Top 10 Marinas in the Greek Islands
Greece has 227 inhabited islands and a coastline of 13,676 kilometres, more than any other European country except Norway. The Ionian Sea to the west offers the most reliable summer sailing winds — the maestro northwesterly blows steadily at 10 to 20 knots through July and August — while the Aegean's meltemi is a stronger, gusting northerly that can pin boats in harbour for days but rewards patience with sapphire-blue water, deserted anchorages, and a cultural density unmatched in the Mediterranean. Greek island marinas have evolved rapidly since the 2010s; the concession marina model brought private investment to facilities that were previously basic, and today skippers arriving in Lefkada, Kos, or Heraklion find fuel docks, boatyards, Wi-Fi, and chandleries where ten years ago there was only a concrete quay.
Gouvia Marina, Corfu
Gouvia Marina is the largest marina in the Ionian islands and one of the principal entry points to Greek waters from Italy. Positioned 8 kilometres north of Corfu town inside a sheltered lagoon, it holds 1,050 berths in 11 rows and is a base for numerous bareboat charter companies. The marina has a well-stocked chandlery, a boatyard with a 70-tonne travel lift, a fuel dock, and a mini-market. Corfu's Venetian Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is accessible by bus or taxi.
Lefkada Marina, Lefkada
Lefkada is connected to the Greek mainland by a floating bridge and by a shallow canal dredged to 4 metres, making it the preferred route for yachts transiting between the Ionian islands and the mainland Preveza region. The marina at Lefkada town, adjacent to the Lefkada Sailing Club, has 620 berths with 16-amp power and water, wi-fi, and showers. The island's eastern coast faces the calm Lefkada Sound; the west coast, with its turquoise beaches at Porto Katsiki and Egremni, is accessible by sea when the maestro allows.
Fiskardo Marina, Kefalonia
Fiskardo at Kefalonia's northern tip escaped the 1953 earthquake that devastated the rest of the island and retains its original Venetian architecture in the harbour village. The quay and short pontoon at Fiskardo accommodate around 60 boats; arriving early in the season guarantees a berth, but by August the inner harbour is often full. The surrounding waters between Kefalonia and Ithaca are among the finest sailing grounds in the Ionian, with reliable afternoon breeze, clear water, and the ruins of the ancient Ithaca settlement visible at Polis Bay.
Katakolon Marina, Katakolon, Peloponnese
Though not an island marina, Katakolon on the Peloponnese's western tip is the natural gateway to the southern Ionian and the approach to the Corinth Canal. The marina here was upgraded to 300 berths and now serves as a base for bareboat charters exploring the Ionian while also hosting the cruise ships that bring visitors to ancient Olympia, 35 kilometres inland. The passage south from Katakolon around the Methoni and Pylos headlands brings sailors to Kalamata Bay and the Mani Peninsula.
Alimos Marina, Athens Riviera
Alimos — also known as Marina Faliron or Marina Alimou — is the largest marina in Greece with 1,100 berths and the closest facility to Athens Piraeus ferry terminal. It serves as the principal outfitting base for yachts heading into the Saronic Gulf and the Cyclades. The marina has full services including a 75-tonne travel lift, diesel and petrol fuel, a haul-out area, and a technical centre for engine and electrical repairs. Athens centre is 12 kilometres by road or 25 minutes by coastal tram.
Lavrion Marina, Lavrion, Attica
Lavrion, 50 kilometres south of Athens at the southeastern tip of Attica, is the departure point for the western Cyclades — Kea, Kythnos, Serifos — and for passages to Samos and the Dodecanese in fair conditions. The marina has 500 berths, a full-service boatyard, and a repair-and-refit community that has grown around long-stay liveaboards wintering in Greece. The anchorage at Lavrion Bay is spacious, and the old silver-mine ruins at Thorikos are visible from the anchorage.
Kos Marina, Kos Town
Kos Town Marina at the northeastern end of the island is the gateway to the Dodecanese chain and the closest Greek port to the Turkish coast, which lies just 4 kilometres across the Kos Strait. The marina's 350 berths are managed by the Greek government, and the facility has undergone significant improvements since 2020 including a new fuel dock and a 50-tonne crane. The town's Knight Templar Castle overlooks the harbour entrance and is itself worth a half-day's visit.
Mandraki Harbour, Rhodes Town
Mandraki is the historic harbour of Rhodes and the most recognizable yachting image in the Dodecanese: two deer statues on columns mark the entrance where the Colossus of Rhodes once stood. The harbour has 250 berths managed by the municipality and a fuel dock at the northern breakwater. Rhodes Old Town, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, begins directly at the marina's southern quay — the Palace of the Grand Master and the Street of the Knights are within walking distance of the boat.
Skiathos Marina, Skiathos
Skiathos in the Northern Sporades group is the most developed charter base in the northern Aegean. The new marina, opened in 2019, has 350 berths with full services and replaced the overcrowded town quay. Skiathos Kastro, the medieval fortress at the island's northern tip, is a popular anchorage destination; the passage between Skiathos and Skopelos threads through a channel of 2-kilometre width with consistent afternoon winds for spinnaker work.
Heraklion Marina, Heraklion, Crete
The largest city in Crete and the principal port of the island, Heraklion's marina is positioned within the historic Venetian harbour walls. The main facility has 500 berths and was expanded in 2022; the approach from the north is straightforward with the old lighthouse on the breakwater as a leading mark. Crete's northern coast provides a long series of calmer sailing days than the meltemi-exposed Cyclades; the islands of Dia, just 6 kilometres north, offers excellent anchorage with clear water to 20 metres depth.
Explore on the map
The Greek island marinas stretch from Corfu in the northwest to Rhodes in the southeast — more than 1,400 kilometres of sailing grounds across two distinct seas. Use the interactive map to plot island-hopping passages, identify fuel stops, and find the quieter anchorages that lie between the popular destinations. Explore the Greek Islands on the map and plan your own Ionian or Aegean summer circuit.