Greece has become one of the most popular yacht charter destinations on the planet, and it’s clear to see why; from idyllic lush island clusters to majestic ancient temples, this glorious region boasts some of the most spectacular and diverse cruising grounds in the world.
Along with over 1,000 islands and 16,000km of coastline, Greece enjoys a balmy Mediterranean climate, crystal clear waters, astonishingly rich cultural heritage, world-renowned cuisine and warm Greek hospitality, promising a memorable yacht charter vacation wherever you go.
In 2017, Greek authorities changed the regulations surrounding yacht charters, meaning that all EU-flagged and non-EU flagged yachts over 35 metres being commercially operated must hold a Greek charter Licence to cruise exclusively within Greek waters.
Whilst there are numerous incentives for the owner, the charterer also enjoys a number of benefits, such as;
- 13% VAT on charter fees
- Free to embark and disembark from any Greek port
- Discounted marina and mooring fees
- Fuel is purchased net of VAT
Compared with other EU destinations such as France and Italy which have a VAT rate of 20% and 22% respectively on the base charter fee, and no discounts on marina and mooring fees, the benefits outlined above offer a fairly substantial saving to the charterer. Coupled with the spectacular cruising grounds on offer in this region, it’s understandable why yachts that carry a Greek Charter License hold massive appeal.
Please note that the rules regarding VAT rates and itineraries incorporating travel outside of Greek waters are continually evolving, therefore we advise that you speak with your yacht charter broker for further clarification on this point.
The bright blue seas of the Aegean and Ionian offer myriad Grecian treasures for magical yacht charters, notable for their idyllic island clusters awash with pretty port towns and sleepy fishing villages, as well as some of the finest beaches in the world tucked-away in secret coves accessible only by boat.
The most popular island groups for Greece yacht charters include the breathtakingly lovely Ionian Islands to the west, where their savage beauty has been enjoyed by millions in the Netflix series The Durrells.
Over to the east in the Aegean Sea you’ll find the lush Argo-Saronic Islands steeped in history, as well as the inimitable Cyclades comprising some of the most celebrated Greek islands, including Santorini and Mykonos.
These destinations all enjoy close proximity to the country’s capital of Athens, which is the convenient base port for the majority of yachts available for charter in Greece, and what better way to end a magical yacht charter than meandering the majestic Doric columns of the Parthenon?
To truly experience all this phenomenal country has to offer, we have compiled our top picks of the best superyachts available for charter around Greece this summer.
In this article:
Delivered in 2023 by esteemed shipyard Golden Yachts, the 77m (254ft) superyacht O'REA has been welcomed onto the Greek charter market with great delight. Described as 'the new generation of Golden Yachts' this luxurious vessel has been designed for the future, with a wide range of social and dining options and endless opportunities to soak up the superyacht lifestyle.
With multiple standout features such as her extendable beach club environment with fold-down waterside terraces that provides guests with immediate contact with the sea and her two lavish glass bottom pools, the yacht provides everything that one could wish for on their luxury yacht charter vacation. In terms of amenities, the yacht is packed with an array of superlative showstoppers from her sun deck area with a state-of-the-art gym to the gorgeous beach house, complete with a Finnish sauna, Turkish hammam and massage room.
The yacht accommodates 12 guests across 8 large cabins, each boasting exceptional space and height. There is also a voluminous Owner’s cabin onboard with a luxurious private office area. Precious stones with emerald and sapphire hues are used across all the guest areas, adding a sophisticated and elegant element to every space onboard.
One of the largest and most impressive yachts with a Greek charter license, the 95m (310ft) luxury yacht O’PARI has been specifically designed with the charter market in mind. She offers guests a phenomenal range of charter rich features, including state-of-the-art glass-enclosed bridge deck gymnasium with sweeping vistas, vast aft deck swimming pool fringed by an array of sunpads and glorious sundeck lounging area with a large Jacuzzi and full bar.
