Below are descriptions of Cyclades sailing destinations in the Greece. The ports are in alphabetical order. Click the name to see full details. These give detail of what to see and do, and the facilities ashore. (This section is a bit of a work in progress – where there’s no text below, I’ve not yet documented that port).
- Adamas / Adamantas (Milos) Milos, like Santorini is a volcanic island and it still bubbles with hot sulphur springs and quivers occasionally. Often overlooked by tourists, Milos is a pretty, laidback island; friendly and relaxed. Also few people realise that the island has a fascinating geological and archaeological history. A night on the quay at Adamas/Adamantas makes a more than ... Read more
- Agios Konstantinos & Sarakiniko (Milos) Agios Konstantinos & Sarakiniko (Milos) Read more
- Ano Myrsini (Polyaigos) Ano Myrsini (Polyaigos) Read more
- Antiparos / Andiparos Antiparos / Andiparos Read more
- Athens Kalamaki (Alimos) 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 ... Read more
- Batsi / Mpatsi (Andros) Batsi is Andros’s main holiday town. However Andros isn’t the easiest island to get to. So as holiday towns go, it’s a small conservative place. The sort that appeals to those holiday makers that like their vacations predictable and so return year after year. Batsi’s main attraction is the sandy beach that rings the bay. It’s ... Read more
- Chora / Kastro (Andros) Chora / Kastro (Andros) Read more
- Delos Delos; centre of the Cyclades and once the centre of the ancient world. This is an island steeped in myth and mystery and the archaeological ruins as some of the most interesting in Greece. Proclaimed to be the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, Delos was long a force to be reckoned with and its powerbase ... Read more
- Ermoupoli / Ermoupolis (Syros) Ermoupoli is the capital of Syros and the Cyclades islands and this stately town exudes an old world charm in keeping with its significance. Around the harbour, 18th century buildings loom over the streets and the towns past glories are evident everywhere. Delve into the back streets and you will be rewarded at every turn with ... Read more
- Faros (Polyaigos) Faros (Polyaigos) Read more
- Faros / Pharos (Sifnos) Faros / Pharos (Sifnos) Read more
- Folegandros Folegandros is well off the beaten path for most charter yachts. Somewhat stark at first glance, the only real greenery in the island gathers around the islands capital of Chora which is built precariously close to a 200m cliff edge. This is a pleasant and rather sophisticated place to make for on your sailing holiday ... Read more
- Gavrio / Gavrion Gavrio / Gavrion Read more
- Ios Ios is a schizophrenic place. At first glance it is just a village port, once a popular target for pirates. The main town, Hora, is actually a couple of kilometres inland. By day peace reigns. The throngs of tourists spread out and the beaches are bedecked with slowly browning bodies. At night, however, the tone of the ... Read more
- Isternia Isternia Read more
- Kalafatis Kalafatis Read more
- Kalo Livadi Kalo Livadi Read more
- Kamares (Sifnos) Sifnos is another Cycladic island that seems to have slipped under the average tourist’s radar. Locals will tell you that once you have experienced the delights of the place you will just keep coming back. Unlike Mykonos and Santorini, you won’t find the crowds here but there is still enough to keep you entertained. Friendly and ... Read more
- Kimolos Kimolos Read more
- Klima Klima Read more
- Korissia (Kea) Korissia is a lovely little village on the west coast of Kea. Hidden away in one arm of the main bay of Ayios Nikolaos this is a very popular port of call for Athenians out for a weekend away. Kea, as an island, has an upmarket feel and seems very twee in comparison to a ... Read more
- Koufonisia (Little Cyclades) Koufonisia (or Koufonissia, even the islands own website doesn’t seem sure) is in fact three islands. Keros is uninhabited while Kato Koufonisia lacks mooring options and also almost uninhabited. So head for Pano Koufonisia. Pano Koufonisia covers just 5 square kilometres with a population of around 400. The main moorings are at Parianos, a short walk ... Read more
- Kypri / Fournos (Andros) Kypri / Fournos (Andros) Read more
- Lavrion / Lavrio Lavrion is a hive of activity for yachties in the summer with several charter bases operating their yachts from the shelter of the well thought out harbour and adjacent Olympic Marina. Once a dusty mining town, (silver has been mined here since prehistoric times), Lavrion was transformed when it was selected to host cruise ships ... Read more
