Private Boat Tours from Athens & Day Cruises
Every private day cruise from Athens departs with only your group on board. No shared boats, no strangers, no fixed itinerary imposed from outside. The skipper knows the water, the coves, and the best place to drop anchor at noon. You decide when to swim, when to move, and when to stay longer than the plan suggested.
Why a Private Boat Tour Changes the Athenian Experience
Athens in July is hot, loud, and full. The Saronic Gulf is none of those things. Twenty minutes from Piraeus, the city disappears and the water takes over. A private boat trip from Athens to the Saronic islands is not a sightseeing tour with a nautical backdrop. It is a full day on the water: swimming in coves that the ferry passengers never reach, anchoring off a beach that has no road access, eating lunch on deck with the engine off and the Aegean doing the work.
The practical difference from a shared cruise is equally simple. On a shared boat, you go where it goes and stay as long as it stays. On a private charter, you tell the skipper what you want and the day is built around that. More time at Hydra and less at Poros. A longer swim stop at Moni and an earlier return to Piraeus. The boat is yours, the schedule is yours, and the crew works for your group.
Our Private Boat Tours from Athens
Private Day Cruise to Hydra and Poros from Athens (8-9 Hours)
The private cruise from Athens to Hydra and Poros is the most requested boat tour we operate. Hydra is the island with no cars, no motorbikes, and no roads beyond the port, where the only sounds are the water and the clip of hooves on stone. Poros is the lush island across a narrow strait from the Peloponnese coast, with pine forests running down to the water. Both are reachable in a full-day private charter that leaves Piraeus in the morning and returns in the evening, with swim stops and lunch on deck between destinations. 8 to 9 hours total.
Private Cruise to Aegina, Moni and Perdika from Athens (8 Hours)
The private boat tour to Aegina, Moni and Perdika covers the western Saronic loop in a single day. Aegina is the largest island in the gulf and the closest to Athens, famous for its pistachios and the 5th-century BC Temple of Aphaia. Moni is the uninhabited island opposite Perdika bay, where the water turns turquoise in shallow anchorages and the only residents are wild deer and peacocks. Perdika itself is the fishing village at the southern tip of Aegina where the tavernas serve whatever came in that morning. A full-day private cruise of 8 hours that covers three very different stops in the same stretch of water.
Private Cruise to Agistri and Aegina from Athens, All-Inclusive (8 Hours)
The private day cruise from Athens to Agistri and Aegina is the all-inclusive format: food, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and the boat, all covered in a single booking. Agistri is the small island that most Athens day-trippers miss entirely, with a pine-covered interior and beaches that the Aegina ferry passes without stopping. The combination of the two islands makes for a full day of swimming, eating, and moving at whatever pace your group sets. 8 hours total.
Private Cruise to the Sunken City of Epidaurus and Aegina (8-9 Hours)
The private boat trip to the sunken city of Epidaurus and Aegina is the most unusual day cruise available from Athens. The ancient city of Epidaurus, submerged by earthquakes over the centuries, lies in shallow water in a sheltered bay on the eastern Peloponnese coast. Snorkeling above ancient walls, mosaic floors, and harbor structures that have been underwater for 1,700 years is an experience most visitors to Greece never find. Combined with Aegina on the return, it is a full day of 8 to 9 hours that covers both the archaeological and the purely aquatic.
Private Sea Transfers to the Saronic Islands and Cyclades
Beyond day cruises, we also arrange private sea transfers from Athens for travelers who want to reach the islands without the ferry schedule. A private high-speed RIB or motorboat can reach Hydra in under two hours, Kea in 90 minutes, and Kythnos in two hours from Piraeus. For the nearer Cyclades, Andros and Tinos are within three hours. These are point-to-point private transfers: you board, the skipper navigates, and you arrive at the island with your luggage without standing in a ferry queue.
Destinations available for private boat transfer from Athens: Hydra, Aegina, Poros, Spetses, Kea, Kythnos, Andros, Tinos, and on longer transfers, Syros, Mykonos, Paros, and Milos. Transfer times and availability depend on weather conditions and vessel type. Contact us to confirm the right option for your travel dates.
How a Private Boat Tour from Athens Works
- Departure: All private cruises depart from Piraeus or Alimos Marina. A private Mercedes transfer from your Athens hotel to the marina is available as an add-on at booking.
- The boat: We operate luxury motorboats and high-performance RIBs, sized for your group. Every vessel has a professional licensed skipper, safety equipment, and sun deck space. Snorkeling equipment is included on all tours.
- The itinerary: Every private day cruise from Athens is fully flexible. The destinations listed are the standard routes, but stops, swim times, and lunch locations can be adjusted on the water based on your group's pace.
- What is included: The vessel, skipper, fuel, snorkeling gear, and port fees. Food and drinks are included on the all-inclusive format. On other tours, we stop at tavernas ashore for lunch.
- Sea transfers: Point-to-point transfers to Saronic and Cycladic islands are arranged separately from day cruises. Contact us with your destination and date for availability and pricing.
Why Travelers Choose Our Private Boat Tours
- 100% private: Every boat carries only your group. No shared charters, no other passengers, no fixed itinerary imposed from outside.
- Licensed skippers: Every vessel is operated by a fully licensed, experienced skipper who knows the Saronic Gulf and the approach routes to the Cyclades.
- Since 2010: We have been arranging private boat tours from Athens for sixteen years. We know the anchorages, the weather patterns, and the best time of day to reach each island.
- Combined with land tours: Many guests combine a private boat day with a private land tour of Athens or the Peloponnese. We coordinate both from the same team.
- No hidden costs: Your quote covers the vessel, skipper, fuel, and port fees. We brief you on all additional costs before you confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions - Private Boat Tours from Athens
What is the best private boat tour from Athens?
For first-time visitors, the private cruise to Hydra and Poros gives the best picture of the Saronic Gulf in a single day. Hydra in particular, with no vehicles and a harbor that has barely changed in two centuries, is unlike any other island reachable from Athens in a day. For those who want something more unusual, the sunken city of Epidaurus cruise is the most distinctive experience available by boat from the city.
How far are the Saronic islands from Athens by private boat?
Aegina is approximately 40 minutes from Piraeus by private motorboat. Poros is 90 minutes. Hydra is 2 hours. Spetses is 3 hours. All four are accessible in a single full-day private day cruise from Athens, though most itineraries focus on two or three destinations to allow proper time at each.
Can we take a private boat transfer from Athens to Mykonos or Santorini?
Yes, though these are longer transfers. For Mykonos and Santorini, a private high-speed RIB or motorboat transfer from Athens is the premium way to arrive, bypassing the crowded ferry terminals entirely. We coordinate private sea transfers as part of a wider custom luxury itinerary. For the nearer Cyclades, Kea, Kythnos, Andros, and Tinos are all within comfortable reach by private boat. Contact us to confirm the right vessel and routing for your dates.
Is the sunken city of Epidaurus accessible for non-swimmers?
The sunken city is best experienced by snorkeling, but the underwater structures are visible from the boat in calm conditions. The water is shallow and clear, making it accessible even for those who prefer to look from the surface. We advise on the best approach for your group at the time of booking.
What is the best time of year for a private boat tour from Athens?
May to October, with June and September offering the best combination of calm seas, warm water, and fewer visitors at anchorages. July and August are peak months: the water is warmest but the popular islands are busier. We monitor weather in the days before departure and advise on any adjustments to the itinerary if conditions require it.