Her stand-out feature has to be her impressive multi-faceted beach club complete with sumptuous loungers, fully-stocked bar and sliding glass panels that can be opened up to create a vast waterside entertainment area which leads down to louvred steps for easy access into the warm waters of her Grecian destination. Alternatively, guests can indulge in a heavenly pampering session in the adjacent dedicated wellness rooms.
Her luxurious interiors are sumptuous and comfortable, full of natural light with a neutral crowd-pleasing palette that extends into her 14 cabins, which comfortably accommodates 12 guests.
Delivered in 2016, this impressive 75m/246ft expedition yacht is purpose-built for outdoor living, with its wide alfresco social areas and adaptable glass-paneled winter garden.
CLOUDBREAK's stunning Christian Liaigre interiors showcase a warm, inviting and laid back vibe which flows through to her 6 comfortable suites, which can easily accommodate 12 guests.
This includes a fantastic Owner's suite with its own private terraced area and outdoor daybed, perfect for balmy nights anchored off a secluded Greek island, with the gentle lapping of water against the hull to lull you to sleep.
Guests can enjoy indulging in a spot of pampering at her waterside beach club, complete with sauna, steam room, plunge pool, massage room and gymnasium, or head off for a day's unique exploration of the surrounding Greek islands, taking off from the yacht's commercially-certified helipad onboard its custom Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopter.
She also boasts a fantastic alfresco cinema which converts into a nightclub coupled with DJ booth, lighting and state-of-the-art sound system for fabulous parties onboard!
This hugely impressive 85m/279ft luxury yacht SOLANDGE showcases the meticulous craftsmanship we've come to expect from a Lurssen, with a whopping 6 decks and a wide 13.8-meter beam providing ample spaces for guests to feel at home.
Her palatial interiors are opulent and extravagent with touches of exquisite detail creating the feeling that you've just entered the palace at Versailles. The difference on this yacht is that guests can have their cake and eat it too, with a whole host of superlative amenities, from her vast jet-stream swimming pool, chromatherapy spa along with Hamman, massage room and beauty salon, fully-stocked wine cellar and sundeck Jacuzzi that converts to a dance floor complete with full DJ set-up.
Other onboard highlights include a dedicated movie theatre, fully-equipped bridge deck gymnasium and extensive, highly private Owner's deck.
Offering great flexibility for a variety of yacht charter party configurations, luxury yacht SOLANDGE can accommodate 12 guests in 8 generous cabins with additional room for up to 29 crew.
Delivered to her owner in 2020, the 55m/181ft yacht Geco is a serious head-turner with her eye-catching, unconventional design and near-vertical bow said to be modeled on a sports coupé. That said, there's a fluidity that gently tempers the masculine elements to create an altogether warmer, more feminine aspect to this luxurious motor yacht.
Her designer wanted to create a seamless connection between her exterior and interior spaces using natural and sustainable materials, along with touches of luxurious Italian marble and bronzed metal details to create an overall contemporary yet glamorous feel throughout.
There are plenty of charter-focused features for guests to enjoy, including a large beach club with extensive swim platform and retractable ladder providing convenient access to the warm seas of the Aegean. Motor yacht GECO also offers a vast helipad that doubles as a sun lounging area, generous sundeck with glass-fronted Jacuzzi and a fantastic array of watersports toys.
She can also accommodate up to 12 guests in her 6 gorgeous cabins, comprising a master suite, VIP cabin, 2 doubles and 2 twin cabins, offering great flexibility for yacht charters around Greece.
Although 10 meters shorter than her sister ship O'PARI, the 85m/278ft motor yacht O'PTASIA is not short on luxurious features and amenities for dream yacht charters around the idyllic lush islands of her homeland.
With a palette of soft cream and greys and rich woods playing with light and dark shades, coupled with playful touches, luxury yacht O'PTASIA's interiors are at once inviting yet understated and refined.
Capable of accommodating 12 guests, her 11 well-appointed suites follow the same colour scheme, which include 2 master suites with convenient adjoining twin cabins, making her ideal for charters with children or staff detail.
Stand-out features include a large aft swimming pool, extensive beach club area with spa facilities including a gym and massage room and armada of water sports toys and state-of-the-art custom Onda 321L tender, perfect for exploring Greece's breathtaking tucked-away beaches and coves.
