# Greece vs Turkey for a yacht or catamaran charter

> Greece and Turkey cost about the same over the year (12 Knots, October 2026). Weather, licence, distances, true cost and best months side by side, with sources.

URL: https://catamaranindex.com/compare/greece-vs-turkey/
Last updated: 2026-10-29
Author: Catamaran Index editorial team

Greece and Turkey cost about the same over the year (€6,319 and €6,332 on average per week, our arithmetic on 12 Knots' prices), but Greece is cheaper in October to May and Turkey is cheaper in June to September (updated October 2026). By our rules the best-weather months are June to October in Greece and June to September in Turkey; on licences both are "Licence or recognised certificate needed" in our classification, and both score within 5 points for families on our method.

Sources: ([12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), checked 27 Oct 2026); ([12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/), checked 28 Oct 2026); ([NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/), checked 28 Oct 2026).

*Checked 29 Oct 2026. Prices are 12 Knots' average asking prices; weather is our calculation from NASA POWER and NOAA data; verdicts follow our published rules ([how we decide](#method)); facts are labelled ([labels](#labels)).*

## Verdict by traveller type

| You are… | Better pick | Why (our rule) |
|---|---|---|
| On a budget, flexible dates | About the same | Mean of 12 Knots' monthly prices: €6,319 in Greece and €6,332 in Turkey a week (0.2% apart, our arithmetic); cheapest month March (€4,527) in Greece and March (€5,044) in Turkey. |
| Fixed dates | No pick | Cheaper by month (12 Knots, our arithmetic): Greece: October to May; Turkey: June to September. |
| Summer holidays (July and August) | **Turkey** | Mean of the July and August prices: €9,437 in Greece and €7,717 in Turkey (22.3% apart, our arithmetic). |
| Christmas and New Year (December) | About the same | December: €5,239 in Greece and €5,285 in Turkey (0.9% apart, our arithmetic). |
| Families with children | About the same | Best-month family score on our method: 100 in Greece (July to September) and 96 in Turkey (August to October) out of 100; within 5 points is a tie. |
| First charter, no sailing licence | About the same | Greece: Licence required (ICC, Coastal Skipper, ASA 104, IPC…); Day Skipper may be refused, confirm with operator. Turkey: Required; ICC recommended. Same rule in both. Beginner scores on our method: 100 in Greece and 94 in Turkey out of 100. Operators can still ask for more than the law, so confirm before booking. |
| Wants steady wind, or wants calm | No pick | Force 6 days per year (22 kn or more, NASA POWER, our calculation): 2.9 at Lefkada (Greece) and 4.2 at Göcek (Turkey); about the same (within 2 days). Other points: Greece, Cyclades (Syros): 63.0 days. Windiest months by mean wind: January, February and November in Greece, January, February and March in Turkey. |
| Warm water, snorkelling | **Turkey** | Months at 24 °C or more (NOAA mean sea temperature): 3 (July to September) in Greece and 4 (July to October) in Turkey. |
| Seasonal weather risk | No pick | Greece: The meltemi (the Etesian winds) is a persistent summer northerly over the Aegean, and its outbreaks are most frequent from mid-July to mid-August (peer-reviewed study, Tyrlis & Lelieveld 2013); at our Syros point in the Cyclades, days reaching force 6 (22 kn or more) average 4.9 in July and 4.7 in August, against 0.0 and 0.0 at Lefkada in the Ionian (our calculation from NASA POWER, 2016–2025). Turkey: We have no official source naming a seasonal storm or wind hazard for Turkey; at our Göcek point, days reaching force 6 average 1.3 in January and 0.0 in July (our calculation from NASA POWER, 2016–2025). More: [weather in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/greece/) · [weather in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/turkey/#weather). |
| Fishing from the boat | No pick | Greece: No licence, but only Greek-flagged boats may fish. Foreign-flagged charter yachts may not fish in Greek waters. The Hellenic Coast Guard says only Greek-flagged vessels may fish there. Before you book, ask the charter company which flag the yacht flies. Turkey: From a boat only (avlanma fişi) More: [fishing rules in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/greece/) · [fishing rules in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/turkey/). |

Each pick is our rule applied to the data, not an opinion; the rules are under [how we decide](#method).

