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The Saronic Islands are the Greek islands you can reach from Athens in under three hours: Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses, strung across the Saronic Gulf south of Piraeus. Aegina is a 40-minute hydrofoil ride away, Hydra has no cars at all, and Spetses, the furthest, takes about two and a half hours. That makes them the easiest island trip in Greece, and the only one that works as a day trip, a weekend or a first taste of island hopping before you commit to a long ferry crossing.
They are not interchangeable. Aegina is a working island with a real ancient temple and the pistachios Greece is known for. Agistri is the pine-covered quiet one. Poros is a green sailing island separated from the Peloponnese by a channel a few hundred metres wide. Hydra is a car-free stone harbour town, and Spetses is the elegant southern island with the best swimming. This guide compares the five, explains how to reach each one from Piraeus and from each other, and gives one-day, two-day and five-day itineraries.
If you only have a day, go to Aegina or Hydra. If you have a weekend, pick one island and stay overnight rather than racing between two. If you have five days, the full circuit below works because the islands are connected to each other as well as to Piraeus.
For Athens as your starting point, see the Athens travel guide.
For a broader Greek island comparison, see best Greek islands near Athens.
The Saronic Islands at a Glance
Distances and fastest journey times from Piraeus (Flying Dolphin hydrofoil, in normal conditions):
Aegina: 27 km, about 40 minutes. History, beaches and the Temple of Aphaia; the easiest day trip.
Agistri: 33 km, about 50 minutes. Pine forests, clear water and almost no infrastructure.
Poros: 55 km, about 1 hour. A green sailing island with a five-minute crossing to the Peloponnese.
Hydra: 65 km, about 1 hour 40 minutes. A car-free stone harbour town and the most atmospheric of the five.
Spetses: 82 km, about 2 hours 30 minutes. The Old Harbour, horse-drawn carriages and the best beaches in the gulf.
Which Saronic Island Is Best for You?
Day trip from Athens: Aegina for the temple, the town and the pistachios; Hydra for the harbour and the car-free lanes. Aegina is the easier day, Hydra the more memorable one.
Beaches and swimming: Spetses for the best coves, Agistri for pine-backed water close to Athens, Aegina for easy bays such as Agia Marina and Perdika.
Couples and a romantic weekend: Hydra for the setting, Spetses for the evenings around the Old Harbour.
Families and tighter budgets: Agistri, Poros and Aegina are calmer and cheaper than Hydra. Aegina's buses and short distances make it the easiest with children.
Quiet and few crowds: Agistri, and any of the five on weekdays outside July and August.
History: Aegina for the Temple of Aphaia and Paleochora; Hydra and Spetses for the maritime history of the 1821 revolution.
Combining islands with the mainland: Poros, because the short crossing to Galatas puts Epidaurus, Nafplio and Mycenae within day-trip distance.
The Ferry System: How to Get There
From Piraeus (Athens)
Piraeus is the departure port for all Saronic services. Metro Line 1 (green) and Line 3 (blue, which also runs from the airport) both end at Piraeus, and the ferry gates are a short walk from the station. Saronic departures usually leave from the gates around E8 and E9, but the gate is printed on your ticket and can change, so check it when you arrive.
Operators:
Conventional ferries: slower and cheaper, with open decks and room for cars. Several smaller companies, including Saronic Ferries and Anes Ferries, run the Aegina, Agistri and Poros routes, and which company sails on which day changes by season.
Hellenic Seaways Flying Dolphins: hydrofoils to the islands in roughly half the time of a conventional ferry. They carry no vehicles and cost more.
Booking: online through a ferry booking platform or the operator websites. Book ahead for Friday and Sunday sailings and for July and August; at other times walk-up tickets are usually available.
Current journey times from Piraeus (Flying Dolphin):
- Aegina: ~35-40 minutes
- Agistri: ~50 minutes
- Poros: ~1 hour
- Hydra: ~1 hour 40 minutes
- Spetses: ~2 hours 30 minutes
Departures: several a day to every island, with the most to Aegina. Winter has fewer sailings and some hydrofoil routes thin out, but all five islands stay reachable year-round.
Hydrofoil or Ferry?
Take the hydrofoil when time is the constraint: Aegina takes about 40 minutes instead of roughly an hour and a quarter, and Hydra under two hours instead of far longer. Take the conventional ferry when you want a cheaper ticket, an open deck, or a car on Aegina, Agistri or Poros. Hydrofoil seats are assigned and sell out on summer weekends.
