Nearby Islands
The little islands near Athens are Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Aegina, and Tzia/Kea. They offer history and style in abundance and are ideal for a quick getaway all year round. Just a short ferry or hydrofoil trip from the port of Piraeus, you’ll find beautiful beaches, historic monuments, stately buildings and one-of-a-kind hospitality.
Spetses
Cosmopolitan Spetses, one of the favourite islands close to Athens, will make you want to return again and again. It’s an ideal destination for a quick retreat all year round. It never fails to make you feel special – whether you are enjoying a leisurely coffee in Dapia, with a view of Kosta and Porto Heli on the mainland opposite, taking a romantic stroll along the Old Harbour, or learning about the island’s fearless heroine Laskarina Bouboulina.
Hydra
The island of Hydra — less than two hours south of Athens by ferry — offers the ideal Greek island experience and doesn’t require a long journey across the Aegean.
It has one real town, no roads, no cars, and no bikes. Water taxis whisk travellers from the quaint little harbour to isolated beaches and tavernas. Donkeys are the leading way to transport things here. These surefooted beasts of burden, laden with everything from sandbags and bathtubs to bottled water, climb stepped lanes. Behind each mule train toils a human pooper-scooper; I imagine picking up after your beast is required. On Hydra, a traffic jam is three donkeys and a fisherman.
The picturesque island is full of elegant mansions, and it has been a filming location for “A Girl in Black” and “Boy on a Dolphin” movies. At the same time, it was also the main holiday destination of Leonard Cohen, who used to have a house in town.
Poros
Poros is a little island in Greece located close to the islands of Aegina and Agistri. Thanks to its proximity to Athens, it is a favourite among weekend destinations.
Offering amazing beaches and a lively main town, Poros is a must for a short trip!
Poros island can be reached by ferry from Athens (Piraeus port) but also, for island hopping enthusiasts, from Hydra, Spetses and Aegina. The island can also be accessed by car via the port of Galatas in the Peloponnese.
Aegina
The Saronic island Aegina in Greece is located very close to Athens, and it makes a great destination for short getaways!
It has many archaeological monuments, picturesque villages and beautiful beaches to discover, while its main seafront town stands out for its neoclassical architecture. It is easy to reach Aegina from Athens; you only need a ferry from Piraeus port. Ferry connections to other Saronic islands are also available (Poros and Agistri).
Agistri
Agistri is a green island with many scenic and unspoiled charms despite its proximity to the Greek capital city of Athens.
Along with Poros, Aegina, Spetses, and Hydra, it is part of the Saronic group of Greek islands, all of which are just a stone’s throw away from bustling Athens.
Agistri is a perfect base for island-hopping adventures and is one of the best Greek islands for weekend getaways or even day trips since it is less than an hour away from the port of Piraeus by ferry.
Kea or Tzia
Cosmopolitan and friendly Kea is just an hour from the port of Lavrio, east of Athens. Those who know the island – whether as Kea or its alternatives Tzia, Gia or Zea – begin their weekend vacations in spring, enjoying fresh fish at the tavernas in the marinas.
