How Much Does a Yacht Charter Cost in Greece?
A week-long yacht charter in Greece costs roughly €1,800–€6,500 bareboat, or €5,000–€20,000+ crewed, depending on boat size and season — and the honest gap between bareboat and crewed is smaller than most people expect once you account for everything bareboat doesn’t include. This page breaks down exactly where the money goes.
Weekly prices by boat type and season
| Low season | Shoulder | High season | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monohull, 35–40 ft | €1,800–2,800 | €2,800–3,800 | €3,000–4,500 |
| Monohull, 45 ft+ | €2,800–4,000 | €4,000–5,000 | €4,500–6,500 |
| Catamaran, 42–46 ft | €3,500–5,500 | €5,500–8,000 | €7,000–11,000 |
| Crewed sailing yacht | €5,000–7,000 | €7,000–9,000 | €8,000–15,000+ |
These are charter fee ranges only — the real cost of a week on the water includes several things almost no listing price covers.
The real gap: bareboat vs. crewed, all-in
This is the comparison most sites skip, because it doesn’t favour the “bareboat is way cheaper” narrative. Using a real example — a Lagoon 50 catamaran, 4 cabins, one week in Greece:
| Bareboat | Crewed | |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | €8,000 | €14,500 |
| APA (crewed only, ~30%) | – | €4,350 |
| Food & drink provisioning | €5,600 | included in APA |
| Skipper, hostess, fuel, moorings | €3,500 | included in APA |
| Comfort pack / extras | €500 | included |
| VAT (12%) | €960 | €1,740 |
| All-in total | €19,060 | €20,590 |
| Per couple, per day (4 couples) | €680 | €735 |
The difference works out to roughly 8% more for a fully crewed catamaran once you price in everything a bareboat charter needs anyway — food, fuel, skipper, moorings. The headline charter fee looks like crewed costs 80% more; the real weekly cost is closer to one coffee-and-lunch per couple per day.
Costs almost nobody puts in the headline price
Security deposit — €2,000–6,000, refundable, or replaceable with damage waiver insurance at roughly 5% of the charter fee.
Port and mooring fees — €10–20/day at most Greek ports outside peak marinas; private marinas and popular islands (Mykonos, Santorini) run higher, sometimes €60–250/night for a 45-footer in high season.
VAT — 12% on most Greek charters, sometimes shown separately, sometimes buried in an “all-inclusive” figure. Always ask which it is.
End-of-charter cleaning — €150–600 depending on boat size, often mandatory even on bareboat.
Fuel — motor yachts and long passages under engine can burn €200–800+ a day; sailboats mostly under sail cost far less.
Skipper, if you don’t have a licence — €180–250/day plus their food, for a bareboat charter.
By region: is Greece more or less expensive than nearby options?
Average Greek charter rates run broadly comparable to Croatia for similar boats, and meaningfully below the French Riviera or Balearic Islands, where marina fees and demand push prices up. Greece’s cost advantage is strongest outside the Cyclades’ most famous islands (Mykonos, Santorini) — the Ionian and Dodecanese offer similar boats for noticeably less.
How to actually save money
- Shift by two to three weeks. The gap between “just before” and “peak” high season (early July vs. mid-August) can be 20–30% on the same boat.
- Start from Athens, Lefkas or Kos rather than Mykonos or Santorini. Base fees and marina costs are lower at the larger fleet hubs.
- Ask exactly what “all-inclusive” includes before comparing two quotes — one operator’s all-in price sometimes excludes fuel or APA while another’s doesn’t, making direct comparison meaningless without asking.
Frequently asked questions
Is chartering a yacht in Greece expensive compared to a hotel holiday?
Split across a group — a typical bareboat week works out to roughly €400–700 per person including food, which is comparable to a mid-range hotel stay with meals for the same islands, without the cost of inter-island ferries or transfers.
Is crewed really only slightly more expensive than bareboat?
For an all-in comparison including food, fuel and a skipper, yes — often within 10–15%. The gap looks larger if you only compare the headline charter fees, which is why most sites report it that way.
What’s the single biggest hidden cost in a Greek charter?
For crewed charters, it’s the APA (typically 25–35% of the charter fee). For bareboat, it’s the combination of provisioning, fuel and end-cleaning, which together can add 40–60% on top of the base charter fee.
Does the price include VAT?
Not always — Greek charter VAT is 12%, and whether it’s included in a quoted price varies by operator. Always confirm before comparing two prices directly.