An Athens sunset cruise sails from the marinas of Piraeus and the south coast into the Saronic Gulf as the sun goes down behind the islands. It is one of the Greek tours on Greece VIP.
This post covers what an Athens sunset cruise includes, where it leaves from and the boats it uses. It also covers the route, the sunset times and the food and drinks on board. Wind and sea, the best season and common questions come last.
Each section ends with an Athens sunset cruise or a nearby trip that can be booked online.
What does an Athens sunset cruise include?
An Athens sunset cruise includes a captain and crew, drinks, food and a swim stop. It sails off the Athens Riviera. One wooden sailboat serves finger food with unlimited soft drinks, wine and beer, and music plays on deck. Hotel pick-up from central Athens is an option.
That cruise leaves Marina Zea and runs in English and Greek. A celebration package can add cake, champagne or other requests. Weather cancellations bring a new date or a refund. Guests on that Athens sunset cruise can jump off the boat to swim.
Another Athens sunset cruise serves a Greek barbecue and a buffet of local dishes. White wine, beer, soft drinks and water stay unlimited. A fresh fruit platter comes out before the return.
That boat makes two swim stops and lends snorkelling gear and towels. It carries shaded lounge areas and sun decks. Cocktails and tips cost extra.
A third cruise offers six food and drink pairings with an onboard chef. Each pairing has an original and a vegan version. Life jackets, swim noodles and Wi-Fi come on board.
- Audio: One cruise adds English audio commentary.
- Welcome: A welcome drink greets guests on two boats.
- Diet: Menu requests go in the special requests box.
Late arrivals on the pairing cruise lose their place without a refund.
Where does an Athens sunset cruise leave from?
An Athens sunset cruise leaves from Marina Zea in Piraeus or from Kallithea Marina on the south coast. Other sunset sailings use Flisvos and Alimos marinas. Two cruises meet guests at Marina Zea in the evening.
The pairing cruise meets at Akti Kountouriotou 1, between the Piraeus welcome sign and the Olympiacos sign. Guests arrive half an hour before departure, and the boat leaves on schedule.
The wooden sailboat cruise asks guests to arrive 20 minutes early for boarding. Pick-ups for the pairing cruise list 31 pick-up points across Athens and Piraeus. Hotels on the list run from Piraeus to Syngrou Avenue.
The barbecue cruise starts at Kallithea Marina, one of the main marinas of Athens. Its route runs south along the Athenian Riviera to two swim stops. That Athens sunset cruise keeps to a small group.
Sunset sailings also leave Flisvos Marina in Palaio Faliro and Alimos Marina, like Athens Riviera cruises by day. A share of operators charge extra for hotel pick-up.
- Signs: The Zea meeting point sits near the port entrance.
- Booking: One site advises booking 3 to 5 days ahead.
- Weather: Only bad weather cancels a cruise.
Covered areas on board shelter guests if the weather turns.
Which boats run an Athens sunset cruise?
An Athens sunset cruise uses wooden sailboats, traditional wooden boats, wooden motor sailers or catamarans. Sailboats take 8 to 12 guests, catamarans 20 to 40 and dinner boats 50 to 100. Luxury yachts cap groups at 10.
The barbecue cruise sails a traditional wooden boat from Kallithea Marina. One reviewer noted that this wooden sailboat also runs on a motor. That reviewer swam on two occasions and called the staff excellent.
Motor sailers carry a sheltered steering station such as a pilot house. A split rig such as a ketch, yawl or schooner eases sail handling in heavy weather.
The pairing cruise’s motor sailer has sun loungers, indoor and outdoor seating and changing rooms. Catamarans have two hulls, more deck space and a smoother ride.
Classic sailboats use their sails when the wind allows. Larger dinner cruise boats are not true sailboats. Guests prone to seasickness pick a catamaran for its steadier ride. Seasickness tablets work best about 30 minutes before boarding.
