15 Boat Tours in Thessaloniki That Are Worth the Day

1.Mount Athos Glassbottom Cruise with Ammouliani Island visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 592 reviews · 5 hours · from $35Our pick

Join Eirinikos Glassbottom Cruises from Ouranoupoli for a five-hour trip along Mount Athos Bay. See six monasteries from offshore, pass the Drenia islets, hear multilingual commentary, and spend 1.5 hours at Ammouliani Island or Alikes lagoon for swimming and lunch.

“It was great value for money & we really enjoyed. Guide was a recording and a bit difficult to hear over the boat sounds but great otherwise.”

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2.Ouranoupoli: Mount Athos Peninsula Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 305 reviews · from $28Best value

From Ouranoupoli, cruise three hours along the west side of Mount Athos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll see eight monasteries, including Dochiariou, Xiropotamou, and Panteleimonos, while onboard commentary explains Orthodox monastic life and entry restrictions. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase.

“It was really great and fun trip. To know a little bit of Athos peninsula history was really inspiring.”

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3.From Ouranoupolis: Cruise to Mount Athos Monasteries

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 298 reviews · from $28

From Ouranoupolis, Calypso Cruises takes you on a 3.5-hour sightseeing cruise along the Mount Athos coast. You will see eight monasteries from the sea, hear multilingual commentary, use onboard binoculars, and watch for dolphins or a Mediterranean monk seal.

“Terrific tour. Great crew, right sized boat and the perfect amount of time to see the wonders of Mt Athos. I would strongly recommend you take this wonderful trip with a great captain who will make sure you have a enjoyable trip.”

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4.Halkidiki Blue Lagoon Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 277 reviews · 10 hours · from $77

Spend 10 hours sailing from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki, with pickup from central city points, swimming stops at the Blue Lagoon and nearby beaches, a cruise around Diaporos, and lunch aboard a three-level pirate ship. English guidance, hotel transfer, and onboard bars are included.

“Wow. That is the only word to describe to experience. Not to be missed, weather permitting.”

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5.Chalkidiki: Blue Lagoon & Ammouliani Island Cruise & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 269 reviews · from $45

Spend six hours aboard Eirinikos Glassbottom Cruises from Ouranoupoli, viewing yellow coral, swimming near Diaporos, eating souvlaki, and visiting Ammouliani’s Alikes Beach. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and a towel. The first swim is from the boat, so confident swimming matters.

“It was a great trip (kurva jó)! We have visited a nice snorkelling place and jumped a lot from the boat, than we had a great time at Alikes beach. The lunch was small but tasty, would recommend it anytime!”

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6.Half-Day Sailing Cruise to Shipwreck Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 260 reviews · 6 hours · from $112

Join captain Makis and his crew for a six-hour sailing trip from Nea Michaniona to Navagio Beach near Epanomi. Swim or snorkel to a 1970 shipwreck, relax in turquoise water, and eat a fresh Greek meal with wine aboard a comfortable sailing yacht.

“Amazing! A beautiful place, boat and crew. Very kind and nice captain, who also is a great chef. The water is incredible, and we would highly recommend it!”

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7.Ouranoupoli: Mount Athos Sightseeing Glass-Bottom Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 141 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Sail for three hours from Ouranoupoli on the Eirinikos, the area’s only glass-bottom boat, with a multilingual guide, traditional music, toilets, and a bar. You’ll view Mount Athos from at least 500 meters offshore, pass Drenia, and may spot dolphins.

“Well organised - commentary ok if you’re sat near a speaker. Glass bottom boat but didn’t really see anything - boat only slowed down for viewing just before returning to port.”

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8.Halkidiki Blue Lagoon Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 102 reviews · from $73

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Thessaloniki to Ormos Panagias, then spend eight hours at sea around Ammouliani, Banana Beach, Vourvourou, and Diaporos. You get lunch, wine or juice, a village walk, swimming time, and multilingual audio commentary. Fixed city pickup points are used rather than hotel collection.

“Well organised and plenty of time to relax on the beach.”

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9.Mount Athos & visit Ammouliani’s island (mixed cruise)

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 100 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $36

From Ouranoupoli, you cruise along Mount Athos with multilingual commentary about six monasteries, viewing them from offshore because visitors cannot approach the coast freely. Then you stop for about 1 hour and 30 minutes at Ammouliani Island, where you can swim, sunbathe, or relax before returning by boat.

“Depart à l'heure , joli vue de la ville. Mais le temps pour arriver au 1er monastère est vraiment long et on ne s'approche pas assez pour bien voir. Fond de verre inutile: on ne voit rien d'interessant”

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10.Sithonia Private Full Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews Top rated

Join a private 7 to 8 hour cruise from Marina Latoura with a captain who can adjust the route to your group. Swim at Vourvourou, snorkel around Diaporos, visit Portokali or Ammouliani, and stop for a beachside Greek lunch at your own cost.

“Cheap, easy and fun. Staff were helpful with telling you all the amazing places to go. All in, an amazing day!”

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11.Blue Lagoon-Vourvourou Lunch Cruise from Ouranoupolis

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 83 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $48

Meet the Eirinikos crew at Ouranoupoli’s Byzantine Tower at 11:00 am for a six-hour cruise to Vourvourou’s Blue Lagoon and Alykes lagoon. Swim from the boat, use the slides, enjoy souvlaki lunch, and expect a lively group setting with up to 100 people.

“Bellissima esperienza, staff attento e imbarcazione pulita. Pranzo di qualità. Pienamente soddisfatti. Grazie!!”

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12.Vourvourou Full Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews

Set out at 10 a.m. from Marina Latoura with a captain for 7 to 8 hours around Vourvourou Bay and Diaporos Island. Swim at Karydi, Robinson’s Beach, Blue Lagoon, White Beach, Peristeri Island, and Kryfto Bay. Drinks and fruit are included, while lunch at a beach tavern costs extra.

“Perfect day tour , the experience wasn’t amazing! We took many photos . We will do it again for sure. Diaporos island is very interesting to visit it.”

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13.Ouranoupoli: Mount Athos Cruise with Ammouliani Island Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 65 reviews · from $39

Spend seven hours viewing Mount Athos from the sea, with multilingual guiding, drinks, and possible dolphin sightings. See eight monasteries, Daphni port, and two skites before stopping at Ammouliani’s Banana Beach for a light lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.

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14.Blue Lagoon Cruise on a Pirate’s Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 64 reviews · 9 hours · from $46

Spend nine hours aboard the pirate-themed Menia Maria III, sailing from Ormos Panagias to the Blue Lagoon, Diasporos Island, and Sithonia beaches. You get hotel pickup in selected areas, a light lunch, swimming stops, an English-speaking escort, and an animator.

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15.Vourvourou 4hr Refreshment Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews

Set out from Marina Latoura with a private captain for four hours around Diaporos Island. Expect turquoise water, small coves, snorkeling stops, and beaches including Blue Lagoon and White Beach. Captains such as Sotos, Zaf, Nakis, and Vera have led recent cruises, with the route adjusted to your group.

“We rented a boat, recieved an excellent explanation about how to drive it and the different locations must see, had a wonderful time,”

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