Santorini yacht charter
Rent a yacht;catamaran;sailing yacht;yacht in Santorini and discover the Greek Islands!
Charter a yacht with Arthaud Yachting and discover Santorini with style!
Rent a yacht to tour Santorini
The crescent-shaped treasure of the Agean Sea awaits you, as you cruise between the Greek islands on board your private charter yacht. Thanks to Arthaud Yachting, you can rent a yacht charter in Greece and tour the cradle of democracy and philosophy, discovering a thousand treasures while enjoying an experience like none other.
Practical information about Santorini
The best time to visit Santorini when renting a yacht
While the summer months are the most obvious for their sunny weather and warm breeze, we recommend that you make use of April or the end of September/October. Off-season, while a bit riskier meteorologically speaking, will let you have a more rewarding travel experience. Santorini is a small island, with very small passageways, steep stairs and narrow beaches. April and October are still warm enough to tour the island in a relaxed manner and will allow you to avoid the usual overcrowding that Santorini has, unfortunately, also become renowned for.
The best cruising areas around Santorini when renting a yacht or catamaran
The island of Santorini is part of the Cyclades islands and this means you will find many other interesting places to navigate around. Of course, Santorini itself is a marvel of nature, thanks to its volcanic origins. These have gifted the island with a dramatic landscape, rugged and impressive cliffs, without forgetting the old volcanic cone sitting in the middle of the crescent.
Cruising inside the crescent is very comfortable as the shape of the island creates a natural harbour. For this reason, Santorini used to be the epicentre of the Minoan maritime trade, more than three millennia ago. Here, you will spend relaxing nights, contrasting with the bustling daytime activity.
Close to Santorini, the calm and sparsely populated island of Anafi offers nice beaches on its southern coast, while further up north the island of Ios awaits you for more entertainment.
Renting a boat in Santorini: the best places to visit
On the south west tip of Santorini, the village of Akrotiri houses a late medieval Venetian castle. This ancient fortification is well-preserved and survived many events, standing tall on top of a hill, defying the wear of time and the elements. Thanks to its longevity, you can climb on top of the watchtower and enjoy the best panoramic views over Santorini, the caldera and the island of Thirasia.
What’s more, the Venetian castle also hosts a workshop for traditional Greek music instruments. After witnessing their making, witnessing their demonstration, you can buy a handcrafted instrument, along with some rare objects and books.
Gastronomic and cultural suggestions in Santorini
The best place for wining and dining
Undoubtedly, the finest restaurant on Santorini has to be “Le Ciel”. Despite its French name, this Greek restaurant serves you the finest local cuisine, when possible, with ingredients grown in Santorini itself.
Besides great food, Le Ciel is world-famous for being the ultimate wedding place. From its terrace, the view over the Santorini bay is simply magical. As the intense Agean sunlight reflects over the immaculate white tablecloths and furniture, the contrast with the deep blue sea is fascinating, enabling you to feel why the Cyclades are dotted with these famous white-walled blue-domed houses.
What you should eat on Santorini
The Greek cuisine is renowned for being the healthiest in Europe, if not in the world. It is certainly also one of the tastiest, but Santorini offers only slight regional variations from the usual meals. Therefore, you will certainly enjoy the traditional Greek specialties, from the Greek salad filled with tomatoes, olives, onion rings and feta cheese, to the unmissable roasted lamb, you’ll find every meal you wish for. And let us not forget the Greek pastries, or even the Saganaki, a honey-covered pastry containing fried cheese.
Experience the local culture
Santorini is an old island, with a rich and dramatic history. This you can discover while exploring the village of Akrotiri, where beside the Venetian castle there is a prehistoric town containing some important frescoes dating from the Minoan period. These, among other ruins and artifacts, were preserved for millennia under the volcanic ashes, waiting to be discovered.
Unfortunately, as the island of Santorini has a high tourist density during the warm season, it is difficult to really experience the authentic local culture. This is where renting a yacht comes and makes all the difference. Some twenty kilometres eastward you’ll find the island of Anafi and its small traditional village.
The best beach
Should you prefer a calm beach experience, the island of Anafi offers very nice beaches accessible with your private yacht charter, the most comfortable of them being Paralia Roukounas, the furthest away from the village but with a couple of restaurants nearby.
However, Santorini itself offers a sensational beach, the so-called Red Beach, or Kokkini Beach. Its red pebble sand contrasting with the dark blue water, at the foot of impressive reddish rock formations, this beach is simply wonderful, not only on the surface but also for snorkelling and diving.
Arthaud’s recommendation when chartering a yacht in Santorini
While the warm season is very crowded, thanks to your on-board yacht conciergerie you can obtain privileged access to the finest restaurants. As you desire, your private luxury yacht will also take you to other Cycladic islands, like Ios and its many bars, its traditional cachet mixing well with a party atmosphere.
Discovering the Cycladic islands with your luxury charter yacht is a complete experience, enjoying top-notch modern-day luxury while following the trails of ancient civilizations that have vanished in time.