- Private sailboats: A sailboat charter takes up to 8 guests.
- Private catamarans: Up to 15 guests book the whole boat.
- Luxury yachts: Guests get a champagne welcome and photography.
On an Athens sunset cruise, motor sailers favour comfort at sea and long-distance cruising.
Where does an Athens sunset cruise sail?
An Athens sunset cruise sails south along the Athenian Riviera, the coast below Athens. Cruises stop at the islet of Hydrousa, opposite Voula, and in Varkiza Bay. Views reach toward Cape Sounion and back to the Athens skyline.
Hydrousa holds an underground shelter built during the Second World War. An Athens sunset cruise on the barbecue boat swims there first. Other cruises swim in secluded bays along the coast, one cruise site notes.
The water at its main beach is rocky and shallow. Sailing enthusiasts know Hydrousa well. Larger Fleves, opposite Vouliagmeni, holds the wreck of the 14 m cargo ship Panagis. It sank in 1984 south-west of the islet.
Between Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, the rocky shore hides small coves for quiet swims. A small bay just before Trypes tou Karamanli has very clear water. The barbecue Athens sunset cruise makes its second swim stop in Varkiza Bay.
Further south, Arsida rock off Anavyssos hides Artzenta, an open-top sea cave that suits scuba diving. The coast ends at the Temple of Poseidon, the goal of Cape Sounion tours.
- Taxi: Flisvos and Alimos lie 20 to 30 minutes away.
- Tram: The tram reaches the Flisvos marina area.
- Fleves divers: The islet draws scuba divers.
The pairing cruise sails toward Ydroussa, the same islet, for its swim stop.
When does the sun set on an Athens sunset cruise?
An Athens sunset cruise meets the sunset between 6:47 pm and 8:51 pm, depending on the month. On 21 June, the sun sets in Athens at 8:50 pm, after 14 hours 48 minutes of daylight. Civil twilight lasts until 9:22 pm.
On 1 July, the sun sets at 8:51 pm. By 15 August, sunset moves to 8:18 pm, and by 15 September to 7:33 pm. For an Athens sunset cruise in mid-April, the day lasts 13 hours 10 minutes.
On 15 October, the sun sets at 6:47 pm, and civil twilight ends at 7:14 pm. On 15 April, sunset comes at 8:00 pm, with twilight lasting until 8:28 pm.
In June, the sun sets at a bearing of about 301°, north of due west. By mid-October, the sunset bearing swings to 260°, south of west.
Nautical twilight on 21 June lasts until 10:01 pm, and full darkness falls at 10:46 pm. The day on 15 October lasts just 11 hours 14 minutes. On 1 August, it lasts 14 hours 6 minutes.
- 1 August: Sunset comes at 8:34 pm.
- 1 September: Sunset comes at 7:54 pm.
- 1 October: Sunset comes at 7:08 pm.
Guests at the bow get the clearest view of the sunset, one cruise site advises.
What food and drinks does an Athens sunset cruise serve?
An Athens sunset cruise serves Greek-style finger food, a barbecue buffet or six food and drink pairings. Sailboats serve meze, salads and grilled food with wine. Outside alcohol is not allowed on board.
The pairing cruise opens with a Greek spirit and a traditional sweet. Ouzo and meze follow on the way to Ydroussa. A regional white wine goes with the main course, a hearty traditional dish.
As the sun sets, a local sparkling wine comes with dessert. A chef and food expert tells the story behind each dish. Juice and soft drinks stay unlimited for everyone.
The sailboat cruise’s chef prepares the snacks on board. Reviewers praised the crew and the food, with plenty of options. Another found the cruise relaxing and planned to go again.
Luxury yachts serve champagne, seafood or lobster and premium wines and spirits. An Athens sunset cruise on a sailboat pairs its Greek dinner with unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks.
- Catamarans: A barbecue dinner comes with an open bar.
- Cocktails: A share of boats mix them on board.