**[See catamarans for rent in Greece on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=greece&pos=compare-verdict)** · **[See boats for rent in Turkey on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=turkey&pos=compare-verdict)**

We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## Side by side

|  | Greece | Turkey | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average weekly price, cheapest–priciest month | €4,527–9,538 | €5,044–8,075 | [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/) |
| Cheapest month | March (€4,527) | March (€5,044) | [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/) |
| Priciest month | August (€9,538) | September (€8,075) | [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/) |
| 12-month mean | €6,319 | €6,332 | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/) |
| Boats in 12 Knots' sample (listed / unique) | 1539 / 1398 | 292 / 216 | [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/) |
| True cost per person, 6 people, cheapest month | €1,071–1,211 (March) | €1,151–1,291 (March) | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/), [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| True cost per person, 6 people, priciest month | €1,907–2,047 (August) | €1,656–1,796 (September) | *our arithmetic*; [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/), [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Skipper per day | €195 | €170 | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Security deposit, catamaran | €3,500 | €3,500 | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Best-value months (3 cheapest) | January to March | January to March | *our rule*; [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/) |
| Best-weather months | June to October | June to September | *our rule*; [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/), [NOAA National Hurricane Center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), [Tahiti Tourisme](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/) |
| Sweet spot | September and October | June | *our rule*; [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/), [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/) |
| Months to avoid | June to August on price | July to September on price | *our rule*; [12 Knots, Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/), [12 Knots, Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/), [NOAA National Hurricane Center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), [Tahiti Tourisme](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/) |
| Mean air temperature, warmest month (°C) | 28 °C (August, Lefkada) | 30 °C (July, Göcek) | *our calculation*; [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/) |
| Force 6 days per year | 2.9 days (Lefkada) | 4.2 days (Göcek) | *our calculation*; [NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/daily/) |
| Warm-sea months (24 °C or more) | 3 (July to September) | 4 (July to October) | *NOAA mean sea temperature, our count* |
| Seasonal hazard | Meltemi peak July and August | none verified | [NOAA National Hurricane Center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), [Land Development Department, Thailand](https://webeng.ldd.go.th/pv/?cd=228), [Météo-France Polynésie](https://www.meteo.pf/fr/climat) |
| Licence | Licence required (ICC, Coastal Skipper, ASA 104, IPC…); Day Skipper may be refused, confirm with operator | Required; ICC recommended | *our classification of the sources* |
| Fishing licence for guests | No licence, but only Greek-flagged boats may fish | From a boat only (avlanma fişi) | – |
| Family score, best month | 100 (July to September) | 96 (August to October) | *our method* |
| Beginner score, best month | 100 (May to August) | 94 (April to June and August to November) | *our method* |
| Average hop on our 7-day route (nm) | 10.1 nm | 12.4 nm | *our calculation* |
| Longest leg (nm) | 23.0 nm (Kefalonia (Fiskardo) → Lefkada) | 30.1 nm (Gemiler Island → Ekincik) | *our calculation* |
| Nearest airport to base, straight line | 6.3 nm / 11.7 km (Aktion Airport (Preveza/Lefkada)) | 7.9 nm / 14.7 km (Dalaman Airport) | *our choice of airport; our calculation*; [OpenStreetMap (Nominatim geocoder)](https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/) |

Prices are 12 Knots' average weekly asking prices in euros ("Updated October 2026"). Rows marked *our rule*, *our arithmetic* or *our calculation* are ours; the others are quoted.

Gulet prices: not verified yet. See [catamaran, monohull and motor yacht compared](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/catamaran-monohull-motor-yacht/).

## Prices month by month

| Month | Greece | Turkey | Cheaper | Difference |
|---|---:|---:|---|---:|
| [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/) | €4,561 | €5,083 | Greece | €522 (11.4%) |
| [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/) | €4,545 | €5,109 | Greece | €564 (12.4%) |
| [March](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/march/) | €4,527 | €5,044 | Greece | €517 (11.4%) |
| [April](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/april/) | €4,619 | €5,528 | Greece | €909 (19.7%) |
| [May](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/may/) | €6,435 | €6,636 | Greece | €201 (3.1%) |
| [June](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/june/) | €8,402 | €7,331 | Turkey | €1,071 (14.6%) |
| [July](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/july/) | €9,336 | €7,582 | Turkey | €1,754 (23.1%) |
| [August](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/august/) | €9,538 | €7,851 | Turkey | €1,687 (21.5%) |
| [September](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/september/) | €8,098 | €8,075 | Turkey | €23 (0.3%) |
| [October](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/october/) | €5,414 | €7,003 | Greece | €1,589 (29.3%) |
| [November](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/november/) | €5,114 | €5,452 | Greece | €338 (6.6%) |
| [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/) | €5,239 | €5,285 | Greece | €46 (0.9%) |