- Livadi / Livadhiou (Serifos) Livadi is the main port on Serifos. Serifos is known as the “iron island” as iron or was mined here in the 19th and 20th centuries. The mining finished in the 1960’s and like many islands, tourism, agriculture and fishing are now the economic mainstays. Livadia is a typical Cycladic village, a mass of whitewashed houses, ... Read more
- Loutra / Loutrou (Kythnos) Loutra/Loutrou is a delightful little harbour on the north east corner of Kithnos. Laidback and carefree, Loutra has been attracting visitors for centuries, many seeking the restoratives powers of its natural hot springs. Whether you too are looking to “take the waters” or you would just prefer to chill out in one of the harbourside ... Read more
- Marmara (Paros) Marmara (Paros) Read more
- Megalo Livadi (Serifos) Megalo Livadi (Serifos) Read more
- Merichas / Merikas (Kythnos) Merichas has a good harbour and plenty of quay space for visiting yachts. Glide in past the ferry dock and go bows or stern-to the wall. As this is a very busy harbour and it pays to stay as far off the quay as possible to minimise the effects of the surge created by the ... Read more
- Mykonos Add Mykonos to your yacht charter itinerary if you are looking for a good dose of nightlife and people watching during your sailing trip. This tiny jewel of a town is a wonderfully twee tourist haven that positively hums with activity during the summer. Mykonos is often portrayed by the tourist board as little Venice, with pictures ... Read more
- Mylopotas (Ios) Mylopotas (Ios) Read more
- Naoussa (Paros) Naoussa (Paros) Read more
- Naxos Naxos is a surprisingly un-touristy town that has a halcyon charm all of its own. I was once stormbound here and developed an unexpected fondness for the place so maybe I am biased! With its hilltop Venetian grand manor houses and cascade of white washed cube-like Cycladic dwellings Naxos is easily recognisable from sea and ... Read more
- Orgias / Otzias Orgias / Otzias Read more
- Paroikia (Paros) Paroikia is the capital of Paros Island and typically Cycladic. A maze of shimmering, white cubic houses meander uphill from the bustling harbour and associated restaurants and bars. Not as fertile as its next door neighbour, Naxos, Paros can seem a little barren at first sight. However Paroikia has a surprising amount of water which ... Read more
- Pisa / Pisses Pisa / Pisses Read more
- Piso Livadi (Paros) Piso Livadi is the port for the nearby town of Marpissa. It is on the east coast of Paros Once a tiny fishing village, it’s now a popular tourist location. The newly built apartments probably now outnumber the original houses. However, the development has been tasteful – there are no high rise hotels here. And there are ... Read more
- Pollonia (Milos) Pollonia on the island of Milos is a tranquil bay that offers good protection from the meltemi and better protection in southerlies than Adamas. Drop the anchor or use the quay on the southern side of the bay then relax back on your charter yacht in delightful surroundings. There is only one problem with Pollonia and ... Read more
- Provatas / Fyriplaka Provatas / Fyriplaka Read more
- Santorini / Thira & Fira Santorini is one of the most photographed islands in Greece. Images of its dazzling white buildings and cobalt blue domes, set along precipitous cliffs ringing the indigo sea of the old volcanic caldera, grace calendars everywhere. The reality is no less spectacular. Santorini is a must-see of any Cyclades flotilla or bareboat sailing holiday. Sadly, Santorini charter yachts face ... Read more
- Schinoussa (Little Cyclades) Schinoussa means The Island of the Sun. It’s a small island with a population of around 250. Schinoussa lies just off the southern end of Naxos and is part of the Little Cyclades group. The well sheltered main port, Mersini is on the west coast. It’s a small settlement with a couple of restaurants. There’s a ferry ... Read more
- Sounion Sounion Read more
- Tinos Town / Chora Tinos is Greece’s holiest island. A place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians, it also as a large Catholic population. It’s also known for its many dovecotes, as a centre of marble carving and for its varied scenery. The attraction for pilgrims is the church of Panagia Megalochari (the Blessed Virgin Mary). This is a short walk ... Read more
- Vathi (Sifnos) Vathi on the west coast of Sifnos is a well sheltered natural harbour. Vathi translates in English to “deep” but to yachts “vathi” more often refers to a well indented and well protected place to head for. Although the meltemi sends fierce gusts into the bay any swell associated with it doesn’t penetrate the narrow ... Read more