So you’re thinking it might not be a bad idea to fly to Athens and “see a few islands” while you’re at it? We’ve put together a list of Greek islands that are reachable from Piraeus by hydrofoil or ferryboat and are close enough for a day trip.
Aegina
Located 17 nautical miles away from the Port of Piraeus in the Saronic Gulf, Aegina is the island closest to the city of Athens. Like the residents of Istanbul’s Princes Islands, most of the people who live here work in the city. You can get to Aegina from Piraeus in 40 minutes by hydrofoil and in 50 minutes by ferryboat. As soon as you step onto the pier in Kolona, you’ll be met by phaetons. Along the shore, and in the streets and alleyways behind it, you’ll find restaurants, cafes and small, boutique bakeshops as well as art galleries and shops selling the ceramics the island is known for. The most significant historical structure on the island is the Temple of Aphaia, which sits on a hill on the north side of the island. Built in 500 B.C., this well-preserved temple is named for the Greek goddess Aphaia. On the way to the temple, you progress through pine trees, and there’s a “Pine Nut Festival” held on the island every April. The coves of Marathon, Aeginitissa, Klima, Sarpa, Avra and Perdika are perfect places to enjoy a swim.
Agistri
It takes between an hour or an hour-and-a-half to reach Agistri by ferry from the Port of Piraeus. From Aegina, the trip is just five-to-ten minutes. When you arrive at the harbour, you’ll find bussesto Skala, the biggest town on the island. Agistri is a small, quiet island covered with pine, olive, almond and fig trees. It also has little villages and beaches like Alkoni, Metochi, Halkiada, Skliri and Dragonara, where you can enjoy the island’s tranquillity by going for a swim and taking time out at one of the tavernas. The areas around Skala and Aponisos are good for water sports, and in Milos you can go horseback riding, bicycling, or take a nature walk along the island’s tree-covered paths amidst the Aegean landscape.
Poros
Poros is just an hour away from the mainland and is a favourite destination among Athenians for a weekend holiday. First, you can enjoy the views on Poros by climbing up the clocktower, then you can see the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon on the north of the island. The Greek poet Sefiris was enraptured by the island’s tranquillity and nature, which includes a pine forest stretching out towards the sea along with more than 30,000 lemon and orange trees. Kanali Beach, Love
Bay and Askeli are the island’s most well-known beaches. Right across from the island is a village by the name of Galatas, which you can get to in a small motorized fishing boat in just five minutes. You can enjoy Aegean cuisine in Poros’ small tavernas and pick up gifts from the shops selling handicrafts.
Hydra
The famous musician Leonard Cohen, who passed away recently, bought a house here in the 1960s. This is where he wrote his most beautiful songs and where he met with his great love, Marianne. The painters Chagall and Picasso were also wild about the island. Time has truly stood still on this romantic island – where no cars are allowed! But you can wander to your heart’s content by foot, donkey, or bicycle through the narrow streets lined with stone mansions, which spread out like a
semi-circular amphitheatre and date back to the 18th century. The island’s Byzantine and History Museum has an interesting collection that is well worth seeing, and the beaches at Mandráki, Bísti, Vlychós, Spiliá, Limnióniza and Hydronéta are the best on the island. The trip from Piraeus to Hydra takes about an hourand-a-half.
