An Evia sunset cruise takes you out on the gulf between Evia and the mainland in the last hours of daylight, with a swim, local snacks and the sky turning gold over the water. Find more Greek boat days on Greece Tours.
This page sets out the evening trips you can book, where the sun sets, the sailing times by season, the food and the swim, what to pack and how to reach the harbours from Athens.
What is an Evia sunset cruise?
Evia has two gulfs, and an Evia sunset cruise sails one of them as the evening light fades. The tours below sell it as a private outing of three to five hours. A swim stop and a snack are part of the plan.
Evia, also called Euboea, is the second-largest island in Greece, after Crete. It runs about 180 kilometres from north-west to south-east. The North Euboean Gulf and the South Euboean Gulf lie between the island and the mainland.
An Evia sunset cruise leaves from Eretria, Karavos or Nea Artaki in the listings below. Eretria and Karavos serve the South Evia sailings, and Nea Artaki serves the North Evian Gulf sailing. Chalkida, the island’s capital, hosts a charter firm with its own sunset outings.
Evia Tours & Cruises follows one pattern on its sailings. Guests board at the port, sail to a bay, anchor, swim or snorkel, and sail back. The operator calls the schedule indicative and changes it for weather or guest requests.
The sailings differ in length. The South Evia sunset cruise of Evia Tours & Cruises lasts three hours. Its North Evian Gulf cruise lasts five. Both run on any day of the week as private bookings.
Which Evia sunset cruise can you book?
Two GetYourGuide listings carry a sunset slot, one from Karavos and one from Eretria. Two firms, Evia Tours & Cruises and Omerta Sea, take direct requests for an Evia sunset cruise.
The Karavos listing is a private half-day cruise with a morning choice and an evening choice. It lasts three to five hours and sails from Karavos port. The evening choice is an Evia sunset cruise with local snacks and a snorkel stop. The booking form takes one to eight guests.
The Eretria listing is a fishing boat cruise across the South Euboean Gulf. As an Evia sunset cruise it sails in the evening, while the morning slot is a swim trip. The listing calls it a four-hour trip and shows a duration of four to five hours. Guests fish by hand, swim at clear-water stops and take refreshments on board.
Both GetYourGuide listings share their terms:
- Pickup is available.
- Free cancellation applies.
- Bookings must be made at least 10 hours ahead.
- Guests sail as a private group.
Evia Tours & Cruises has its office at Eretria port. Its South Evia cruise runs from 18:30 to 21:30 for up to eight guests. The boat leaves from Karavos port or Eretria port, depending on availability. No fee applies if the guest cancels.
The North Evian Gulf cruise runs from 15:00 to 20:00 for up to ten guests. It starts at the port of Nea Artaki and heads for Melouna or Egglezonissi, depending on the weather. The sail back follows the coast of Chalkida.
Both cruises need 48 hours of notice. The port authority needs every passenger’s full name, gender, birth date, nationality and phone number. The firm takes these details by email, and the South cruise form can take them online. The North cruise also asks for an ID or passport number.
Omerta Sea runs private charters from Chalkida on three boats. Two matching Poseidon Blu Water 170 boats carry up to seven passengers each. The Pascoe Sportrib SR9 carries up to ten. Every booking is private, with no mixed groups.
The firm describes its sunset trip as a shorter evening outing for couples or small groups. An Evia sunset cruise with Omerta Sea is a charter. The boat, the timing and the route are arranged for one group. Guests send a date, a group size and a trip style by phone, email, WhatsApp or the contact form.
Two longer listings sit beside the sunset slots. The full-day cruise from Karavos port lasts eight hours and sails to Melouna Bay and Egglezonissi Island. The 2-day private cruise sails to the Petalioi islets and Marmari. Both fill far more than an evening.
Day routes, sea caves and islets sit in our Evia boat trip guide.
Where does the sun go down on an Evia sunset cruise?