- Tips: Cash for a crew tip is worth bringing.
Dinner cruises cook their Greek specialties on board, with wine pairings on certain boats.
How do wind and sea shape an Athens sunset cruise?
An Athens sunset cruise meets light winds on the coast at Alimos. The station there averaged 4.9 km/h in July this year and 5.0 km/h in August. North-east and north-north-east winds led through the summer. July gusts peaked at 45.1 km/h.
Gusts at Alimos reached 54.7 km/h on 14 August and 57.9 km/h on 22 September. Last August averaged 5.6 km/h, the windiest summer month in two years.
Off the Riviera, a marine model put July waves at just 0.17 m on average this year. June averaged 0.23 m, with a 0.76 m peak on 4 June. September averaged 0.20 m, with a 0.98 m peak on 30 September.
August waves there averaged 0.23 m and topped out at 0.68 m. January was the roughest month, averaging 0.77 m with a 3.12 m peak on 21 January. By mid-October, waves averaged 0.43 m and peaked at 1.04 m on 14 October.
September brought 38.6 mm of rain at Alimos, with 23.1 mm on 26 September. October added 42.9 mm by mid-month, 28.4 mm of it on 13 October.
- Dry August: The station logged no rain all month.
- Last July: The station logged only 0.8 mm of rain.
- Calm spring: Wind averaged 4.0 km/h in March.
The year’s strongest gust at Alimos, 66.0 km/h, came on 1 April.
When is the best season for an Athens sunset cruise?
An Athens sunset cruise finds the warmest sea in August. Water off the Riviera averaged 27.2 °C that month this year. July averaged 26.9 °C and September 26.4 °C, while June reached 23.8 °C. One cruise site calls September the sweet spot.
The sea there peaked at 28.8 °C in August. It fell to 15.7 °C in March, the coolest month. By mid-October, it still averaged 23.7 °C.
Alimos averaged a 34.0 °C daily high in August this year. It logged 24 days at 32 °C or more that month. Its top reading, 38.5 °C, came on 24 August.
Last July was hotter still, with a 34.3 °C mean high. Its peak, 40.9 °C, came on 25 July.
October highs averaged 23.4 °C at Alimos this year. The same cruise site rates October mild, with fewer crowds and water still warm for a swim. An Athens sunset cruise then pairs well with food tours in Athens on other evenings.
- June: Alimos averaged a 30.5 °C high.
- July: The station logged 18 days at 32 °C or more.
- Last October: Mean highs reached 22.8 °C.
That site rates August hot and crowded, and advises booking well ahead for it.
What do travelers ask about an Athens sunset cruise?
An Athens sunset cruise books with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead on four listings. Bad weather brings a new date or a full refund. Guests bring a swimsuit, a towel and a light jacket for the breeze after sunset.
What do guests pack for an Athens sunset cruise?
The pairing cruise lists comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a towel, a jacket and beachwear. The buffet cruise adds flip-flops, a hat and sunscreen. One cruise site adds a camera and shoes that slip off easily. Boats ask for bare feet or soft soles on deck.
Can guests swim on an Athens sunset cruise?
Yes, at stops such as Hydrousa. Swimming stays optional, and guests can stay on the boat during the stop. The buffet cruise swims offshore without landing. Guests there need to feel at ease in open water.
What is not allowed on an Athens sunset cruise?
The buffet cruise does not allow pets or intoxicated guests. Its boats cannot wait for latecomers. Guests arrive by the set meeting time at Marina Zea.
What happens if the sea turns rough on an Athens sunset cruise?
On the pairing cruise, the captain can change the route or schedule for safety. Weather at sea can differ from conditions on land. If the sea blocks the swim at Hydrousa, the crew picks another stop.
What do reviewers say about an Athens sunset cruise?
One reviewer of the barbecue cruise called it the best ending to the trip. Reviewers of the snacks cruise liked that the staff joined the swim. They also found the snacks varied and fresh.