Difference is against the cheaper side, our arithmetic. Monthly figures are 12 Knots' published "average weekly cost" for catamarans. They are asking prices, bareboat and crewed mixed, all sizes, not final transaction prices (same wording as the destination pages).

[Best time to charter in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/greece/) · [Best time to charter in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/turkey/)

## Weather month by month

| Month | Greece air °C | Greece wind kn | Greece sea °C | Turkey air °C | Turkey wind kn | Turkey sea °C |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/) | 11 | 8 | 15.9 | 7 | 7 | 18.0 |
| [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/) | 11 | 8 | 15.1 | 8 | 7 | 17.1 |
| [March](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/march/) | 13 | 7 | 15.0 | 10 | 7 | 17.0 |
| [April](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/april/) | 16 | 7 | 16.2 | 15 | 6 | 17.7 |
| [May](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/may/) | 19 | 6 | 18.9 | 20 | 6 | 19.9 |
| [June](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/june/) | 24 | 6 | 22.3 | 25 | 6 | 22.7 |
| [July](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/july/) | 27 | 6 | 24.5 | 30 | 7 | 25.5 |
| [August](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/august/) | 28 | 6 | 25.9 | 29 | 6 | 27.3 |
| [September](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/september/) | 24 | 6 | 24.9 | 25 | 6 | 26.4 |
| [October](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/october/) | 20 | 6 | 22.8 | 19 | 6 | 24.3 |
| [November](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/november/) | 16 | 8 | 20.4 | 14 | 6 | 21.9 |
| [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/) | 13 | 8 | 17.8 | 9 | 6 | 19.6 |

Air temperature and wind are NASA POWER monthly means at our reference points (Lefkada; Göcek), 2016–2025; sea temperature is NOAA's 1991–2020 mean at the nearest cell. All are our calculation, indicative only: mean wind is not gusts or sea state.

**Other route points** (the 7-day routes that start elsewhere; force 6 days = days with winds of 22 kn or more, mean per month, 2016–2025, our calculation):

| Month | Greece, Cyclades (Syros) air °C | Greece, Cyclades (Syros) wind kn | Greece, Cyclades (Syros) force 6 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/) | 13 | 14 | 9.6 |
| [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/) | 13 | 14 | 9.3 |
| [March](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/march/) | 14 | 13 | 7.4 |
| [April](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/april/) | 16 | 10 | 3.7 |
| [May](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/may/) | 19 | 9 | 1.9 |
| [June](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/june/) | 23 | 10 | 1.4 |
| [July](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/july/) | 26 | 13 | 4.9 |
| [August](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/august/) | 26 | 13 | 4.7 |
| [September](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/september/) | 24 | 13 | 4.7 |
| [October](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/october/) | 21 | 12 | 3.9 |
| [November](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/november/) | 18 | 12 | 4.6 |
| [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/) | 15 | 13 | 6.9 |

Greece: Meltemi peak July and August ([weather risk](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/greece/)). Turkey: no named seasonal hazard verified ([weather risk](https://catamaranindex.com/turkey/#weather)).

The Lefkada grid cell averages land up to about 138 m, so its temperatures are indicative only. The Göcek grid cell averages land up to about 546 m, so its temperatures are indicative only. Weather data obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center's Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) Project, funded through the NASA Earth Science Division (pulled 2026-10-28) ([NASA POWER](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/), checked 28 Oct 2026). We changed the data: we averaged the monthly values for 2016–2025 and converted wind from m/s to knots (our calculation).