In spring and summer the sun goes down in the northwest. In autumn and winter it goes down in the southwest. So an Evia sunset cruise meets a June sunset toward Chalkida. In December the sun goes down over the mainland shore.
Evia forms the northeast shore of the Euboean Gulf, and the Greek mainland forms the southwest shore. The gulf runs from northwest to southeast. A narrow strait at Chalkida splits it into a north gulf and a south gulf.
An Evia sunset cruise from Eretria sails on the South Euboean Gulf. Oropos lies across the water from Eretria, and its municipality stretches between the Parnitha mountains and the gulf. Parnitha is the highest range in Attica, at 1,413 metres. From its summit the view takes in both Euboean gulfs and the island.
An Evia sunset cruise from Karavos leaves the harbour of Aliveri. Aliveri also stands on the South Euboean Gulf. Chalkida lies 39 kilometres west of Aliveri, at the northwestern end of the gulf. In June the sun sets to the northwest, the same line the gulf follows. At the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun sets due west.
The North Euboean Gulf gives a different view on an Evia sunset cruise from Nea Artaki. The gulf lies west of the town, and the mainland of Phthiotis and Boeotia forms its far shore. The evening sun goes down over that water. The gulf reaches 450 metres at its deepest point.
What time does an Evia sunset cruise sail in each season?
Sunset at Eretria falls at 8:52 pm on 21 June and at 5:08 pm on 21 December. The sailing window follows that clock, so an Evia sunset cruise moves by almost four hours between midsummer and midwinter.
Sunset times for an Evia sunset cruise from Eretria, in local clock time:
- Spring: 6:32 pm on 15 March, 8:01 pm on 15 April.
- Early summer: 8:43 pm on 1 June, 8:52 pm on 21 June.
- High summer: 8:48 pm on 15 July, 8:19 pm on 15 August.
- Early autumn: 7:34 pm on 15 September, 7:10 pm on 30 September.
- Autumn: 6:48 pm on 15 October, 5:13 pm on 15 November.
- Winter: 5:08 pm on 21 December, 5:28 pm on 15 January.
Greek clocks run one hour ahead from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Daylight lasts 14 hours 51 minutes on 21 June and 9 hours 29 minutes on 21 December.
Golden hour is the stretch before sunset when daylight turns redder and softer. On an Evia sunset cruise it has no fixed length. The time the sun needs to drop to a given height depends on latitude and season. Light measures about 5,500 kelvin at midday and about 3,500 kelvin in the golden hour.
Civil twilight starts at sunset and ends when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. Natural light still lets people see without lamps. At Eretria it ends 32 minutes after sunset on 21 June. On 15 September it ends 26 minutes after sunset, and on 21 December it ends 30 minutes after.
Nautical twilight follows, from 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. The eye picks out outlines but not detail. An Evia sunset cruise that returns to harbour after sunset sails through civil and then nautical twilight. On 21 June nautical twilight ends 72 minutes after sunset, and on 15 September it ends 58 minutes after.
Photographers call the light after sunset the blue hour. The sky takes a blue shade and sharp shadows disappear. For an Evia sunset cruise, count back from the end of civil twilight. A three-hour sailing that ends at that moment leaves at 6:24 pm on 21 June. On 15 October it leaves at 4:14 pm.
Operators call their schedules indicative and change them for weather or for the guests. Check the sunset time for your date before you pick a start. A 15 September sunset comes 78 minutes earlier than the 21 June one.
What do you eat and drink on an Evia sunset cruise?
Light snacks and drinks come aboard an Evia sunset cruise from Karavos, Eretria or Nea Artaki. The GetYourGuide listings name local snacks and onboard refreshments. Evia Tours & Cruises adds Greek products, local beer, tsipouro, meze and coffee.
The Karavos listing on GetYourGuide describes its evening option as a cruise with local snacks and snorkelling. The Eretria listing promises onboard refreshments and swimming stops. Neither short description names a menu, so ask what is served when you book an Evia sunset cruise.
