Europe Yachts
— Route · 7 days · one-way
Yacht charter route · Cyclades

Athens
via Kea & Syros.

Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Athens via Cape Sounion, Kea, Syros, Serifos, Hydra and Poros — a hybrid Cyclades + Saronic loop with the most varied wind regimes of the route map.

athens-key-syros-hydra
The route

Day-by-day route

Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.

Cape Sounion
Day 1

Athens (Alimos) → Cape Sounion

15 nm shake-down ESE to Cape Sounion. Anchor 0.5 nm offshore from the Poseidon temple, no marina here. Sheltered from N below 18 kn — switch to Lavrion if wind builds.

Distance

22 NM

Sailing

~4.4h at 5 kn

— At a glance

Route at a glance

Best season
May – mid-October (peak Jun – Sep, meltemi Jul – Aug)
Duration
7 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Athens
Sailing area
Cyclades

Route summary

Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.

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The full story

Day-by-day journey

Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.

Day 1 / 7
Cape Sounion
1
Day 1

Athens (Alimos) → Cape Sounion

15 nm shake-down hop east-southeast along the Attica coast. Anchor 0.5 nm offshore from the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion on sand at 5-8 m, sheltered from N. The temple is the marker for crews running south to the Cyclades; floodlit at night for the post-sunset photograph. No marina at Sounion — anchor only, viable when wind stays below 18 kn from N.

Things to do

Sunset under Poseidon temple columns

Snorkel the rocky platforms east of the temple

Grilled sea bass at a Sounion taverna ashore

Photograph the floodlit temple at night

Mooring tip

Free anchoring on sand at 5-8 m, 0.5 nm offshore from the temple. Sheltered from N below 18 kn. Switch to Lavrion Olympic Marina (€60-90/night) if wind builds.

Kea
2
Day 2

Cape Sounion → Kea (Vourkari)

20 nm east-southeast across to Kea. Comfortable downwind run in standard Meltemi. Vourkari Bay on the northwest of Kea is the better-protected overnight (stern-to lazy lines, €25-35/night); Korissia is the larger free quay alternative. Plan to be moored before 16:00. The Stone Lion of Kea (6th-century BC) is a 30-minute walk above Ioulida — the climb is the single best half-day shore activity on the island.

Things to do

Walk to the 6th-century BC Stone Lion of Kea

Snorkel the Patris steamship wreck off Koundouros

Octopus carpaccio at a Vourkari ouzeri

Walk Ioulida marble alleys at dusk

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Vourkari with lazy lines, €25-35/night. Korissia town quay free but exposed in N Meltemi above 18 kn.

Syros
3
Day 3

Kea → Syros (Ermoupoli or Finikas)

32 nm east-southeast to Syros. Beam reach in standard Meltemi, fast passage. Ermoupoli town quay at the head of the deep harbour is one of the most forgiving stern-to in the entire Cyclades. Finikas Bay on the southwest coast is the alternative for a sheltered swim anchorage — sand bottom, lined with tamarisk trees ashore. The capital climbs the slope above in pastel neoclassical layers.

Things to do

Climb Ano Syros for the Catholic quarter

Loukoumi tasting at a 19th-century confectionery

Walk Miaouli marble square at dusk

Swim at Foinikas Bay (south coast)

Mooring tip

Stern-to on Ermoupoli town quay (no fee, your own anchor). Excellent shelter in any direction. Finikas anchor on sand at 4-7 m, sheltered from N.

Serifos
4
Day 4

Syros → Serifos (Livadi)

32 nm southwest to Serifos — long downwind leg, comfortable in standard Meltemi. Livadi Bay on the south coast funnels the Meltemi but holds well on sand. Drag is the most common Serifos charter incident — set anchor with long scope, dive to verify, stay aboard for the first hour. Chora above the harbour is one of the most photogenic Cycladic villages and a 30-minute donkey-path climb.

Things to do

Walk the donkey path up to Chora

Revithada chickpea stew in a kafeneio

Swim Psili Ammos beach (south coast)

Sunset at the windmills above Chora

Mooring tip

Anchor in Livadi Bay on sand at 5-8 m, long scope mandatory. Stern-to on town quay, €20-30/night. Drag risk above 22 kn — dive the anchor before going ashore.

Hydra
5
Day 5

Serifos → Hydra

38 nm long beam reach west to Hydra. The leg crosses out of the Cyclades into the Saronic — wind regime drops by 5-8 knots once west of Kythnos. Hydra harbour is small and stern-to slot competition is fierce; arrive by 15:00 or anchor in Mandraki Bay 1 nm east of the town and tender in. No cars on Hydra; donkeys carry the luggage from the harbour up to the village houses on the cliff.

Things to do

Walk the cliff-side stone alleys (no cars)

Drink at Spilia Beach Bar cliff cut-out

Swim Vlychos Beach (15 min walk west)

Hike to Profitis Ilias monastery

Mooring tip

Hydra harbour stern-to, €30-50/night, slot fills by 15:00. Anchor in Mandraki Bay 1 nm east on sand at 6-8 m if full. Sheltered from N.

Poros
6
Day 6

Hydra → Poros

15 nm northwest to Poros. The Poros channel between the island and the Peloponnese mainland is one of the prettier passages in the Saronic — pine-clad slopes either side, sheltered water. Anchor in Russian Bay (north coast, sand 5-7 m, sheltered from N) for the afternoon, then move to Poros town quay for the overnight. Poros town is the lay-day stop on most Saronic loops.

Things to do

Anchor swim at Russian Bay (north coast)

Swim Love Bay (south coast pine fringe)

Walk to the Temple of Poseidon ruins

Saganaki cheese flambéed at the waterfront

Mooring tip

Stern-to in Poros town quay, €25-40/night. Sheltered from any direction. Russian Bay for day-anchor on sand at 5-7 m.

Athens
7
Day 7

Poros → Athens (Alimos)

30 nm north back to Alimos. Standard Saronic mid-morning departure for a 14:00 marina arrival. Optional swim stop at Aegina (10 nm into the leg) if time and wind allow. Refuel at Alimos before tying up so the boat is ready for handover the next morning.

Things to do

Optional Aegina swim stop

Refuel and clean the boat at Alimos

Crew dinner at a Glyfada taverna

Souvenir-stop on Faliro promenade

Mooring tip

Alimos Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €70-100/night. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth before mooring. Confirm handover slot 24h ahead.

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