Greece has some of the cheapest mooring costs in Europe, and a growing number of buyers are pairing a property purchase with a berth or boat. Here’s where to look, what it costs and how to get started.
Why race across the world when you can calmly sail around the Greek Islands? To live near the sea, with a boat moored in the harbour is a dream shared by many foreign visitors to Greece. On your walk down through the village, you could pick up pastries from the bakers and some fruit and drinks for a picnic, then hop on your boat to explore the coastline.
It’s a revitalising experience to be out on the water, discovering secluded coves, uninhabited islands and sea caves. To fully appreciate the beauty of an island’s coastline you really do need to see it from the sea. As Chief Brody in the 1975 film Jaws says, “It’s only an island if you look at it from the water“. Thankfully, in Greece you are more likely to spot a turtle or a dolphin.
Discover Greek Islands and Marina towns favoured by house owners who buy, rent or charter a boat to complement their Greek Lifestyle.
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Greek Islands for living and boating
Many people buy a house in a seaside town, planning to get a boat one day. At this stage it’s worth making sure there is a potential location to keep a boat in the future. If you only want to use a boat in the summer, a dry dock may also be an option.
Places to visit by boat
It’s good to have another island close enough that you can make day trips across. These might have picturesque villages or superb beaches. It’s so relaxing to moor up near an uninhabited island to go for a swim.
One day, we heard about a cave that could only be visited by boat. So, we enquired at a café, whether there were any boat trips to it. There weren’t at that time, but a fisherman offered to take us. It’s trips like this that make special memories.
6 islands loved by boat owners
Corfu (Ionian Sea): Stunning beaches, green hills, lovely seaside villages and a wild natural landscape. A beautiful mooring spot is Sidari, where you can swim through a sea cave. According to legend, “If two lovers swim through the channel of love, their love will last forever“. Find property for sale on Corfu here.
Lefkada (Ionian Sea): White sandy beaches and lots of opportunities to enjoy watersports such as, Snorkelling, paddle boarding, canoeing and windsurfing. Find property on Lefkada here.
Naxos (Cyclades): Family-friendly island with gift shops, a waterpark and a bustling harbour. Highlights include the Rina Cave, Agios Georgios beach and wandering around the old town. Find property for sale on Naxos.
Crete (Sea of Crete): Lots of great beaches and places to go diving and enjoy watersports. From Aghios Nikolaos, Elounda or Plaka you can get a boat to the small island of Spinalonga. View Crete Property for sale.
Zakynthos (Zante, Ionian islands): The island has a spectacular coastline best appreciated from the sea. It is famous for its turquoise waters, shipwreck beach, turtles and The Blue Caves, which are only accessible by boat. Property for sale on Zakynthos.
Kefalonia (Ionian Sea): Boat owners love the island for its year-round lifestyle and sheltered sailing.
Mooring your boat in Greece
The more upmarket resort towns are obviously going to be more expensive than lesser-known areas, where the local Greeks live. But in general, Greece is well known among boat owners as being one of the cheapest locations in Europe to both live and keep a boat.
Low cost of living
The reasonable cost of living is backed up by our recent Cost of living overseas index 2026. The list of purchases in Greece cost 24% less than in the UK and produced the cheapest supermarket shop out of all the countries surveyed.
Towns with marinas in Greece
The well-known towns with ports and marinas are very sought-after, which adds to their property prices. These large towns with a high resident population have the extra amenities suitable for year-round living.
6 popular marina towns in Greece
Corfu town – With it’s Gouvia Marina (1,200 births) Corfu offers all the facilities you need from a town, including a hospital, banks, pharmacies and restaurants. A large number of charter yachts operate out of Gouvia. Two-bedroom houses in Corfu town start from €370,000. Property for sale on Corfu.
Glyfada near Athens – Glyfada Marina is an affordable option on the Athenian Riviera. It’s less than 30 minutes from Athens Airport and Central Athens, with all the amenities and attractions of the capital city. Glyfada is considered the glitzy unofficial capital of the Athens Riviera with cafes, trendy bars, shops and a street market. Other highly rated Marinas near Athens are Alimos, Marina Zeas (Pireaus) and Flisvos Marina. If you have a luxury yacht, Flisvos offers a high level of service.
Rhodes (Dodecanese) – The Rhodes marina (382 births) can accommodate yachts up to 120 metres and is close to the UNESCO-listed old town.
Kos town (Dodecanese) – The town’s 250 berth marina is 25km from the airport and is close to the old town.
Nafplio (Peloponnese) – A small marina with plans to develop and upgrade its facilities.
Argostoli (Kefalonia) – Kefalonia’s 250-berth marina is located in the Ionian Sea and is a major stopover for yachts.
Other marinas with plans to upgrade include Kalamata, Mykonos and Thessaloniki.
Seaside villages
It is the lesser-known villages where you’ll come across bargain houses and boats. Here you will find real hidden gems that make affordable homes in which to start your new life by the sea.
As well as beautiful islands, it should be remembered that mainland Greece, particularly the Peloponnese, also has some lovely seaside villages. Some of these can be reached by car or ferry from Athens.
Ermioni, Peloponnese
A good example of a seaside village is Ermioni in the Argolis region of the Peloponnese. Located about two hours and 20 minutes from Athens by sea, it is a busy village with a population of around 2,500.
It’s not overly touristy and has a beautiful little fishing port with mooring facilities for 127 serviced berths. It also offers boat rental, and you can take a seamanship course there.
As Ermioni is located on a slim peninsula, it has the feel of an island, with houses cascading down a hill to the port. There are shops and cafes a short walk from the moorings and on the other side of the peninsula are several restaurants right on the water’s edge.
