Greece Maintains its Status as a Superyacht Hotspot

By Rebecca Bradbury 4 January 2017

With a new year now underway, it’s possible to look back and see how Greece continued in its position as one of the prime yachting destinations of the Mediterranean throughout 2016.

With a long and successful maritime history, Greece remains at the heart of southern Europe’s yachting world and, looking back on its popularity and ranking over the past 12 months, it’s easy to spot the country’s ever-growing appeal as a charter destination.

Early in 2016, Condé Nast Traveller magazine selected Greece as one of the top six destinations to visit in May, as well as naming 14 Greek islands as the ideal summer destinations.

Among those singled out were the Cycladic islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Tinos, Andros, Naxos and Sifnos, while Corfu and Kefallonia of the Ionian Islands, and Rhodes, Symi, Patmos, Astypalaia, Hydra and Crete also made the list.

Beautiful panorama of the coast at the blue caves on the island Zakynthos

blue doomed roof of building in Oia, Santorini, in the Cycladic Islands

The Virtuoso Traveller was another magazine to recognise Greece, ranking the country as one of the top 10 locations for jet-setters, and newspapers also paid tribute, with Greece chosen as one of the best countries to visit in the world in 2015-16 at the Telegraph Travel Awards.

The Express newspaper, on the other hand, singled out Crete and Skopelos of the Sporades Islands in their list of five ‘Best European Short Getaways’, and ranked Corfu and Santorini in the six best Mediterranean cruising destinations.

Greece’s mainland also made it in the destination charts as The Mirror mentioned Kalamata and Messinia in their ‘Top 10 New Hot Destinations of 2016’ and, more recently, Condé Nast Traveller awarded Athens fifth place in their compilation of 17 'Best Places to Travel in 2017’.

white brick buildings of Paros town in Cycladic Islands, Greece

ancient ruins in Greece against backdrop of clear blue skies

As a whole, 2016 was a year in which Greece received immense positive feedback from the international travel press and continued to attract visitors from all corners of the globe.

Of course, all those familiar with Greek waters will know why they make such fantastic cruising grounds. Alongside an enviable yachting infrastructure and safe waters, are truly beautiful coastlines, a unique culture, an ideal climate and a reputation for welcoming hospitality.

Looking forward to 2017, there are already signs that Greece’s popularity will endure over the next 12 months, with major European tour operators revealing that early bookings are already being made. So, now is the time to start planning your summer charter vacation to Greece.

What's more, the Greek Yachting Association is “confident that this year Greece will maintain its position as the prime yachting destination in the Mediterranean”.

2016 was a year in which Greece received immense positive feedback from the international travel press and continued to attract visitors from all corners of the globe