The South Evia sunset sailing from Evia Tours & Cruises serves food in stages. The itinerary lists a gourmet snack of Greek products with drinks at Pontikos Beach. At Punda Beach it lists light snacks with local Greek beer from Evia. The package adds local meze and coffee throughout.
The North Evian Gulf sailing leaves from Nea Artaki and serves its own menu. At the anchorage the itinerary lists a gourmet snack with Greek products and beverages. The package adds a treat of Greek tsipouro with a variety of local meze, and coffee. Each Evia sunset cruise from this operator names a different drink.
Tsipouro is a strong spirit of 40 to 45 percent alcohol by volume. Tradition makes it from grape pomace, the residue of the winepress. Servers pour it in shot glasses with meze, a small side dish such as nuts, olives, cheese or seafood.
Meze are small appetiser dishes from the Eastern Mediterranean. A meze spread can form a whole meal. In Greece the dishes run hot or cold, spicy or savoury. Cheese cubes, olives and grilled meats are common features of a meze spread.
Both operator routes name an alcoholic drink, which is local beer in the south and tsipouro in the north. Coffee sits in both packages as well. The GetYourGuide short descriptions name no specific drink, only refreshments for the Evia sunset cruise from Eretria.
Can you swim and snorkel on an Evia sunset cruise?
Yes. On an Evia sunset cruise with Evia Tours & Cruises the boat stops for a swim. Both packages list snorkel masks and sea mattresses. The GetYourGuide listings add snorkelling to the Karavos evening option and swimming stops to the Eretria cruise.
An Evia sunset cruise on the South Evia route anchors in the bay of Pontikos Beach. The itinerary lists swimming in turquoise water, sunbathing and snorkelling as an option. A second anchorage at Punda Beach gives another swim in clear water, again with a snorkelling option.
The North Evian Gulf route anchors in the bay of Melouna or Egglezonissi. The weather picks one for the Evia sunset cruise. The itinerary lists swimming in turquoise water, sunbathing and snorkelling options.
Seatemperature.org lists monthly sea temperatures for Eretria, built from daily NOAA satellite readings of the sea surface. The averages from late spring to November are:
- Late spring: 18 °C
- June: 22.6 °C
- July: 25.7 °C
- August: 26 °C, the warmest month
- September: 24.3 °C
- October: 21.1 °C
- November: 17.9 °C
From December to April the monthly averages sit between 14.7 and 15.7 °C, and March is the coldest month. August readings across the record span 23.8 to 28.2 °C. A June, July, August or September Evia sunset cruise meets water between 22.6 and 26 °C on average.
Snorkelling is swimming face-down while breathing air through a shaped tube. The kit is that tube, a mask or goggles, and swimfins. Cooler water adds a wetsuit. Snorkelling needs less equipment and training than scuba diving. The packages for an Evia sunset cruise list masks and sea mattresses.
A lifejacket keeps the wearer afloat with head and mouth above the surface, even when the wearer is unconscious. Lifejackets come in sizes for different body weights. Child buoyancy aids carry one or two understraps and a headrest flap. Ask the crew for a fitted size before the Evia sunset cruise leaves port.
Retroreflective tape sewn onto lifejacket fabric helps a rescuer spot the wearer in darkness when a search light shines. A lifejacket lets a person who cannot swim enter the water safely. It also protects a weak swimmer from drowning.
Children can join an Evia sunset cruise. The Karavos listing counts guests aged 0 to 17 as children and guests aged 18 to 99 as adults. The Eretria listing counts guests aged 11 and younger as children and guests aged 12 to 17 as youth. Evia Tours & Cruises calls its South Evia route a cruise fit for the whole family.
What do you bring on an Evia sunset cruise?
Bring a lightweight windproof layer, sunscreen, a sun hat or scarf, a swimsuit and a towel. The Evia Tours listings for its North Evia and South Evia sunset sailings both ask for these items.