Delivered in 2016 to her owner as CHOCOLAT, this sleek 63.5m/208ft Benetti recently underwent an extensive refit and entered the yacht charter market in 2021 fresh as a pin, along with a new name.
Showcasing elegant Italian craftsmanship in a palette of warm hues and styling inspired by nature, her interiors are sophisticated yet inviting with artisan natural oaks, marble and leather finishes.
This yacht offers guests plenty of space to make it their own, with ample social and dining areas located across all the decks. Guests can also enjoy stunning views from her large aft Jacuzzi, which is surrounded by glass panels, perfect for relaxing whilst underway to her next destination.
Luxury yacht MOCA sleeps up to 12 guests in her 7 beautifully-appointed cabins, comprising an upper deck Owner's suite with private study, lounge and walk-in-wardrobes. A further 2 VIPs, 1 double and 3 twins make up the rest of the accommodation.
Two of the twin cabins are dedicated children's suites, along with a playroom located separately, making this yacht absolutely ideal for family yacht charters.
The 49m/161ft motor yacht OCEANOS, delivered in 2006 and extensively refitted in 2021, is the perfect platform for cruising the tantalizing archipelagos around Greece in ultimate style.
Her stunning interior is the work of Giorgio Vafiadis, who also penned the recent Golden yachts O’PARI and O’PTASIA, and showcases an elegant, almost regal feel throughout with the finest Italian wood, marble and plush fabrics.
Outdoor living is offered to its full potential on board the Mondo Marine yacht, in particular on her vast sundeck featuring two large wooden dining areas, a fully-equipped bar with barbeque and four sprawling sunbeds surrounding a glorious elevated Jacuzzi offering paradisiacal views of her surroundings.
Providing great flexibility for a variety of yacht charter party configurations, superyacht OCEANOS sleeps up to 12 guests in 7 beautiful staterooms. She is also capable of carrying up to 11 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience
Originally owned by the Greek business tycoon Aristotle Onassis, CHRISTINA O is one of the most iconic yachts in the entire global charter fleet, renowned for hosting a raft of luminaries in the fifties such as Marylin Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill and John F Kennedy, heralding the embryonic beginnings of the superyacht industry, notably along the glamorous French Riviera.
This yacht underwent an extensive refit in 2020 although lost none of its old-world elegance and decadent glamour, where notable pieces were lovingly restored back to their former glory.
Stand-out features include an exquisite 3-story cobalt-blue, cream and gold spiral staircase, vast mosaic fan-tailed saltwater swimming pool which converts to a dance floor, an indulgent Six-Senses spa complex and opulent piano lounge.
This vast yacht offers supreme luxury and comfort, and can provide for up to a whopping 34 sleeping guests.
Named after the primordial God of the sky, and dubbed the ‘Most Silent Yacht Ever Certified’, the 45m/148ft superyacht OURANOS wowed audiences for her debut at the 2017 Monaco Yacht Show with her sleek appearance and charter-focused amenities, proving that this is a yacht built to impress.
Her stunning bright and airy interiors perfectly embody the Greek view of beauty and light contained inside of a vast space. These comprise an fantastic array of social and dining areas exhibiting contemporary, elegant styling with luxurious touches and plush furnishings.
Luxury yacht OURANOS boasts six beautiful staterooms, which also offer charter guests a wholly undisturbed night’s rest free from both noise and vibration.
To find out more about booking any of the yachts mentioned in this article, please reach out to your chosen yacht charter broker.
To compare the complete market, take a look at all the latest luxury yachts available for charter in Greece.
More Yacht Information
95m
Golden Yachts
2020
75m
Abeking & Rasmussen
2016
85m
Lurssen
2013 / 2022
55m
Admiral Yachts
2020
85m
Golden Yachts
2018 / 2024
64m
Benetti
2016 / 2021
49m
Mondo Marine
2006 / 2022
99m
Canadian Vickers
1943 / 2020
50m
Admiral Yachts
2016
69m
Feadship
2007 / 2023
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