Saronic Islands

What we think "beaches, history, and unique lifestyle"

Close to Athens. Rich in history. Perfect for a short escape or island-hopping adventure. 

Why Visit the Saronic Islands? 
Ancient history, quiet coves, artistic inspiration, a stylish escape close to Athens - the Saronic Islands offer all of it without the long ferry crossing that other island groups demand. Scattered across the Saronic Gulf between Athens and the Peloponnese, Spetses, Hydra, Poros, Aegina, and Agistri have long been the Greeks’ own favourite quick getaway: frequent ferries, a relaxed rhythm, and an atmosphere that’s cosmopolitan without ever feeling rushed. 

Each island has its own distinct character, yet together they work beautifully as:

A short break from Athens (2-4 nights on one island)
A relaxed island-hop - Spetses, Hydra and Poros make a natural trio
A cultured add-on to a Peloponnese itinerary built around Nafplio or Porto Heli

We tailor the pace, the hotels, and the ferry connections to you, drawing on properties and locations we know well. 

Spetses

Elegant, chic, and blessed with beautiful beaches

Some 51-54 nautical miles from Piraeus, Spetses is a compact island (around 10.5 square miles) with an outsized past. The Venetians called it Isola di Spezze - “Island of Aromas” - for its scented, pine-fringed courtyards, and archaeology traces settlement back to the early Bronze Age. Its real golden age arrived with shipbuilding: Spetses grew into one of Greece’s great naval powers, and on 3 April 1821 it raised the flag that helped ignite the War of Independence. 

That maritime fortune is written into the island today. Cars are banned in the main town and port of Dapia, so evenings unfold at the pace of a horse-drawn carriage, a bicycle, or a water taxi. Neoclassical mansions and pebble-mosaic courtyards line streets that also happen to house designer boutiques and lively seafront bars - a combination that’s rarer than it sounds. For a drink with real pedigree, head to the Poseidonion Grand Hotel: opened in 1914, lovingly restored in 2009, and a magnet for royalty and film stars ever since. 

The beaches more than hold their own. Agia Marina, Agioi Anargyroi, Agia Paraskevi, Kaiki, and the pine-shaded Zogeria are all set up with sunbeds and tavernas, while Kouzounos and Xylokeriza reward anyone willing to go a little further to enjoy a peaceful retreat. 

Don’t miss:

A horse-drawn carriage ride through Dapia to Palio Limani
The Bouboulina Museum, set in the heroine’s own former mansion
A cocktail on the Poseidonion Grand’s terrace
A swim at Agia Marina or Kaiki - or Kouzounos, if you’d rather have the water all to yourself. 
Hydra

Romantic, artistic, unmistakably neoclassical (but not for beach lovers)

About 37 nautical miles from Piraeus, Hydra is built around a single, near-perfect crescent harbour, ringed with tavernas, galleries, and shops, with steep stone streets climbing away from the water above. There are no cars on the island - donkeys and water taxis do the heavy lifting here - and that hush, paired with the beautifully preserved stone mansions and a thriving community of artists, has drawn writers, painters, and musicians for decades, including Leonard Cohen. 

Hydra is not a beach island. Most of its “beaches” are small pebbly or rocky inlets - fine for a quick swim, but not built for lazy days of sunbathing. The island is also a little pricier than its neighbours. Its real draw is atmosphere: wandering the harbour, popping into galleries and maritime museums, lingering over dinner at a waterfront taverna. We usually suggest two or three days here as part of a wider Saronic trip, rather than a full week. 

Don’t miss:

Wandering the Old Town and harbour, all stone mansions, galleries, and boutiques
The Hydra Maritime Museum, for ship models and stories of the island’s seafaring past
A short boat trip to a nearby cove for a swim - pebbly and rocky rather than sandy, but still worth a visit
Poros
Authentic, laid-back, and quintessentially Greek

About 58 km from Piraeus, Poros is separated from the Peloponnesian mainland by a channel just 200 metres wide, opposite the town of Galatas - so close that the crossing takes minutes rather than hours. It’s actually two islands in one: volcanic Sphairia, where the present-day town sits, and the larger, pine-covered Kalavria, linked by a bridge over the narrow strait. 

One of Greece’s official “green islands,” with settlement dating back to the early Bronze Age, Poros has a slower, more settled rhythm than its glossier neighbours.