Day Trip or Overnight?
Aegina and Hydra work as day trips: leave on an early boat, return in the evening, and you get five to six hours on the island. Spetses is too far for a comfortable day. Agistri and Poros suit a night or two. One-day cruises that call at Aegina, Poros and Hydra exist, but they give you only a short stop on each, so independent boats give far more time on the one island you actually want.
Inter-Island Connections
The islands are connected to each other as well as to Piraeus, making island-hopping straightforward:
- Aegina → Agistri: 15–20 minutes
- Agistri → Poros: Via Piraeus or with some seasonal direct services
- Poros → Hydra: ~1 hour
Hydra → Spetses: roughly 1 hour on the direct hydrofoil in season
Spetses → Porto Heli or Kosta (Peloponnese): a short crossing, roughly 10 to 20 minutes by small boat
Not every pair of islands has a direct boat all year, so check the timetable and price for your date on a ferry booking platform before you build an itinerary around a connection.
From the Peloponnese
Several Saronic islands have ferry connections to Peloponnese ports as well as to Piraeus:
- Poros ↔ Galatas (Peloponnese): 5-minute crossing, very frequent
- Spetses ↔ Porto Heli and Kosta (Peloponnese): frequent
- Hydra ↔ Ermioni (Peloponnese): regular service
Salamina, Methana and Dokos
Salamina (Salamis) is the largest island in the gulf and technically part of the group, but it works as a suburb of Athens: car ferries cross from Perama around the clock in about 15 minutes, and most visitors skip it. Methana is a volcanic peninsula on the Peloponnese coast with thermal springs, reached by ferry from Piraeus and Aegina. Dokos is a small, almost uninhabited island between Hydra and Spetses that you reach by private boat or water taxi.
Aegina (Αίγινα): History, Pistachios and the Temple of Aphaia
Distance from Piraeus: 27 km | Hydrofoil: ~40 minutes | Conventional ferry: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Aegina is the most historically significant of the Saronic islands and the most visited by Athenians for weekend breaks. It was briefly the capital of the newly independent Greek state (1828–1829) and was one of the most powerful maritime city-states in the ancient Aegean.
What Makes Aegina Different
Aegina is an island that functions as a real community rather than a tourist resort — it has a significant permanent population, a productive agricultural economy (particularly pistachios — Aegina pistachios are the finest in Greece), and a range of tavernas and accommodation that serves Greeks as much as international visitors.
The Temple of Aphaia
The Temple of Aphaia (Aphaeion) is the primary reason to visit Aegina from a historical perspective — and it is extraordinary. A well-preserved Doric temple from around 480 BC, dedicated to the local goddess Aphaia (a Cretan goddess absorbed into the Greek pantheon), it occupies a pine-forested hilltop 12 km from Aegina Town with views across to Salamis and, on clear days, the Acropolis.
The temple's sculptural programme, now in the Munich Glyptothek, depicted two battles for Troy and shows early classical Greek sculpture at its most technically innovative. Twenty-four of the original 32 columns still stand. It is one of the finest surviving ancient temples in Greece.
Aegina Town
The island's capital — a genuine working town with a ferry port, market, neoclassical buildings, and the archaeological site of Kolona (a single surviving column of the Temple of Apollo, plus excavated remains of the ancient acropolis). The waterfront has excellent fish tavernas.
Find hotels in Aegina on Booking.com, or compare prices on Agoda for the best deal.
Agios Nektarios Monastery
One of the most important Orthodox pilgrimage sites in Greece — the modern monastery built around the tomb of Saint Nektarios (canonised 1961), one of the most recently canonised Orthodox saints. A short drive from Aegina Town.
Paleochora
The medieval capital of Aegina — an abandoned Byzantine hill town built around the 9th century on a rocky inland promontory, with over thirty surviving Byzantine chapels scattered among the ruins. An atmospheric and very little-visited site.
Beaches and Perdika
Agia Marina is the busiest resort beach, with sun beds and tavernas and an easy bus ride from Aegina Town. Perdika, at the southern tip, is a fishing village with a row of fish tavernas on the harbour, and in summer small boats run from there to the islet of Moni. Vagia and Aeginitissa are quieter stretches for a swim.
For the full island, see our Aegina travel guide, the best things to do in Aegina and where to stay in our best hotels in Aegina guide.
