The cultural variant of the Saronic, pushing into the Argolic Gulf to touch ancient Greece: the theatre of Epidaurus, the Venetian old town of Nafplio, before returning through the chic islands of Hydra and Spetses. Around 150 miles from Athens, a notch sportier than the classic Saronic because of two longer legs, but a week of rare richness, sea and heritage. Full detail below, anchorages, plan B options and variations.
In brief
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base | Athens (Alimos / Kalamaki) |
| Access | Fly to Athens (ATH); base 20 min away |
| Total distance | ~150 NM (loop) |
| Sailing time | ~30 h over 6 sailing days |
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Level | Intermediate (two ~30 NM legs) |
| Recommended boat | 40-46 ft monohull or catamaran |
| Best time | April to October, Saronic sailable outside the fierce Meltemi |
| Winds | Thermal breezes, an attenuated Meltemi filtering from the south-east in summer |
| Indicative budget | ~700 to 1,150 € per person all in |
Explore the stops
Approximate destination locations for trip planning. Use current nautical charts and local information for navigation.
Alimos · Aegina · Palaia Epidavros · Nafplio · Spetses · Hydra · Poros
Weather month by month
| Month | Wind | Air | Sea | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | Variable | 19-21° | 17-18° | Off-season, calm |
| May-June | Moderate thermal | 24-28° | 19-22° | Ideal |
| July | Attenuated Meltemi | 30-33° | 23-24° | Breezy |
| August | Attenuated Meltemi | 30-33° | 24-25° | Book early |
| September | Easing | 26-29° | 23-24° | Ideal |
| October | Mild, variable | 22-24° | 21-22° | End of season |
What to understand about the area
A more sheltered Saronic than the Cyclades. The Meltemi arrives here filtered by the land, more manageable. The short hops of the classic Saronic are lengthened here by the incursion into the Argolic Gulf.
Two long legs to plan. The run down to Nafplio (D3) and the final climb back (D7) approach 30 miles; leave early and follow the breeze.
Nafplio, a heritage call. A marina and quay at the foot of the old town and the Palamidi fortress; one of the finest arrivals in mainland Greece.
Day by day
Day 1: Alimos to Aegina, 20 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: across the Saronic Gulf to the island of Aegina.
Anchorage: Aegina harbour (quay) or Perdika bay to the south, quieter.
Plan B: the islet of Angistri opposite.
Warning: Aegina harbour is busy and exposed to ferry wash, prefer Perdika in a westerly.
Day 2: Aegina to Epidaurus (Palaia Epidavros), 16 NM, ~3 h 30
Sailing: south-west to the Argolic mainland.
Anchorage: the small harbour of Palaia Epidavros and its bay.
Ashore: the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, legendary acoustics, 20 min by taxi.
Warning: bay open to the north-east, tenable in settled weather.
Day 3: Epidaurus to Nafplio, 30 NM, ~6 h
Sailing: down to the head of the Argolic Gulf, the longest leg.
Anchorage: Nafplio marina or the town quay at the foot of the old town.
Ashore: the Venetian old town, the Palamidi fortress, one of the finest calls on the mainland.
Warning: leave early, the breeze builds in the afternoon in the gulf.
Day 4: Nafplio to Spetses, 25 NM, ~5 h
Sailing: out of the Argolic Gulf to the island of Spetses.
Anchorage: the old harbour of Spetses (Baltiza) or the Zogeria anchorage to the north-west.
Plan B: Porto Cheli on the mainland opposite, very sheltered.
Warning: narrow old-harbour entrance, a careful manoeuvre.
Day 5: Spetses to Hydra, 15 NM, ~3 h
Sailing: coasting to the car-free island.
Anchorage: Hydra harbour (quay, arrive early) or the neighbouring Mandraki anchorage.
Ashore: an amphitheatre of captains' houses, donkey lanes.
Warning: tiny, expensive harbour that rolls in the wash; Mandraki as a fallback.
Day 6: Hydra to Poros, 14 NM, ~3 h
Sailing: a short leg to Poros and its channel.
Anchorage: the Poros quay facing the town, or Russian Bay.
Plan B: the wooded Vagionia bay.
Warning: current in the narrow Poros channel.
Day 7: Poros to Alimos, 30 NM, ~6 h
Sailing: the final climb back to Athens, leave early. Refuel before handover.
Variations and personalisation
Gentle version (classic Saronic). Drop Nafplio and stay on Aegina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses with short legs: that is the base Saronic itinerary, ideal for beginners (see the other itinerary in this area).
Heritage version (this one). Keep Epidaurus and Nafplio for the dose of antiquity, accepting two 30-mile legs.
+2 day extension. Push further south to Leonidio and Kyparissi, spectacular and still confidential coves of the eastern Peloponnese.
By season. The Saronic is one of the few Greek areas pleasant from April to October, outside the Meltemi peak.
Summary table
| Day | Leg | NM | Time (~5 kn) | Anchorage | Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Alimos to Aegina | 20 | ~4 h | Aegina / Perdika | Moderate |
| D2 | Aegina to Epidaurus | 16 | ~3 h 30 | Palaia Epidavros | Moderate |
| D3 | Epidaurus to Nafplio | 30 | ~6 h | Nafplio (marina) | Good |
| D4 | Nafplio to Spetses | 25 | ~5 h | Spetses (Baltiza) | Good |
| D5 | Spetses to Hydra | 15 | ~3 h | Hydra / Mandraki | Moderate |
| D6 | Hydra to Poros | 14 | ~3 h | Poros | Good |
| D7 | Poros to Alimos | 30 | ~6 h | Base | n/a |
| Total | ~150 | ~30 h |
Practical checklist
- Licence: coastal licence plus ICC plus VHF Short Range Certificate.
- Long legs: leave early on Days 3 and 7 to sail in the calm.
- TEPAI and the usual papers on board.
- Provisioning: shop at Aegina, Nafplio and Poros.
Booking and preparation
- Compare boats available from Athens (Alimos).
- Consider charter insurance (deposit waiver).
- Flights: Paris to Athens (ATH).
- Ashore: theatre of Epidaurus, Palamidi fortress at Nafplio, Hydra old town.
See also: the classic Saronic itinerary and the guide Sailing in Greece.
A word from the crew
Logbook. Sailing into Nafplio, the Palamidi fortress gilded by the evening above the bow, is one of the finest arrivals in mainland Greece. And the next day, the acoustics of the theatre of Epidaurus, a coin you can hear drop from the top row.
The mistake to avoid. Tackling Days 3 and 7 late. These two 30-mile legs are caught by the afternoon breeze; leave at first light.
Our favourite, and what we skip. Favourite: Nafplio and its old quarter beneath the Palamidi. What we skip: a night in Hydra's packed harbour, the Mandraki anchorage next door is calmer.
Our verdict. Beauty 5/5. Anchorages 3/5. Ease 3/5. Crowds 3/5. Verdict: the ideal week to marry sailing and ancient Greece, for a crew comfortable with two longer legs.
Nautical data: Saronic and Argolic distance tables, harbour offices of Aegina, Nafplio and Poros. Weather: HNMS, 2025 averages.