As some Athenians come here at the weekend, you’ll find restaurants open year-round. A two-bedroom house costs from €285,000. In the Argolis region there are all kinds of properties for sale from traditional stone houses to new builds and apartments.
Boat rental in Greece
While waiting to get your own boat, it’s a good idea to locate yourself in an area that offers boat hire. When you take into consideration the cost of keeping a boat and how many times a year you will use it, you might even decide to only rent one for those occasions.
Do you need a boat licence to rent a boat in Greece?
For small boats under 30HP, you don’t need a licence, but you will need to show your passport and watch a safety briefing.
To rent a larger boat over 30HP, you will need a skipper’s licence. Non-EU residents will be asked for an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or an equivalent certificate.
Should I rent or charter a boat?
Before spending a lot of money on a boat of your own you could gain some experience by either chartering or renting a boat. Tackling the winds of the Aegean Sea and navigating close to islands can be tricky for a novice, therefore it’s valuable to have an experienced person onboard at first, who knows the local waters.
Renting a boat
You can find licence-free boat rentals in many locations including, Zakynthos, Corfu, Sithonia and Lefkada. These will be small boats that are easy to handle, perfect for exploring the nearby coastline. However, you will be limited to 30HP.
Prices usually range from €90 to €200 per day, depending on the type of boat, the season and location. Always confirm whether you will also need to pay for the fuel at the end of the day.
Chartering a boat
If your dream is to sail around the islands on a big yacht or catamaran but don’t have a licence, you can charter boat in Greece with a professional skipper. Then you are free to relax and enjoy the scenery. A catamaran with a skipper can cost between €1,000 and €2,000 per day (less for a sailboat or small motorboat).
Talk to other boat owners
Sailing around the Greek islands has been part of normal life for centuries, especially for the fishermen. Having a shared interest is a great way to make new friends and it can be very useful having a friend that speaks the language.
The Greeks understand that by keeping mooring fees at a fair level they can attract visitors that will hopefully also spend money in the local restaurants and shops. However, to be sure of getting the same price as the locals, do try and ask several Greek boat owners for their recommendations and how much they pay.
Ask questions online
Another place to ask advice and make useful contacts is on social media pages. The “Sailing in Greece” Facebook group has over 51,000 members. It’s a great place to get recommendations relating to your preferred area and ask questions about sailing in Greece.
There are even posts looking for crew, and people who have boats for sale. Doing some crewing may actually be a good way of experiencing different locations before you buy.
Cheap ways to get on the water
Sailing is considered by many to be an expensive pastime only for the rich. However, you will find that Greece not only has properties for sale to suit every budget, but there are also ways to have fun on the water that don’t cost a fortune too, such as paddleboarding and canoeing.
Look after a friend’s boat
Over time you might get chatting to a boat owner who can’t be in Greece all year round and needs someone to keep an eye on their pride and joy. Especially if they need someone to check it’s OK after a spell of bad weather. We knew a Frenchman who bought one of those marvellous old wooden fishing boats that are always painted blue. We came to an arrangement whereby we painted and took care of it in his absence, in exchange for us being able to use it. That was lovely for short trips out. But they do chug along rather slowly.
Buy a second-hand boat in Greece
Later, we picked up a second-hand rib from a lovely German guy we met. That was perfect for nipping along the coast to our favourite little secret cove. We never saw anyone else there.
Ferries
As the couples on the UK TV series “Race across the World” discovered, even if you don’t have a boat in Greece, it’s possible to catch a ferry. They started by going to Kefalonia, but their stay wasn’t long enough to really explore the island.
Indeed, island hopping by ferry is a wonderful way to get out on the sea and visit other interesting places. When you are on a ferry you are forced to totally unwind before exploring a new place.
Slow down
When I visited family back in the UK, I found that while the hydrofoil zoomed across the water from Pereaus Port to the Peloponnese, I would relax and gradually wind down. Taking less than two and a half hours, the journey currently costs €46.50.
I noticed that many of my visitors would need a couple of days to adjust to the slower pace of life, and to stop continuously looking at their phones for the time. But after a trip out on the water, breathing in that wonderful sea air, they would sleep the best sleep they had ever had.
Yachts and catamarans
We’ve met a few people who have bought yachts, catamarans and boats in Greece, then sailed all around the Greek Islands. Their plan was to visit various locations, until they found the place they wanted to settle and buy a house. It’s a good way of testing out the marina facilities and discovering what the sailing conditions are like in each area.
What area is good for beginners?
Beginners, might start with the calm waters of the Saronic Gulf and around the Ionian islands. Popular islands in these areas include, Hydra, Poros, Corfu, Lefkas and Kefalonia.
What area is good for experienced sailors?
More experienced sailors with a boat in Greece, favour the Cyclades, as the islands are fairly close together, the landscape is breathtaking and you have some challenging winds, such as the Meltemi.
Fishing villages
For me, picturesque fishing villages with cafes on the waterside are what Greece is all about. After watching the little fish in the clear waters around the fishing boats, you can sit with a drink and watch the fishermen coming in with their catch and fixing their nets.
You know the local taverna will have fresh fish on the menu that night and you can spend the whole evening tasting the wonderful Greek cuisine as the sun sets on the horizon. Lie on a boat out at sea and you will experience the most breathtaking display of stars, while the moon reflects on the water.
Summary
Greece is one of the most affordable places in Europe to keep a boat, with mooring costs well below western Mediterranean rates. Islands like Corfu, Lefkada and Kefalonia are popular with boat owners, while marina towns such as Corfu town and Glyfada offer good infrastructure for year-round living. If you’re not ready to buy a boat, rental and charter options are widely available. Property prices vary significantly by location, with village properties offering the best value.
