Why is Greece the most popular place to sail in the world?

Greece is the most popular sailing ground every year, with more people sailing there than in any other place on earth. Some 31.3 million people visit Greece each year, and, given it’s a country with over 6,000 islands, it’s likely that most of them will have come into contact with the sea at some point of their holidays.

But why is it the most popular place to sail on the planet? Here’s the main reasons:

 Perfect Sailing Weather 

Everyone dreams of sailing in the sunshine, accompanied by a wind which is not too weak, and not too strong. Ideally somewhere without huge tides, big swells, or giant waves. Well, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that the climate of Greece fits the bill exactly: it’s warm and sunny most of the year, there isn’t much rain, and it’s nestled at the back end of the (largely) sheltered Mediterranean, so tides are pretty minimal. Can you get more optimal sailing conditions? I don’t think so.

 Islands close-by 

But having ideal sailing conditions isn’t worth anything unless there is somewhere to sail to with them – this is where Greece wins again, as there’s plenty of islands to hop around, and they’re not so far apart as to make sailing one long slog. Many of the islands are within 2-5 nautical miles of another island, so on a typical leisurely 20 nautical mile (4 hours sailing) day then you have plenty of options of where to take a break, where to explore, and where to stop for the night.

 Interesting places to sail to 

Short distances are great, but there still needs to be something worth sailing to – and Greece has it all: mountains, beaches, cliffs, anchorages, volcanoes, natural thermal baths, wilderness; ancient cities and ruins, charming villages, churches, cathedrals, architecture, cosy tavernas, lively nightclubs; plus plenty of local culture, brilliant cuisine… Whatever you’re looking for, you will be able to find it in Greece – the islands are choc-full of fascinating places, which are worth sailing to.

 Great sailing infrastructure 

People have been sailing in Greece since literally 1,800 BC (and probably even earlier, but this is the oldest known surviving boat). The ancient Greeks worshipped gods of the wind and the sea, and, being a collection of islands, sailing has been a part of day-to-day life and trade throughout Greek history. As a result, every small village has a harbour or quay, and you’ll find that you are never far away from a safe haven or an anchorage.

 Experienced charter companies 

Sail-tourism has been around since the 1960’s, so charter companies in Greece now have a wealth of experience of handling customers, and have grown from renting out their family boat as a hobby to whole fleets of the most modern sailing yachts and catamarans. Many of the charter companies are also the main authorised dealers for the big European ship-builders, which gives them easy access to the latest and best pleasure craft.

 Sold it you yet? 

These are the main reasons why sailors choose Greece - and we recommend you choose it for your next yacht or catamaran charter too.

Be sure to check out our destination guides to find out a LOT more about sailing in Greece, or search in the pink box for yachts and catamarans available for charter in Greece with live pricing and availability, or contact our award-winning Customer team through LiveChat, UK Freephone or email!

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This is part of our 'Destination Highlights' week of blogs focussing on sailing in Greece - including Why Greece is the most popular place to sail in the world, Where to sail in Greece with people new to sailing, the Top 5 anchorages in Greece, and the Top 5 most amazing must-see places to sail to in Greece. You might also be interested in checking out our similar Destination Highlights: Croatia, Destination Highlights: Italy, Destination Highlights: Malta, Destination Highlights: Scotland, Destination Highlights: Bahamas, Destination Highlights: Spain and Destination Highlights: France blog series from previous months!