Best time for Greece - Saronic Gulf

[soares29]

Merry Christmas to you all.

I will be sailing ( with my teens I hope ) at the Saronic Gulf this summer for a week.

What do you think is the best time to visit the Saronic Gulf ? June/July/August ?

Do you have dos and don’ts recommendations?

Is it possible to hang out in Hydra and don’t have a line crossed ?

Best

Ed

[robert sailor]

Summers there are the same as the summers in USA and Canada. August will be very warm. June July and August are all peak travel time and peak pricing so no advantage to any month. June might be a tad more temperate as far as heat. Anchorages will be loaded up earlier in the day. We spent quite a bit of time there during our two years in the Med and enjoyed it immensely...have fun. R

[soares29]

Thank you Robert!!!

[robert sailor]

My wife just reminded me that August is really busy as some countries take the whole month off. So June might be best followed by July. Is this going to be your first time in Greece?

[soares29]

Yes. Have been to Croatia for a week in 2017.

[jha]

Hi. We were in the area in 2017. I would suggest the best times to visit are late June or early July. By late June the weather has settled and the closer to August the busier it is. Hydra is very popular so you need to arrive early morning and grab a berth as some-one leaves or you can stay in Ermioni and and take the small day ferry across if you really want to visit.
Additionally Porto Heli can be a little noisy on the quay but the bay is really quiet so we preferred to anchor and dinghy "with outboard" ashore.
Enjoy.

[calin1967]

Personally I think the best periods in Greece are off-season, meaning march-may and sept-november. The crowds are gone and you can really immerse in the local culture. And the weather is nice.

[soares29]

I agree Calin... I’m one of those folks that crowd the area... ( I have kids at school that I would like to take with me... ) I’ve heard September is the best. Maybe in the future.... so far I will try to go June/July. Do you have recommendations of what not to miss and what NOT to do ?

[Golden-Spirit]

I would definitely avoid August and the last two weeks of July. It can get very hot and crowded as the whole of Europe has school holidays about then. June would be my preference. Hydra - get in early, leave after some others have left and have a line ready at the bows to deal with a possible crossed anchor situation, which I regret for that harbour is comonplace.

Tip: Try anchoring for a bay-day or overnight in the bay on the North side of the virtually uninhabited island of Dhkos just North of Hydra...fantastic spot!

[Deltasailor]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Summers there are the same as the summers in USA and Canada. August will be very warm. June July and August are all peak travel time and peak pricing so no advantage to any month. June might be a tad more temperate as far as heat. Anchorages will be loaded up earlier in the day. We spent quite a bit of time there during our two years in the Med and enjoyed it immensely...have fun. R

As far as charter Hi season is second week in July and all August. The best month for me is June longer days and quieter harbours.

[soares29]

Thank you!!!!

[Tim Litchfield]

We sailed in Greece for a week in mid-May this year and had lovely weather. Some anchorages were already hard to get a spot so I think July, August would be difficult. The water was still a bit on the cool side though. I think June or September would be good.

[Perna]

Before mid July is best from the wind point of view. After that the Meltemi gets going from the north and it can get quite strong and blow for days on end, although there are protected places down the east coast of the Peloponnese.

Just more relaxing without it, for me anyway.

Absolutely lovely area by the way. Ancient Epidavros, Poros...

[Camille1]

Perna is right. July, and August, in particular, are likely to be windy, possibly very windy (force 7). If you only have one week then the Saronic might be a risk.

If you really want to sail in July and August then you should go to the Ionian (West Greece).

Happy sailing.

[soares29]

Thank you Camille !!!