Quick answer

Q. Athens, Mykonos or Lefkada: where should a Greek yacht charter start?

Athens for most weeks: the main international airport, the marinas where most of the yachts this house represents are based, and the Saronic islands 18 to 50 nautical miles away for a first night out of the city. Mykonos when the party is already on the island and wants the Cyclades from day one; the yacht is positioned there for a fee quoted per yacht. Lefkada for the Ionian: sheltered water, Ithaca 20 miles and Kefalonia 25 on the house table, the gentlest week for families. On the Greek Charter Index 2026 peak weeks book 6 to 12 months ahead from any of the three.

Key facts

From Athens (Alimos) on the house table: Aegina 18 nm, Poros 25, Hydra 35, Kea 35, Kythnos 45, Mykonos 90; from Lavrio, Mykonos is 75
From Lefkada: Ithaca 20 nm, Kefalonia 25, Paxos 50, Corfu 80, on water sheltered from the Meltemi
From Mykonos: Paros 30 nm, Naxos 30, Santorini 80; the Cyclades week runs north to south with the wind behind you
Airports: Athens is the country's main international gateway; Mykonos has direct seasonal flights from May to October; Lefkada is served by Preveza, about 30 minutes by road
Most of the yachts this house represents base in Athens; a Mykonos or Lefkada start is a positioning arranged per yacht, quoted with the rate
Lead time on the Greek Charter Index 2026: 6 to 12 months for July and August; May, June, September and early October list 15 to 25% below peak

Source: Lead times and shoulder pricing from the Greek Charter Index 2026

- George P. Biniaris, Founder and Managing Broker

Departure Port Comparison

Athens vs Mykonos vs Lefkada: Where to Start Your Greek Charter

Three departure ports, three different first days. The choice shapes what's possible in your week.

Last updated September 2026

The departure port is a bigger decision than it seems

Most first-time Greek charterers ask about boat, dates, and itinerary. They don't ask about departure port. But the port you start from defines the first 12 hours of the trip, the energy of day one, the air-travel logistics, and which islands you can realistically reach in a week. Three departure ports dominate Greek charter: Athens (Alimos and Lavrio marinas), Mykonos, and Lefkada. Athens (Alimos marina, 25 minutes from the airport; Lavrio, 60 minutes) is the operational hub. The largest yacht fleet in Greek waters is based here. Itineraries from Athens flow into the Saronic (Hydra, Spetses, Poros), the central Cyclades (Kea, Kythnos, Sifnos), or longer eastward arcs to Naxos and Mykonos. Easiest air access (Athens International Airport is the country's largest), best marina infrastructure, but day one of the charter is often spent transitioning out of the city. Mykonos (Mykonos new port) is the high-glamour departure. Most charterers who start from Mykonos come from a few days at the hotels first. Itineraries flow into the central and southern Cyclades (Paros, Naxos, Antiparos, Folegandros, Milos, Sifnos) and can extend south to Santorini for the full Cycladic loop. Excellent direct international flights into Mykonos airport in season (May-October). Marina is smaller and busier than Athens but the location unlocks the most iconic Greek charter week. Lefkada (Lefkada marina, 4 hours from Athens by road or 30 minutes from Preveza airport) is the Ionian gateway. Itineraries from Lefkada flow into the Ionian islands (Kefalonia, Ithaca, Meganisi, Paxos, Corfu). The marina is modern and one of the best in Greek waters. Air access is via Preveza or Athens-plus-drive. The Ionian itinerary is the gentlest, most-family-friendly week in Greek charter.

Best suited for

First-time charterers planning their first Greek charter week
Repeat clients comparing destination access
Anyone weighing the air-travel + transfer logistics
Families with young children (Lefkada-Ionian wins)
Guests starting from a Mykonos hotel stay (Mykonos departure)

Three departure ports, three week-shapes

Athens (Alimos): Best for - first-time charterers, larger groups using the city's full air access. Itinerary unlocks - the Saronic (the five-night week, Aegina 18 nautical miles, Hydra 35), the central Cyclades (the seven-night arc, Mykonos 90), the western Cyclades over ten nights. Marina infrastructure - best in Greece. Transfer time from international flight - about 25 minutes by taxi. Athens (Lavrio): Best for - the shortest first leg into the Cyclades, Kea and Kythnos on the first evening. Itinerary unlocks - the same Cyclades as Alimos, with Syros 55 nautical miles and Mykonos 75 from the marina. Transfer from airport - about 60 minutes. Marina is functional but less polished than Alimos. Mykonos: Best for - Cyclades-focused charters where the party is already on the island. Boarding at Mykonos is a repositioning from the yacht's Athens base, quoted per yacht on the delivery line; most weeks board at Alimos and reach Mykonos on the second or third day. Itinerary unlocks - the full Cycladic loop and the southern Cyclades (Santorini, Milos). Direct international flights into Mykonos airport May to October. Lefkada: Best for - Ionian charters, family weeks with young children. Itinerary unlocks - Lefkada to Corfu one way over the week, Lefkada to Ithaca 20 nautical miles and Kefalonia 25 in the first days, Zakynthos in the second half, Paxos for the gentlest Ionian week. Air access is Preveza airport (30 minutes) or Athens by road.

Notes from George

Mykonos departure plus a Cyclades arc back to Athens is the magazine-cover Greek charter week. Worth the slightly more complex logistics.
First-time charterers from the US or Asia: book Athens departure. The flight logistics into the country's main airport are simpler.
If your family wants gentle sailing and quiet anchorages, Lefkada is the answer. Don't be talked into Mykonos energy on a family week.
Athens-departure charters often start with day one transiting out to the Saronic. Brief us if this matters; we can build a Mykonos-departure that skips the transit.
Lavrio is underrated. Less crowded marina, the shortest first leg to Kea and Kythnos, but a longer airport transfer. Worth knowing about for repeat clients.

Frequently asked

Questions we get about Athens vs Mykonos vs Lefkada: Where to Start Your Greek Charter

What's the easiest departure port for international guests?

Athens (Alimos), by far. Athens International Airport is the country's main gateway, with the widest choice of direct flights, and the marina is about 25 minutes away by road. Most charterers fly in the same day and board the same evening.

Can we charter a yacht to deliver to a different port for departure?

Yes, and a delivery fee applies, quoted per yacht by the owner for the distance and the crew days involved. Most yachts are based at fixed ports, Athens or Lefkada usually, and positioning to Mykonos or Santorini for departure adds that cost. We coordinate it; it is common for repeat clients.

Is Mykonos departure available year-round?

Charter operations from Mykonos run May to October. Outside this window, yachts winter elsewhere and Mykonos-departure becomes uneconomic. For November-April departures, Athens or Lefkada are the options.

Where do most of the fleet's yachts actually live?

Most of the yachts this house represents base in Athens, at the marinas of the Athens Riviera and at Lavrio; a smaller number live in Lefkada for the Ionian season. Mykonos is a seasonal position rather than a home port. When you pick a non-Athens departure, the yacht is typically positioned there for your dates or for a run of weeks in the season.

Can a charter end at a different port from where it started?

Yes, one-way charters are possible. The one-way fee is quoted per yacht and route by the owner and covers bringing the yacht back to base. Common one-way patterns: Athens to Mykonos, Lefkada to Corfu, Athens to Lefkada through the Corinth Canal. We coordinate the routing.

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