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.
The departure port is a bigger decision than it seems
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 — Saronic (3-day round trip), central Cyclades (7-day arc), Sporades (10-day reach). Marina infrastructure — best in Greece. Transfer time from international flight — 25 minutes by taxi. Athens (Lavrio): Best for — long-range eastward itineraries to Sporades or Northern Aegean. Itinerary unlocks — same as Alimos with better Sporades access. Transfer from airport — 60 minutes. Marina is functional but less polished than Alimos. Mykonos: Best for — Cyclades-focused charters, guests starting from Mykonos hotels. Itinerary unlocks — full Cycladic loop, southern Cyclades (Santorini, Milos), Dodecanese reach. Direct international flights into Mykonos airport May to October. Lefkada: Best for — Ionian charters, family weeks with young children. Itinerary unlocks — Lefkada to Corfu (4-7 days), Lefkada to Zakynthos (3-day reach south), Lefkada to Paxos (gentlest Ionian week). Air access is Preveza airport (30 minutes) or Athens via 4-hour drive.
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, faster Sporades access, but tougher airport transfer. Worth knowing about for repeat clients.
Frequently asked
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 largest in Greece with direct flights from 80+ international destinations. The marina is 25 minutes from the airport. Most charterers fly in same-day and board same evening.
Can we charter a yacht to deliver to a different port for departure?
Yes, but delivery fees apply (€2-8K depending on yacht size and distance). Most yachts are based at fixed ports — Athens or Lefkada usually — and delivery to Mykonos or Santorini for departure adds cost. We can coordinate; 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?
Roughly 70% of the Greek charter fleet bases in Athens (Alimos and Lavrio), 15% in Lefkada, 10% in Mykonos for the season, and 5% in other ports (Crete, Rhodes, Skiathos, Volos). When you pick a non-Athens departure, the boat is typically delivered there at the start of the season and stays for some weeks.
Can a charter end at a different port from where it started?
Yes — one-way charters are possible. The one-way fee is typically €1,500 to €5,000 depending on distance. Common one-way patterns: Athens-Mykonos, Lefkada-Corfu, Athens-Lefkada (via the Corinth Canal). We coordinate the routing.
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