## Costs

|  | Greece | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee, cheapest month | €4,527 (March) | €5,044 (March) |
| Charter fee, priciest month | €9,538 (August) | €8,075 (September) |
| Fuel per week | €315 | €210 |
| Marina per night | €56 | €70 |
| Mandatory extras | €410 | €390 |
| Skipper per day | €195 | €170 |
| Per person, 6 people, cheapest month (our arithmetic) | €1,071–1,211 (March) | €1,151–1,291 (March) |
| Per person, 6 people, priciest month (our arithmetic) | €1,907–2,047 (August) | €1,656–1,796 (September) |

Inputs are 12 Knots' prices and The Globe Sailor's September 2026 catamaran table (secondary), food at €20–40 per person per day; the per-person totals are our arithmetic. The Globe Sailor's table does not state a period for every column: the skipper fee is per day and the port fee per night (read from the article text); fuel per week is our reading. Tax and permit lines we could not verify (never added to a total):

- Greece: Whether TEPAI is passed on to charter guests, and its current rates.
- Greece: Port fees in municipal harbours.
- Turkey: Transit log fees and any guest tax in Turkey.

Full breakdown: [true cost in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/greece/) · [true cost in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/turkey/)

## Licence

**Greece.** Yes in practice: charter companies and the RYA say the skipper of a bareboat in Greece needs a recognised sailing licence and recommend the ICC, but we could not find the Greek legal text, so this rests on secondary sources. Anchor lists the ICC, RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster (practical), ASA 104, SLC and IPC as accepted and says Greek port police no longer accept the RYA Day Skipper, although its own summary still lists Day Skipper, so confirm with your operator.

**Turkey.** Yes: Turkey's Maritime Tourism Regulation says a Turkish-flag yacht in a licensed charter business, with no more than 12 passengers, can be chartered without crew only if at least one renter holds a licence of sufficient standard, but the regulation does not say which foreign certificates count. The RYA lists evidence of competence as required in Turkey and recommends the ICC, so ask the operator what it accepts.

[Licence rules in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/greece/) · [Licence rules in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/turkey/) · [Sailing licence requirements, explained](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/sailing-licence-requirements/)

## Distances

|  | Greece | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day route 1 | [the Ionian from Lefkada](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/greece/) | [from Göcek](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/turkey/) |
| Total, straight lines 1 | 60.6 nm | 74.2 nm |
| Average hop 1 | 10.1 nm | 12.4 nm |
| Longest leg 1 | Kefalonia (Fiskardo) → Lefkada, 23.0 nm | Gemiler Island → Ekincik, 30.1 nm |
| Nearest airport to base 1 | Aktion Airport (Preveza/Lefkada) to Lefkada: 6.3 nm / 11.7 km | Dalaman Airport to Göcek: 7.9 nm / 14.7 km |
| 7-day route 2 | [the Cyclades from Lavrio](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/greece-cyclades/) | – |
| Total, straight lines 2 | 145.1 nm | – |
| Average hop 2 | 20.7 nm | – |
| Longest leg 2 | Syros (Finikas) → Lavrio, 42.8 nm | – |
| Nearest airport to base 2 | Athens Airport to Lavrio: 15.4 nm / 28.4 km | – |

Straight line, our calculation from OpenStreetMap coordinates; the road or ferry trip is longer. Nearest airport to the base is our choice (not the airport with the best connections). Distances are straight lines between OpenStreetMap coordinates, our calculation; the road or ferry trip is longer. We make no claim about flights. Great-circle distance between OpenStreetMap (Nominatim) coordinates, Earth radius 6,371.0088 km, 1 nm = 1.852 km. Straight lines: the sailed distance is longer. Coordinates © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL ([openstreetmap.org/copyright](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright)).

## Fishing and snorkelling

- **Greece:** No licence, but only Greek-flagged boats may fish. Foreign-flagged charter yachts may not fish in Greek waters. The Hellenic Coast Guard says only Greek-flagged vessels may fish there. Before you book, ask the charter company which flag the yacht flies. [Fishing rules in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/greece/).
- **Turkey:** From a boat only (avlanma fişi). [Fishing rules in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/turkey/).

Warm-sea months (24 °C or more, NOAA mean, our count): 3 in Greece and 4 in Turkey. [Snorkel and dive in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/greece/) · [Snorkel and dive in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/turkey/).

