. Santorini’s volcanic soil produces exceptional wines and extra delicious small tomatoes, capers and white aubergines (grown without water). On the other islands, look out for wonderful cheeses like spicy kopanisti and xinotyro on Mykonos, arseniko on Naxos, and San Michali on Tinos, Paros and Syros. Culinary stars are also the rich omelette called froutalia on Tinos and Andros, sausages and cured pork fillet (louza) on Mykonos and Tinos, chickpeas cooked in a clay pot on Sifnos, and sweets like pasteli (sesame bars) and amygdalota (crushed almond shortbread) found through the island chain. All the islands distil their version of firewater, but Tinos’ raki is thought to be more refined and lighter, while on Amorgos they drink rakomelo, raki mixed with honey.

The most significant sights in the Cyclades

  • Mykonos: Cosmopolitan Hora, with its windmills and wave-lashed Little Venice
  • Kythnos: The island that hides its secrets in plain sight
  • Syros: Stately Ermoupoli on Syros, one of the most regal settlements in the Cyclades.
  • Serifos: The steep cubist Hora of Serifos.
  • Milos: Milos’ Plaka with its castle and old churches.
  • Paros: The little port of Naoussa and mountain villages, like Lefkes, Marpissa and Prodromos.
  • Sifnos: The silent power of the Cyclades

Suggested Catamarans

More places to visit