Blog - Read More About Your Favourite Islands

This week’s Island of the Week is the Argo-Saronic island of Poros. Actually made up of two islands joined by a bridge. Spheria, which was created by volcanic activity, is taken up mostly by Poros Town and is the closest to the Peloponnese (just 200m at its shortest). Kalavria is the far larger of the two islands and is covered in dense pine forest. 
 
How to get there 
Poros doesn’t have a domestic airport and can be reached by ferry from Piraeus, either by high-speed (approx. 1 hour) or slow ferry (approx. 2 ½ hours) run by either Saronic Ferries or Blue Star Ferries . There are several of these ferries a day which stop at the other Saronic islands such as Aegina and Agistri.  

There are many places to see in Poros Town although many of the more popular ones are dotted around on Kalavria. These included all of the more scenic ones. We’ve picked these 5 places for their interest and as they give you a feel of the history and culture of the Poros. 

1 – Monastery Beach 

Located in the south of Kalavria beneath the Zoodohos Pighi Monastery (which is also a must see by the way) this quiet beach has sparkling clear waters which stretch out towards the mainland. With pine forests coming down from the hills and the Monastery overlooking it, you are sure of a beautiful backdrop whilst swimming around or lounging on a sunbed. There are some amenities at the beach and water sports and underwater diving are available there as well. The beach is 5km from Poros town and can be reached by foot, car, bus, taxi or even water taxi from Poros town.   

A short ferry from Athens is the small but beautiful island of Hydra. Part of the Argo Saronic group, this picturesque place has attracted a number of famous faces over the years and is known for not having cars or any vehicles on the island. In this article we’ll take you through what Hydra has to offer and why it is perfect for a day trip from Athens or a great place to experience the traditional side of Greece and relax. 

How to get there
Hydra is far too small to have an airport.  As it is near to Athens though it is easy to fly into there and get a ferry from Piraeus. Athens has many direct flights from the UK including the four major London Airports, Birmingham and Edinburgh. 

Hydra Town
Hydra Town is the only large settlement on the island and is where most of the accommodation and things to do on the island are. The town climbs up the hillside like an amphitheatre offering a great view whether you have just gotten off the ferry or are looking down from above. Something you’ll notice pretty quickly is that there are no vehicles, this peace and quiet takes you back in time and offers a serene setting for you to relax and take in everything this island has to offer. Whereas when you get off the ferry on most islands you are greeted with taxis and cars to pick up guests and take them to hotels, on Hydra you are met by a man holding a donkey. This will be taking your luggage to your accommodation. Walking is the only way to explore the island by land.

Spetses is not a large island, only 10 square miles, and most of the population lives in the main port of Spetses Town. This means that if you’re looking to escape the town and explore and relax it can be done in about a 30-minute walk. Known as a retreat for wealthy Athenians, it can be reached in less than two hours by boat from Piraeus. In this blog we’re going to go into more detail about the places you should do and visit whilst on the island, and show why, if you’re visiting the Argo-Saronics, you should visit Spetses.
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Bike or Moped Round the Island  
Cars are banned on Spetses so the only way to get around is via bus or our preferred method, bicycle or moped. Our personal choice would be bike as it allows you to take in the beautiful, serene surroundings as you cycle around. Using a moped, you can follow the track that goes around the island in just over 2 hours, so if you want to take it at a more leisurely pace, bicycle is the way to go. The track running around the island is only partially concreted so a bike may be more suited to adventuring.

Spetses Town
The beating heart of Spetses, the town is where the majority of people who live on the island and the hotels and apartments are. A figure you will likely see around a lot in the town is Laskarina Bouboulina, a legendary figure and admiral in the Greek War of Independence. Leading the efforts of the island as part of the Greek independence movement against the Turks, she is commemorated in a statue in the main square as well as having a museum about her, which is based in her old home. Another museum to check out is the Chatzi-Giannis Mexis Museum which tells the history of Spetses. The old port area of Spetses, in the south of the town has less tourists but is still full to the brim with life and packed with restaurants. Spetses is home to a number of churches as well, all of which vary in age but are all equally beautiful.