## See boats in Greece and Turkey

**[See catamarans for rent in Greece on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=greece&pos=compare-book)**

**[See boats for rent in Turkey on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=turkey&pos=compare-book)**

Listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own and change daily; the figures on this page are 12 Knots averages. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## What we could not verify

- The Greek cruising fee on leisure boats (TEPAH) and whether charter guests pay it: the tax authority's pages returned an error to us, so we give no rate.
- Gulet prices: not verified yet.
- Transit log fees and any guest tax in Turkey.
- Flights and connections: we make no claim about them. The airport is our choice of the nearest one to the base.

## How to read the labels

- **[Secondary source]**: From a newspaper, NGO, guide or tour operator; not official.
- **[Not verified]**: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess.
- No label: Read in an official text: government, park authority, ministry or official tourism board.
- *our arithmetic*: a mean, a difference, a percentage or a per-person total we calculated from the cited figures.
- *our calculation*: a distance, a weather mean or a day count we calculated from NASA POWER, NOAA or OpenStreetMap data.
- *our rule*: a verdict. Every "better pick" is a published rule applied to the data (see [how we decide](#method)), not a ranking by any source.
- *our choice*: a reference point, an airport or a tie band.

None of this is a forecast, a safety rating or a recommendation to book a particular boat.

## How we decide

- **V1.** On a budget, flexible dates: the side with the lower 12-month mean of 12 Knots' average weekly asking prices (our arithmetic). A gap under 5% of the lower mean is "about the same" (our choice).
- **V2.** Fixed dates: no single pick. We list the months in which each side has the lower 12 Knots price (our arithmetic).
- **V3.** Summer holidays: the side with the lower mean of the July and August prices; a gap under 5% of the lower figure is "about the same" (our choice).
- **V4.** Christmas and New Year: the side with the lower December price; a gap under 5% is "about the same".
- **V5.** Families with children: the higher best-month family score on our published method (calm wind, short hops, warm sea, season); scores within 5 points are a tie (our choice). No pick where a score is partial (Thailand) or both sides share one dataset (Mallorca and Ibiza).
- **V6.** First charter without a sailing licence: the side whose licence regime is lower in the order none, résumé, not confirmed, licence required (our classification of the sources); the same regime is a tie. Beginner scores on our method are printed beside it.
- **V7.** Steady wind or calm: no single pick. We print each side's force 6 days per year (22 kn or more, NASA POWER, 2016–2025, our calculation) and which side has more; a gap within 2 days is a tie (our choice).
- **V8.** Warm water, snorkelling: the side with more months at 24 °C or more by NOAA's mean sea temperature at our reference point; equal counts are a tie.
- **V9.** Seasonal weather risk: no pick. We quote each side's weather-risk answer and link its page.
- **V10.** Fishing from the boat: no pick. We quote each side's licence rule and any warning from our fishing pages.

Constants (our choices): price ties under 5% of the lower figure; score ties within 5 points; wind ties within 2 force 6 days.

True cost per person = (12 Knots charter fee + fuel + 6 marina nights + mandatory extras + food at €20–40 per person per day) ÷ 6 people (our arithmetic, The Globe Sailor's September 2026 figures). Where a side has no Globe Sailor row (BVI, Bahamas, Thailand) the total is partial and the like-for-like row uses charter + food only for both sides.

Nearest airport to the base is our choice (not the airport with the best connections). Distances are straight lines between OpenStreetMap coordinates, our calculation; the road or ferry trip is longer. We make no claim about flights.

Verdicts are our rules applied to the data, not a ranking by any source. Means, differences, per-person totals, distances and verdicts are our arithmetic or our rules.

Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/compare/greece-vs-turkey.json).

