Winds in Greece

The winds in Greece are the single most useful thing to understand before a yacht charter here. The same week can give you a glassy Ionian morning and a Force 7 meltemi across the Cyclades, and that difference is not luck. It comes down to geography, season and time of day. This guide covers the named Greek winds, the four wind zones of the Greek seas, average speeds by forecast area, and what each of them means for planning a route.

Why the winds in Greece shape your route

Greek summer weather is remarkably stable: long dry spells, high visibility and almost no rain between June and September. What varies is the wind, and it varies far more between sea areas than it does between days. Reading the pattern correctly is what turns a demanding week into a comfortable one.

• Wind direction is predictable enough across most of the Aegean to plan a route around it rather than react to it.
• Strength changes sharply by zone. Two islands 40 miles apart can sit in completely different regimes.
• Summer winds are thermal as much as synoptic, so they build through the morning and ease after sundown.
• Choosing a downwind direction of travel makes a strong week pleasant instead of punishing.
• Sheltered cruising grounds exist all summer for crews who want gentler conditions.

If you are still deciding where to base yourself, it is worth reading this page alongside climate and weather in Greece and our guide to weather forecasts in Greece.

The meltemi, the Aegean's summer wind

The meltemi (also written meltemia, and known in antiquity as the etesian winds) is the defining feature of sailing in the Aegean Sea. It is a dry northerly that forms when high pressure sits over the Balkans and low pressure builds over Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean. It is not a cold wind and it does not bring bad weather. It brings sunshine, clear air and a lot of breeze.

When the meltemi blows

The meltemi season typically starts around the end of May and runs to about the end of October. It is light in May and June, at its strongest through July and August, and fades through the autumn as the high pressure over the Balkans weakens. Its frequency is not identical every year, so treat these as tendencies rather than a timetable.

How strong the meltemi gets

A meltemi episode usually lasts two to four days, and can blow continuously for three or four days under a completely clear sky. Force 6 is common at the peak of summer, and Force 7 to 8 occurs in the exposed channels. What catches people out is not the wind strength so much as the sea state: the fetch is short and the waves build quickly and steeply, which makes conditions awkward for small craft well before the wind itself becomes a problem.

The daily rhythm

The meltemi is strongly diurnal. It generally blows during daylight, roughly from 08:00 to 20:00, peaks around 14:00, and drops away quickly after sundown before returning at dawn. It also strengthens and eases in cycles rather than holding a steady speed. In practice this means early starts are rewarded and afternoon passages into a headwind are best avoided.

Where the meltemi turns, and where it bites

The meltemi bends as it funnels through the Aegean. It arrives from the northeast in the Northern Aegean, becomes northerly through the central Aegean, and swings northwest in the Southern Aegean. Around Rhodes it tends towards west, while in the Saronic Gulf and the Northern Evoikos Gulf it stays northeast. Local sea breeze reinforces it during the day, which is why the north coast of Crete can feel noticeably windier than the forecast suggests.

It is at its most intense through the central Aegean, particularly around the Cyclades, and in the acceleration zones described below.

The four wind zones of the Greek seas

The most practical way to read Greek summer winds is to divide the seas into four zones running north to south. Conditions differ sharply from zone to zone, with one exception: when the meltemi is blowing hard, large areas overlap and share the same character.

• Zone 1 ↖ NWIonian Sea and the west coast of the Peloponnese. Light to moderate afternoon maïstros.
• Zone 2 ↘ SESouth of Attica and east of the Peloponnese. Short-lived sirocco early, meltemi from July.
• Zone 3 ↑ NCentral Aegean from north to south, including the Sporades and Cyclades. The meltemi heartland.
• Zone 4 ↗ NENortheast Aegean plus the seas of Samos and Kos. Strong meltemi influence in the north, light variable breeze in the south.

Zone 1: the Ionian Sea and the western Peloponnese

The first zone covers the Ionian Sea and the west coasts of the Peloponnese. For most of the summer the North Ionian sees light to moderate northwesterlies, the maïstros, which fill in during the early afternoon and usually drop at sundown. This thermal pattern, combined with short hops between sheltered islands, is why the Ionian Islands are the standard recommendation for first-time charterers and families.