Agistri (Αγκίστρι): The Quiet One
Distance from Piraeus: 33 km | Hydrofoil: ~50 minutes
Agistri is the smallest and least-known of the main Saronic islands — a small (13 km²), pine-covered island of quiet beaches, clear water, and virtually no tourist infrastructure compared to its neighbours. It is an ideal choice for visitors who want beach and relaxation without Aegina's crowds or Hydra's prices.
The island has two main villages: Skala, where most accommodation is, and Megalochori, a small seaside village. Beaches are pebble and sand, backed by pines, with some of the clearest water in the gulf; Dragonera, Skliri and Aponisos are the ones to know.
Agistri is the correct Saronic choice for: families wanting a calm, affordable base close to Athens; couples wanting to be alone without effort; and anyone for whom "the island" is the point, not a specific historical or cultural attraction.
For port choice, beaches like Aponisos and Dragonera, and where to stay, see our full Agistri travel guide.
Find hotels in Agistri on Booking.com, or compare rates on Agoda for the best value.
Poros (Πόρος): The Green Island
Distance from Piraeus: 55 km | Hydrofoil: ~1 hour | Conventional ferry: ~2 hours 30 minutes
Poros is separated from the Peloponnese mainland by a channel only a few hundred metres wide. The town of Poros sits on the slopes of a small hill on the south shore of the island, facing the mainland village of Galatas, and the five-minute ferry between them runs so frequently that the two function almost as a single community.
Character
Poros is a sailing island — the harbour is full of yachts, the waterfront is active with nautical life, and the atmosphere is more maritime-practical than either Hydra's glamour or Spetses's elegance. It is green and hilly, with lemon trees everywhere (the town smells of lemon blossom in spring).
What to See
Poros Town: The classic Saronic waterfront town — a clock tower visible from the harbour, neoclassical buildings, narrow lanes climbing the hill behind, waterfront tavernas. Pleasant to walk through for an afternoon.
Temple of Poseidon (Kalaureia): the ancient sanctuary of the sea god sits in the pine hills above the town, a fitting presence on one of the most yachting-oriented islands in the Saronic. Only foundations and a few column bases remain, so go for the setting and the views rather than the stonework.
Lemon Forest and monastery: the Limonodassos is a large grove of lemon trees on the coast, at its best in spring when the blossom scents the air, and the Zoodochos Pigi monastery stands in the pines further along the island.
Beaches: Askeli, Vagionia, Love Bay and Neorio are the main swimming spots, all a short drive from the town.
The Peloponnese connection: the car ferry to Galatas opens up the northeastern Peloponnese. Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio and Ancient Corinth are all within day-trip distance, so Poros makes a good base for combining island life with mainland archaeological sites. Our Poros travel guide covers the island in full.
Hydra (Ύδρα): The Car-Free Marvel
Distance from Piraeus: 65 km | Hydrofoil: ~1 hour 40 minutes
Hydra is the Saronic island that visitors remember longest. A horseshoe-shaped stone harbour surrounded by rising captains' mansions, no cars or motorbikes, donkeys carrying whatever cannot be carried by hand, and a long line of artists and writers, Leonard Cohen among them, who found the combination of beauty and remoteness good for work.
The Ban on Cars
Hydra has no roads for cars or motorbikes, only stone-paved paths and stepped lanes. Goods move by donkey, mule or boat. The boat unloads onto the harbour quay, donkeys or porters take the luggage, and you walk. The effect on the atmosphere is difficult to overstate: no traffic noise, no fumes, just footsteps, church bells and the sea.
Hydra Town
The port town of Hydra is one of the finest examples of early 19th-century Greek neoclassical architecture — the mansions of sea-captains who made fortunes in the Revolutionary-era trade, built by Italian artisans and arranged amphitheatrically up the hillsides above the harbour. The Greek War of Independence was partly funded by Hydriot shipping magnates.
The waterfront is lined with cafés, restaurants, and boutiques — more sophisticated and more expensive than anywhere else in the Saronic. The correct evening programme: arrive by late afternoon Flying Dolphin, walk the waterfront as the day-trippers depart, eat at one of the good restaurants above the port, drink at one of the cafés facing the water.
Beyond the Port
Hydra's interior is entirely on foot. The island has no public transport; getting anywhere requires walking, or hiring a water taxi. Key destinations beyond the port town:
Kaminia: The small fishing village 20 minutes' walk west of the port, with the best fish restaurants on the island — fewer tourists, more locals, lower prices, excellent seafood.
