Yacht Charter Rhodes

Closer to the coast of Turkey than Greece, the Dodecanese island of Rhodes (Rodos) has almost everything Greece does in one small place. It is the largest in the island chain and caters for nearly every taste.

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Yacht Charter Rhodes

Closer to the coast of Turkey than Greece, the Dodecanese island of Rhodes (Rodos) has almost everything Greece does in one small place. It is the largest in the island chain and caters for nearly every taste.

Those with even a hint of interest in Greek history shouldn't miss the Lindos Acropolis and the Colossus that was said to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Founded as early as 1000 years BC this is worth a day trip in its own right. The Byzantine churches of Lindos are relics of another era of Greek history and equally worth spending time in and around. The Street of Knights is a relic of the Ottoman Empire, as are the odd medieval castle and fort you will find.

For those who appreciate nature, the mountainous interior of Rhodes is full of flora and fauna that will entice and excite. Head into one or two of the villages that remain almost untouched by the tourism economy, and are welcoming and relaxed to those who wander by.

Tourism has been a major industry for Rhodes for over 100 years since Italy took the islands from the declining Ottoman Empire. The beautiful beaches are a major draw, as are those that you may only be able to get to on a charter yacht.

You will find a sophisticated tourism industry that is one of the best in Greece. For those on a Rhodes yacht charter, you can mix excursions by day with excellent nightlife geared to different age groups from the younger crowd in Faliraki to the less high paced but equally fun in Rhodes Town's old town where you can enjoy mezze on a taverna tour.

Explore Rhodes By Renting A Yacht

As the largest island in the Dodecanese island chain, Rhodes Island is worth exploring for a couple of days in its own right, whether on a bareboat charter or crewed yacht charter. You never know what you may find on a Rhodes yacht charter - from ancient ruins to an occasional sandy beach only accessible by sea, to hidden anchorages that you could be just yours for the evening.

That said, the 12 main Dodecanese Islands are great for an island-hopping adventure on a boat rental on the Aegean Sea. Less popular (and crowded) than the nearby Cyclades, you will find that these have a different culture to their Cycladic neighbours.

The architecture has a more Ottoman influence as against that of the Cyclades that is more Greek. You will find mediaeval castles, ancient Greek ruins and of course, miles and miles of beautiful sandy beaches.

Visit Samos with its astounding inland scenery and sanctuary devoted to the Greek goddess Hera and mountain cave church where an icon of the Virgin Mary was allegedly found.

Nearby Kalymnos is a rock climbing destination, holding an annual international rock climbing festival, thanks to its severe terrain. If hanging off a cliff by your fingertips isn't quite your bag it can be fun to watch.

As a final example of the islands you can visit, Leros is an island known for its laid back village way of life. There are castles and palaces to be found in some of them - always worth nosing in to see what's about as you never know what you will find.

How To Get To Rhodes

Rhodes has a major international airport but can also be accessed by ferry from nearby Marmaris and from Athens.

Rhodes International Airport

During the summer months, Rhodes International Airport is served by a large number of European airlines. From there you can take a bus or taxi to your marina or hotel. There are a number of flights daily from Athens for those flying in from outside of Europe.

Ferries

Athens is an 18-hour ferry ride away for those who wish to take a different way to Rhodes City or are flying from a country outside of Europe.

The Turkish resort of Marmaris and its Dalaman International Airport is far closer than Athens, with just a couple of hours on the ferry.

Marinas In Rhodes

There are several marinas on Rodos Island. The one in Rhodes Town including the very new Rhodes Marina is also known as Mandraki Marina. Charter yacht companies have charter yachts including catamaran, motor yacht, sailing yacht and gulet charter available on bareboat and crewed yacht charter terms.

Rhodes Marina (Mandraki Marina):

With its 120m luxury yachts capacity, this is capable of taking all but the largest of mega yachts on the Med.

Berth Characteristics:

380 berths

Max Length 120m (393 Feet)

Max Draught 6.5m (21.3 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, laundry, showers, toilets, bar, restaurant, supermarket, ship repair, taxi, ATM.

Suggested Sailing Routes From Rhodes

Introduction and then potential routes to travel on 7 day or 14 days charters

7 days - Dodecanese Islands: With the island of Kos as the mid-point, this trip is an uphill-downhill sailing holiday with the first couple of days beating and close reaching on the Aegean via Halki, Tilos and Nisyros to the island of Kos, before heading east to Symi close to the Turkish coast. Kos is another major tourist island like Rhodes but you will see other sides like the almost untouched Halki, which was uninhabited for many years due to persistent raids from pirates.

14 days - Dodecanese Islands: This is an opportunity to 'do the Dodecanese' with daily sails of up to 40NM heading north as far as Ikaria. You will miss some of the islands (there are more than 12 in the archipelago) but it will introduce you to the different subcultures within the chain. You will see volcanic islands, mountains and villages seemingly lost in time.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Rhodes

The sailing season runs from late April to October with July and August being the busiest months for yacht charter.

The sea is cooler - often quite chilly - at the beginning of the sailing season but there is rainfall in Spring. As the days lengthen you will still see green fields and flowers in May and the winds can be quite benign too.

Come September and October the seas are still like a warm bath.

Sailing Weather In Rhodes

April to mid-June: There is rainfall and the temperatures build steadily from the mid-teens to the mid 20 degrees C range. There are sometimes gentle southerly winds, though these are replaced by ever stronger north to both west Meltemi winds that are rarely hazardous but make for exciting sailing at times.

Late June-August: You'll be unlucky if you see any rain, though it could be welcome in the summer heat.

September-October: The seas remain warm and the Meltemi eases. These months can be the best time of year to sail as the temperatures are often in the comfortable low to mid-20s.

Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Rhodes?

Mandraki Marina is the main marina in Rhodes, though there are a number on the north and south coasts of the island where you might enjoy dinner or a night staying over as you wish.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Rhodes?

With July and August the peak months, yet it being still warm and comfortable in September, if you can get out when the kids go back to school then you could be in for a treat. The Meltemi isn't so powerful then as well, allowing for an easier sail on your Rhodes yacht charter.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Rhodes?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Rhodes?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Bring warm weather and cool weather clothing if it looks like the weather can be cool as well as warm and remember at sea it can be cool on most evenings.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a skippered on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.