The listing asks for the windproof in case it is windy. It asks for sunscreen from April to October. The swimsuit and towel sit on the same list. Pack all five before an Evia sunset cruise.
The meltemi explains the wind. Wikipedia describes it as the strong, dry north wind of the Aegean, blowing from late spring to mid-September. It is strongest in the afternoon and can die down at night. A spell can last for days without a break.
The same source says the meltemi comes up in clear weather without warning. It can blow at force 7 to 8 on the Beaufort scale. It also tempers the summer heat. A windproof layer matters on an Evia sunset cruise between late spring and mid-September.
The NHS advice on motion sickness starts with where you sit. Take a seat in the middle of the boat, where the motion is smallest. Look at a fixed point such as the horizon. Breathe fresh air and keep your eyes off the rolling waves.
Food and drink count too. The NHS says to avoid heavy meals, spicy food and alcohol shortly before and during travel. It lists ginger as a tablet, biscuit or tea. A pharmacist can recommend a tablet or a patch before an Evia sunset cruise.
Apple states that water resistance on an iPhone is not permanent. Its list of things to avoid includes swimming with the phone, and liquid damage is not covered under warranty. Take your photos from the deck, then zip the phone into a bag before a swim.
How do you reach the Evia sunset cruise harbours from Athens?
The road over the Chalkida High Bridge covers 93.7 km to Eretria in 1 hour 33 minutes. The Skala Oropou ferry crosses in 25 minutes. Karavos, the harbour of Aliveri, lies 39 km east of Chalkida.
The road from Athens to Eretria, where one Evia sunset cruise sails, crosses the Chalkida High Bridge, VisitGreece says. It gives the drive as 93.7 km and 1 hour 33 minutes. Day plans for the rest of the island sit on our Evia tours page.
Two bridges join Chalkida to the mainland. An older sliding bridge runs west toward Thebes. A newer cable-stayed bridge heads south toward Athens.
The ferry to Eretria takes about 25 minutes from Skala Oropou, according to Dave’s Travel Pages. Boats leave every half hour between 07:00 and 20:00 all year, with shorter hours in winter. The port lies about 50 km from central Athens, roughly an hour by car.
The same guide gives the last departure as 20:00 in its text and 20:30 in its route summary. The Evia Tours South Evia sunset sailing runs from 18:30 to 21:30. That sailing ends after the last ferry, so plan the drive back over the bridges.
Rafina is a port town that serves ferries to the southern part of Euboea, according to Wikipedia. The same source places Marmari at the southeastern end of the island. Ferry routes link it with Rafina, and the village lies about one hour from that port.
Karavos, the start of one Evia sunset cruise, is the harbour of Aliveri. The town stands on the South Euboean Gulf in the central part of the island. It lies 14 km east of Amarynthos and 39 km east of Chalkida. National Road 44, which links Thebes, Chalkida and Karystos, passes through it.
Which quick questions does an Evia sunset cruise raise?
Five short answers cover the name Evia, the car deck, the ticket booth, the ferry companies and the name Chalkida. Together they settle the planning questions that remain before an Evia sunset cruise.
Is Evia the same island as Euboea?
Yes. Euboea and Evia are two names for one island. Only Crete is larger among the Greek islands, and Evia covers 3,684 square kilometres.
Can you take a car on the ferry to an Evia sunset cruise?
Yes. Both ferries between Skala Oropou and Eretria have a vehicle deck. Cars and motorbikes cost extra, according to Dave’s Travel Pages.
Where do you buy the Oropos to Eretria ferry ticket?
The guide says you buy it from the ticket booth on arrival at the port of Skala Oropou.
Which companies run the Oropos to Eretria ferries?
The same guide names Tsokos Lines for the red ferries and Oropos-Eretria Ferries for the white ones. The colour of the hull tells you which company runs the boat.
Is Chalkida the same town as Halkida and Chalcis?
Yes. Wikipedia lists Chalcis, Chalkida and Halkida as names for the chief city of Euboea. Try all three spellings when you search a map.