Saronic Bases | Sailing Choices

Athens Kalamaki: Charter yachts to suit every budget

Kalamaki Marina is home to countless charter companies and is easily reached from Athens Airport, less than 20 miles (30km) away. It is also handy for the centre of Athens, 5 miles (8km) to the north. There’s even a beach next door.

That’s the good news. On the other hand, although it has improved greatly since the days when you had to step carefully to avoid the junkies’ discarded syringes, the marina has a run down air, being very much functional rather than glamorous.

The restaurant and bar on site are expensive. There are cafes on the beach but they tend to close once the crowds go home. However, central Athens is only a short ride away. The main coast road outside the marina has bus and tram stops which run in to the centre. Here you’ll find a great choice of restaurants in areas such as Plaka. And of course there are all the usual shopping facilities you’d expect of a city centre.

Athens: Trams run from Kalamaki in to the centre of the city

The city itself is of course blessed with a wealth of history and even if you’re not big on old ruins, you really should try to spend some time seeing the sights whilst you’re there, even if it means checking in to a hotel for a night or two.

Kalamaki serves two cruising areas; the Saronic and the Cyclades. Geographically, it’s not the best starting point for either when you could start in Poros, at the centre of the Saronic, Athens Lavrion which is closer to the Cyclades, or Syros or Paros, both in the middle of the Cyclades.

However, Kalamaki has two great advantages; its proximity to the Airport and the excellent transport links mean you can board your yacht half an hour after leaving the terminal, much quicker than you could reach any of the above bases (except Lavrion which is a similar distance from the Airport).

And the sheer number of yachts available exceeds any other base in Greece, albeit that I don’t rate the quality of some operators too highly. Let me know if you’re looking for the cheapest option, otherwise I will only offer you bareboat charters from the better operators – it doesn’t cost much more.

The small town of Poros, which bears the same name as the island, is only 30 miles from Athens but a world apart.

Poros: Sunset over the West Quay, pontoon (since expanded) and Navy Bay

A popular retreat for Athenians, the island retains it’s “Greek-ness”, with a range of traditional restaurants, a fish market, and good selection of small shops providing the necessities of life.

There’s also a good range of souvenirs, which are cheaper here than on the more touristy islands of Hydra, Aegina and Spetses. There is a choice of beaches close by, served by local buses, with water sports available for those that wish.

The town is built on a hillside, so for some superb views (and excellent exercise), take a walk up the hillside to the clock tower which overlooks the bay, or hire bikes and explore the almost deserted north side of the island.

Culture vultures will also want to visit the ruins of the Sanctuary of Poseidon, a few miles in land, as well as the small museum on town. There is also a monastery but it is not open to the public.

As the sun sets, look out for the Sleeping Lady of Poros, as the outline of the hills makes the shape of a reclined and rather well endowed female (albeit these days with some wind turbines on her belly)!

For those seeking some night life, there is an assortment of bars and a few small clubs on the front, with a larger club up on the hill at the east end. Those wanting to enjoy their sleep will be pleased to know the clubs are well away from the main yacht pontoons at the west side of town. The sole yacht base is reasonably quiet too.

If you want to get out to the beaches, either anchor off, or take the buses from town. There are two buses; the white one heads east, out to the Monastery with it’s nearby beach, via Askeli, one of your options for water sports. The green one heads west to Neurion and Russian bays. They usually run hourly on the hour, though you may find the financial crisis has reduced the frequency. There are no bus stops – just stick out your hand to flag one down.

If you’re fit, the beaches are walkable from town, though those in urgent need of a swim can do so off the rocks a couple of hundred yards past the east end of the quay.

Poros: Vagionia beach on the north side of the island

If the buses aren’t running or you want to head inland to the Sanctuary of Poseidon, there are taxis or you can hire mopeds and quad bikes from near the west quay and the new pontoons. Once away from the town and it’s beaches, it’s a very quiet place and the north side of the island is completely undeveloped. If you’ve got transport, you will find the beach at Vagionia Bay almost deserted.

For such a small place, there’s a good range of shops, including a couple of excellent cake shops for those wanting to take some traditional Greek deserts home. Restaurants offer everything from gyros (kebabs) and pizzas, through traditional Greek tourist fare, to tapas style offerings, giving you the chance to try a number of small portions of fish, meat and vegetable dishes.

Finally, if you want to visit Hydra or Spetses, but don’t fancy battling for space in these two busy harbours, Poros has a good hydrofoil service to both islands, so you can leave you yacht and have a day off sailing.

Poros is an excellent start point for your Saronic or Argolic Gulf yacht charter, or if you’ve chartered from Athens, a must see destination.

Category Archives: Saronic Bases

Athens Kalamaki (Alimos)

Poros