BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Ionian Islands or Cyclades: two opposite faces of Greece by boat
Wind, scenery, distances between stops: why the Cyclades and the Ionian Islands offer two almost opposite sailing experiences, under the same Greek flag.
Many first-time skippers are surprised to learn that Greece isn't a single sailing style: the Cyclades and the Ionian Islands, separated by the whole country, offer two almost opposite experiences.
Wind: the real dividing line
The Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea, face the meltemi every summer, a northerly thermal wind that settles in for good in July-August and can blow at 20-35 knots for days on end, as confirmed by a long-term climatological study of this seasonal phenomenon (Founda et al., Present climate trend analysis of the Etesian winds in the Aegean Sea, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 2011, see the study on Google Scholar). The Ionian Islands, on the west coast facing Italy, largely escape this Aegean-specific wind regime: the sea is generally calmer, with a more moderate afternoon thermal breeze.
Scenery and distances between stops
Around Corfu and Lefkada, the Ionian Islands offer green, wooded scenery, closely spaced coves and short legs, rarely more than three hours at sea — covered in our guide to the Ionian Islands for a beginner crew. The Cyclades, more arid and mineral around Mykonos and Santorini, call for longer, more exposed crossings, covered in our one-week Cyclades itinerary.
Who it suits
A beginner crew, with children or unused to heeling over, will get more out of the Ionian Islands: less wind, less swell, a more forgiving stage for schedule mistakes. A more seasoned crew after steady wind and dramatic anchorages between white-and-blue islands will feel right at home in the Cyclades at the height of summer.
Combining both one day?
Nothing stops you discovering both faces of Greece on separate trips: rates stay comparable between the two seas, from €300-700/day for a sailboat and €800-1,500/day for a catamaran in high season. Many skippers start in the Ionian before venturing into the Cyclades once more comfortable with the wind.
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