{"id":26824,"date":"2020-10-21T09:50:16","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T08:50:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/?p=26824"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:58:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T16:58:44","slug":"winter-sailing-destinations-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/winter-sailing-destinations-europe\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Destinations for Winter Sailing in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There are plenty of popular <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/6-best-winter-sailing-destinations\/\" target=\"_blank\">winter sun sailing destinations<\/a> for those looking for a <strong>getaway this season<\/strong>. But these sun-drenched, palm-lined pieces of paradise aren\u2019t your only options for a wonderful winter boat holiday. In fact, depending on what kind of experience you\u2019re looking for, they might not even be your best options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/skipper-on-a-boat.jpg\" alt=\"get a boat with a skipper\" class=\"wp-image-26730 lazyload\" title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/667;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re someone who loves to travel and explore the world but hates a crowd, someone who prefers a refreshing breeze to stifling heat, you\u2019re going to want to discover <strong>Europe\u2019s top winter sailing destinations<\/strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#greece\">Winter sailing in Greece<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#croatia\">Winter sailing in Croatia<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#spain\">Winter sailing in Spain<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#france\">Winter sailing in France<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#greece\">Winter sailing in Greece<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to go sailing in Europe in winter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"greece\">Greece<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Winter can actually be the best time of year to enjoy much of what Greece has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a vibrant metropolis like <strong>Athens<\/strong>, activities such as visiting ancient sites become much more pleasant in cooler temperatures and without hordes of summer tourists. You may also find yourself more inclined to spend time in one of the numerous museums that display impressive artefacts from Greece\u2019s rich history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Greece-sailing-in-winter.jpg\" alt=\"Greece in winter\" class=\"wp-image-26825 lazyload\" title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/667;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re into outdoor adventures, consider one of the Greek islands \u2014 <strong>Lefkas<\/strong> could be an excellent starting point. Yes, the beaches are beautiful, but there\u2019s also plenty to do in winter: hiking to the gorgeous Nydri Waterfalls, admiring the awesome views of Cape Lefkatas, and mountain biking across the rugged terrain, to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you get thirsty from all the adventuring, there are several vineyards and <em>tsipouro<\/em> distilleries that offer tasting events in winter. Next to that, you might consider checking <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/c\/greece\/\" target=\"_blank\">boats and yachts to rent in Greece<\/a> during the winter season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/nature-winter-sailing.jpg\" alt=\"nature winter sailing\" class=\"wp-image-26853 lazyload\" title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/667;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"croatia\">Croatia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a reason Croatia remains one of our all-time favorite sailing destinations: it\u2019s got something for everyone, whatever their interests and whatever the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dubrovik<\/strong>\u2019s famously picturesque <strong>city walls and sweeping sea vistas<\/strong> only become more enchanting in the soft cold light of winter. Plus, there\u2019s the<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/croatia.hr\/en-GB\/Activities-and-attractions\/Events\/NewEvents\/dubrovnik-winter-festival\" target=\"_blank\"> Winter Festival<\/a>, which brings a spirited holiday cheer to the city with its <strong>sparkling lights and seasonal treats<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a deeply <strong>gastronomic experience<\/strong>, the historic harbor town of <strong>Trogir<\/strong> is a wonderful place to find winter day tours and cooking classes dedicated to celebrating Croatia\u2019s beloved food and wine culture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out boats and yachts to <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/c\/croatia\/\" target=\"_blank\">rent in Croatia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Croatia-1-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"croatia\" class=\"wp-image-19936 lazyload\" title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/768;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"spain\">Spain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A favorite for sultry summer beach vacations, Spain is no less welcoming a place to visit in the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, pretty much anywhere in