Top 10 Tips for Sailing the Aegean: A Beginner’s Guide to Island-Hopping by Boat
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10Choose Your Island Route Wisely
Before you rent a sailboat or join a charter, spend time choosing the right island group to explore. The Aegean is home to multiple island chains, each with its own sailing conditions and cultural flavor. If you’re new to the sea, the Saronic Gulf is a fantastic starting point. Located close to Athens, it offers calm waters, short sailing distances, and charming ports like Hydra and Poros.
For something more lush and scenic, the Sporades islands—home to Skiathos and Skopelos—provide green landscapes and mild sailing conditions. The Cyclades, though iconic with their whitewashed villages and dazzling beaches, are often more exposed to strong Meltemi winds and require some sailing confidence. Farther east, the Dodecanese islands blend Greek and Eastern influences and offer both beauty and shelter from strong winds, with gems like Rhodes, Symi, and Nisyros.