Zone 2: south of Attica and east of the Peloponnese

The second zone is the sea area lying south of Attica and east of the Peloponnese. The southerly sirocco appears here fairly often, though it rarely lasts long. The northern part of the zone is sheltered from strong northerlies by the surrounding landmasses. Early in the summer there is often no wind at all, or weak breezes generally from the south. From July until the end of summer the meltemi dominates, except off the northwest Peloponnese where westerlies are more likely. This is the zone that serves Athens and the Saronic Gulf.

Zone 3: the central Aegean

The third and central zone covers the greater part of the Aegean from north to south, including the Sporades and the Cyclades. Through the summer the prevailing winds are northeasterly in the Northern Aegean and northwesterly in the Southern Aegean. The meltemi is weaker during May and June, stronger during July and August, and fades in autumn as the high Balkan pressure decreases. It can reach Force 6, and in places Force 7 to 8, raising the short steep seas that make life difficult for small craft, particularly around the island of Ikaria and at the Kafireas Strait (Cavo Doro) north of Andros.

Zone 4: the northeast Aegean

The fourth zone takes in the northeast Aegean together with the seas of Samos and Kos. It is considerably influenced by the meltemi, particularly in its northern half. Across most of the summer, however, the coasts of the southern part of this zone see only a slight, variable breeze, which makes the southern Dodecanese gentler than its latitude suggests.

Plan around the wind

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Average wind direction and speed by forecast area

The table below gives the average wind direction and speed, in knots, for the Greek marine forecast areas between April and October. It is drawn from more than ten years of observations at the stations named in brackets.

These are averages, not forecasts. Local winds in particular can reach these figures without any change in barometric pressure, and a single meltemi episode will run well above the monthly mean for the area it covers.

Local and seasonal winds beyond the meltemi

Maïstros and gregos in the Ionian

The summer wind of the Ionian Sea is the northwesterly maïstros. In winter the region also gets the wet sirocco, which at its strongest can blow for two or three days without a break. The other named Ionian wind is the gregos, a northeasterly that reaches Greece from Albania and western Greece. It builds significant seas in winter but is effectively absent from the summer sailing season.

The sirocco

The sirocco is a southerly to southeasterly that carries warm, humid air and often a haze of fine dust. It appears most often in the sea area south of Attica and east of the Peloponnese, and its episodes are usually short. It matters mainly because it reverses the normal northerly pattern, which can turn a planned downwind leg into a beat.

The vardaris in the Thermaikos Gulf

In the waters of the Thermaikos Gulf, off Thessaloniki, the significant local wind is the vardaris, a strong northwesterly that funnels down the Axios valley. It commonly reaches Force 6 to 8 and is a standing consideration for anyone sailing in the northern Aegean or towards Chalkidiki.

Winter conditions in the Aegean

Outside the charter season the picture changes completely. Winter winds in the Aegean reach Force 8 to 9, with the greatest intensity in the Kafireas Strait (Cavo Doro) and through the Cyclades. In the coldest part of winter a humid airstream can move into the region, strengthening gradually and bringing low cloud and rain, mostly across the southern and western Aegean. This stormy pattern is not frequent, but it is the reason the Greek charter season runs from spring to late autumn.

Matching the cruising ground to your crew

None of the above means one area is better than another. It means the areas are different, and the right choice depends on who is on board.

If you want steady, manageable conditions

• The Ionian, where the afternoon maïstros is usually a comfortable Force 3 to 4 and distances are short.
• The Saronic Gulf, sheltered by surrounding land and easy to reach from Athens.
• The Sporades, greener and more protected than the open Aegean, with good anchorages close together.
• The southern Dodecanese, which sits far enough south to avoid the worst of the meltemi.
• A crewed yacht in any region, if you would rather not make the tactical calls yourself.

If you want real sailing

• The Cyclades in July and August, with consistent Force 5 to 6 on the beam or the quarter.
• The central Aegean generally, planning legs north to south so the meltemi is behind you.
• Longer passages in the northeast Aegean, where the wind is reliable and the traffic is lighter.
• A bareboat charter, assuming a licensed skipper and an experienced crew member aboard.

New to all of this? Our guide to sailing for newbies covers what a first charter actually involves.

When to sail: the Greek wind calendar

Where to sail these winds

Each of the four zones has its own cruising grounds. These pages cover the islands, harbours and anchorages in each.

Winds in Greece: frequently asked questions