the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/g\/canary-islands\/\" target=\"_blank\">Canary Islands<\/a> would be the perfect getaway for anyone looking for a <strong>warm winter sailing holiday<\/strong> that\u2019s still in Europe (hint: <strong>Tenerife<\/strong> and <strong>Gran Canaria<\/strong> have the warmest weather). Here you\u2019ll still find <strong>excellent sailing conditions, open water sport facilities, and charming coastal towns<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Canary-islands-sail.jpg\" alt=\"canary islands winter sailing\" class=\"wp-image-26860 lazyload\" title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/667;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then there are the experiences exclusive to winter, including a <strong>festive Carnival<\/strong> that sees performers take to the streets in a flamboyant explosion of music and dance. And winter is known to be the best time to go stargazing in <strong>La Palma<\/strong>, with <strong>clear skies<\/strong>,<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iac.es\/index.php\/en\" target=\"_blank\"> observatory tours<\/a>, and organized <strong>night walks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"france\">France<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve always dreamed of taking a glamorous boat holiday along the iconic <strong>C\u00f4te d&#8217;Azur<\/strong>, why not do so in the wintertime, when the weather is balmy and the crowds thin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can explore the eclectic offerings in <strong>Saint-Tropez<\/strong>\u2019s<strong> <\/strong>open-air market before savoring the city\u2019s legendary Tarte Trop\u00e9zienne (named by Brigitte Bardot, as the story goes). Or perhaps you\u2019d prefer to spend the day exploring the <strong>Calanques of Marseille and Cassis<\/strong>, a breathtaking coastline of icy blue waters bordered by steep rocky cliffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can enjoy that by <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/l\/marseille\/\" target=\"_blank\">hiring a yacht in beautiful Marseille<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/france-winter-sailing.jpg\" alt=\"france winter sailing\" class=\"wp-image-26832 lazyload\" title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/668;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Or for a <strong>truly unique winter experience<\/strong>, head to <strong>Corsica<\/strong>. There, you can engage in traditional winter pastimes like fishing for sea urchin near <strong>Ajaccio<\/strong> (you can even eat this sweet, brackish delicacy raw, right from the water).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"italy\"><strong>Italy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No list of top winter sailing destinations would be complete without Italy, or the <em>bel paese<\/em>, if you will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/en\/g\/sardinia\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sardinia<\/a> <\/strong>is renowned for its<strong> azure shores and hidden coves<\/strong> \u2014 both of which are as worth visiting in <strong>cooler weather as warm<\/strong>. But this wild island has so much more to offer. Near <strong>Cagliari<\/strong> there\u2019s horseback riding and the archeological site of the ancient city of Nora. And <strong>Oristano<\/strong> celebrates Carnival like you\u2019ve never seen it: with a <strong>medieval joust, horse racing, and acrobatic riding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And let\u2019s not forget <strong>Sicily<\/strong> in winter \u2014 the lower temperatures make it the ideal time for a cross-country bicycle tour, while <strong>Palermo<\/strong>\u2019s tradition of <strong>medieval<\/strong> nativity plays performed in the street will make you feel like you\u2019ve stepped back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/italy-winter-sailing.jpg\" alt=\"winter sailing in italy venice\" class=\"wp-image-26839 lazyload\" title=\"\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/727;\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Picked the European winter sailing destination that\u2019s right for you? We have prepared more articles to get ready for a safe, enjoyable trip and suggest some general <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/top-ten-boating-safety-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\">sailing safety tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read top 5 tips for safe winter sailing:<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Read Guest Post about how to keep warm on a boat:<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are plenty of popular winter sun sailing destinations for those looking for a getaway this season. But these sun-drenched, palm-lined pieces of paradise aren\u2019t your only options for a wonderful winter boat holiday. In fact, depending on what kind of experience you\u2019re looking for, they might not even be your best options. If you\u2019re &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"The Best Destinations for Winter Sailing in Europe\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/en\/winter-sailing-destinations-europe\/#more-26824\" aria-label=\"More on The Best Destinations for Winter Sailing in Europe\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":56251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destinations","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26824\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.borrowaboat.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}