Saronic Gulf · George Yachts
Yacht Charter Spetses
Horse-drawn carriages, cricket on the lawn, the closest Greece gets to a private members' club
Last updated June 2026
Why Spetses
Spetses is the Saronic island the Athenian shipping families chose in the 1830s and never left. No private cars are allowed in the chora - transfers are by horse-drawn carriage or pre-arranged transport - and the island's social scene revolves around three institutions: Poseidonion Grand Hotel (the original 1914 belle-époque hotel), Anargyrios College (private school with manicured cricket lawns), and Spetses Town's harbour-side tavernas (Patralis, Liotrivi). The energy is unlike anywhere else in Greek waters: cosmopolitan but quiet, English-speaking but not touristic, old-money but not stiff. From a yacht, you can have the whole island at the scale of a day trip: lunch at Patralis, swim at Agia Paraskevi, dinner at the Poseidonion, sleep at anchor offshore. Most of our Saronic charters spend two nights in Spetses' orbit and use it as the social hub of the trip.
Yachts Ideal for Spetses
8 yachts from the fleet
Sample Itineraries from Spetses
What a week could look like
Aboard M/Y LA PELLEGRINA 1 · 400 NM
Mykonos — Ornos Bay → Patmos — Skala → Lipsi — via Leros (Lakki) → …
- Day 1 · 95 NM · Athens (Faliro) → Mykonos — Ornos Bay
- Day 2 · 50 NM · Mykonos → Patmos — Skala
- Day 3 · 25 NM · Patmos → Lipsi — via Leros (Lakki)
- Day 4 · 20 NM · Leros → Kalymnos — Telendos
- Day 5 · 35 NM · Kalymnos → Astypalaia — Pera Gialos
- Day 6 · 60 NM · Astypalaia → Santorini — below Oia
- Day 7 · 115 NM · Santorini → Athens (Faliro)
When to Visit Spetses
May through October - Saronic is the longest-season Greek charter region. June and September are the broker consensus best: warm water, low crowds, full restaurant operations. July-August Spetses becomes the Athenian weekend destination - busier on weekends, quieter Mon-Wed. October is the local-favourite month - restaurants stay open, the cricket lawn turns dramatic, Athenian shipping families come down for autumn weekends.
George's Insider Tips for Spetses
- Anchor off Agia Paraskevi (south coast) for the protected morning swim - pine trees to the waterline, perfect sand bottom.
- Lunch at Patralis on the harbour: order the orzo with lobster (astakomakaronada), not the international menu.
- Pre-book the Poseidonion's restaurant for one dinner - book a table in the garden, not the dining room.
- The horse-drawn carriage from the Old Harbour to Anargyrios College is the tourist photograph; the locals walk it in 20 minutes.
- Bekiris Cave at the southern tip is a yacht-only swim spot - the captain anchors offshore, you swim into the cave through a low entrance.
Frequently Asked
About chartering in Spetses
Can I board a yacht in Spetses?
Yes, but most charters start in Athens (Alimos or Flisvos Marina, 45 minutes from Athens International Airport) and reach Spetses on Day 2 or 3. Direct boarding in Spetses is possible - the Old Harbour accommodates yachts up to 40m - but the airport-to-yacht logistics make Athens easier.
How does Spetses compare to Hydra?
Spetses is bigger (population 4,000 vs Hydra's 2,000), more cosmopolitan (international school presence, English widely spoken), and has more dining range. Hydra is more authentic, more car-free (no motorbikes either, donkeys only), more artist-colony. Both are 90 minutes apart by yacht; many Saronic charters do both.
Is Spetses good for short charters from Athens?
Best-in-class for 3-5 day charters from Athens. Day 1 Athens → Aegina or Poros lunch → Spetses for dinner. Day 2-3 Spetses + Hydra. Day 4-5 return via the inner Saronic. Total 120 NM, mostly day-sails.
Are there yachts in the fleet based in Spetses?
Gigreca and Nadamas summer in the Saronic, with Spetses as a regular call. La Pellegrina 1 and the larger motor yachts include Spetses on flexible-itinerary weeks.
What's the typical cost of a Saronic charter starting in Athens?
Saronic charters typically run 5 days rather than 7 (shorter distances, less to explore), so total cost is lower. Expect €18,000-€35,000 for a mid-range catamaran for 5 nights, €40,000-€80,000 for a motor yacht. Per-yacht-per-week rates are the same as Cycladic charters; the duration is what varies.