## Sources

- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Greece](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/greece/catamaran-charter/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Turkey](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/mediterranean-sea/turkey/catamaran-charter/) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [NASA POWER: Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources: Monthly API (T2M, WS10M)](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/monthly/) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Tyrlis & Lelieveld, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences: Climatology and dynamics of the summer Etesian winds over the eastern Mediterranean (2013, 70(11): 3374–3396)](https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-13-035.1) (reference, not official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [The Globe Sailor: What it really costs to charter a yacht](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [OpenStreetMap (Nominatim geocoder): Nominatim search API: coordinates of airports and the Palma reference point](https://nominatim.openstreetmap.org/) (secondary, not official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [NASA POWER: Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources: Daily API (WS10M_MAX, WD10M) and Monthly API (PRECTOTCORR)](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/services/api/temporal/daily/) (official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [Met Office: Beaufort wind force scale](https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/guides/coast-and-sea/beaufort-scale) (official), checked 29 Oct 2026.
- [Anchor (formerly Helm): What qualifications do I need to charter a yacht?](https://www.anchor.yt/article/bareboat-licences) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [Island Sailing: Yacht charter Greece: qualifications](https://www.island-sailing.com/yacht-charter-greece/yacht-charter-qualifications/) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [RYA: Evidence of competence abroad (ICC)](https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/abroad/icc/evidence-of-competence-abroad) (reference, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [The Moorings: Experience guide: Level 3 sail](https://www.moorings.com/experience-guide/level-3-sail) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [Turkish Official Legislation Information System (mevzuat.gov.tr): Deniz Turizmi Yönetmeliği (Maritime Tourism Regulation), art. 34, consolidated text](https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/21.5.200915212.pdf) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.

Method: [methodology](https://catamaranindex.com/methodology/#compare). Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/compare/greece-vs-turkey.json).

## More

- [Greece: charter guide](https://catamaranindex.com/greece/)
- [Best time to charter in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/greece/)
- [True cost in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/greece/)
- [7-day sailing itinerary: the Ionian from Lefkada](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/greece/)
- [7-day sailing itinerary: the Cyclades from Lavrio](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/greece-cyclades/)
- [Greece: weather](https://catamaranindex.com/weather-risk/greece/)
- [Fishing rules in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/greece/)
- [Turkey: charter guide](https://catamaranindex.com/turkey/)
- [Best time to charter in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/turkey/)
- [True cost in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/turkey/)
- [7-day sailing itinerary: from Göcek](https://catamaranindex.com/itineraries/turkey/)
- [Turkey: weather](https://catamaranindex.com/turkey/#weather)
- [Fishing rules in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/turkey/)
- [All comparisons](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/)
- [Catamaran Index home](https://catamaranindex.com/)

## FAQ

### Is Greece or Turkey cheaper for a yacht charter?

Mean of 12 Knots' monthly prices: €6,319 in Greece and €6,332 in Turkey a week (0.2% apart, our arithmetic); cheapest month March (€4,527) in Greece and March (€5,044) in Turkey. Cheaper by month (12 Knots, our arithmetic): Greece: October to May; Turkey: June to September. By our rule (on a budget, flexible dates), the two are about the same. More: [best time to charter in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/greece/) · [best time to charter in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/turkey/).

### When is the best time to sail Greece or Turkey?

By our rules the best-weather months are June to October (sweet spot September and October) in Greece and June to September (sweet spot June) in Turkey; the three cheapest months are January, February and March in Greece and January, February and March in Turkey (12 Knots, our rule). Details: [best time to charter in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/greece/) · [best time to charter in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/turkey/).

### Do I need a sailing licence in Greece or Turkey?

Greece: Licence required (ICC, Coastal Skipper, ASA 104, IPC…); Day Skipper may be refused, confirm with operator. Turkey: Required; ICC recommended. These are our summaries of the sources. Details: [licence rules in Greece](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/greece/) · [licence rules in Turkey](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/turkey/).

### Which is better for families or a first charter?

Best-month family score on our method: 100 in Greece (July to September) and 96 in Turkey (August to October) out of 100; within 5 points is a tie. Greece: Licence required (ICC, Coastal Skipper, ASA 104, IPC…); Day Skipper may be refused, confirm with operator. Turkey: Required; ICC recommended. Same rule in both. Beginner scores on our method: 100 in Greece and 94 in Turkey out of 100. Operators can still ask for more than the law, so confirm before booking. (our rules). See [families](https://catamaranindex.com/family-yacht-charter/) and [first charters](https://catamaranindex.com/beginner-yacht-charter/).

### Is Turkey cheaper than Greece in summer?

Mean of the July and August prices: €9,437 in Greece and €7,717 in Turkey (22.3% apart, our arithmetic). (Turkey is cheaper by our rule). Monthly prices are in the table on this page ([prices month by month](#months)).

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