Vlychos: A small bay with a pebble beach, 45 minutes' walk or a short water taxi ride. One of the few swimmable beaches accessible without a boat.
Monastery of the Assumption: On a hilltop above the town; the island's main Orthodox monastery, with excellent views.
The interior: Hydra's hilly interior has walking trails through scrub and wild herbs. The highest point (590 m) can be reached in a 2–3 hour walk from the port.
Swimming: the town has no sandy beach. People swim from the rocks just outside the harbour (Hydroneta), at Kamini and at Vlychos, and use water taxis for quieter coves such as Plakes.
For routes, beaches and boats in detail, see our Hydra travel guide and the best things to do in Hydra.
Spetses (Σπέτσες): The Elegant Southern Island
Distance from Piraeus: 82 km | Hydrofoil: ~2 hours 30 minutes
Spetses is the furthest of the main Saronic islands from Athens and the one that feels most independent: more resort-like than Poros, more elegant than Aegina, and less consciously artistic than Hydra. It has the best swimming in the Saronic, an elegant old town built around a beautiful Old Harbour, and restrictions on private cars. Taxis, bikes and scooters are the usual ways to get around, and horse-drawn carriages still wait on the waterfront.
Character
Spetses has traditionally attracted the upper end of the Athenian vacation market — the elegant mansions, the horse-drawn carriages that still serve as taxis, the sophisticated restaurants around the Old Harbour, and the excellent sailing all contribute to an atmosphere of understated luxury that is different from anywhere else in the Saronic.
Its ancient name was Pityoussa, the island of pines, and the pine woods still run down to the coast. Its maritime history is as important as Hydra's: Spetsiots also funded and fought in the Greek Revolution, and the most celebrated figure is Laskarina Bouboulina, a Spetsiot ship-owner who commanded ships in the war of independence and is remembered in the island's museum.
What to See
The Old Harbour (Palio Limani): The historic port, ringed with tavernas and cafés, is more attractive than the New Harbour where ferries dock. Horse-drawn carriages wait for passengers; the evening volta along the waterfront is one of the Saronic's most pleasant social rituals.
Bouboulina's House: Now a museum, the family mansion of Laskarina Bouboulina offers guided tours and the story of one of the most remarkable figures of the Greek revolution.
The Beaches: Spetses has the best swimming in the Saronic. Agia Paraskevi, Agioi Anargyroi and Zogeria are the best known, mostly reached by water taxi or boat, with clear water and light development.
The Armata festival: each September Spetses re-enacts its 1822 naval victory over the Ottoman fleet, with a staged burning of a ship in the Old Harbour. It is the island's biggest event and the best reason to visit outside July and August, but rooms book up early.
Spetses Town: The main town has a neoclassical centre, a cathedral, and the Archaeological Museum of Spetses (local history including boat models and Revolutionary-era artefacts).
Find your ideal Spetses stay on Booking.com — or compare on Agoda for more options.
More detail is in our Spetses travel guide, the best things to do in Spetses and our best hotels in Spetses guide.
Suggested Itineraries
One Day from Athens
Aegina: take an early Flying Dolphin from Piraeus (about 40 minutes), go straight to the Temple of Aphaia before the heat, then return to Aegina Town for a waterfront lunch and a pistachio stop at the market. Catch an afternoon boat back.
Hydra: take the first boat out (about 1 hour 40 minutes), walk the harbour and the lanes, lunch at Kaminia, swim from the rocks, and take the late-afternoon boat back before the evening crowds.
Two-Day Weekend from Athens
Friday afternoon: Flying Dolphin from Piraeus to Hydra (1 hour 40 minutes). Arrive as the day-trippers leave. Dinner in the port.
Saturday: explore Hydra on foot, lunch at Kaminia, swim at Vlychos by water taxi.
Sunday: morning boat back to Piraeus, or continue to Aegina via Piraeus for the Temple of Aphaia and an evening ferry home.
Five-Day Saronic Circuit
Day 1: Piraeus → Aegina (40 min). Temple of Aphaia. Night in Aegina Town.
Day 2: Aegina → Poros (about 1 to 1.5 hours). Afternoon in Poros Town. Night in Poros.
Day 3: Poros → Hydra (about 1 hour). Full day on Hydra. Night in Hydra.
Day 4: Hydra → Spetses (about 1 hour). Afternoon in the Spetses Old Harbour. Night in Spetses.
Day 5: Spetses → Piraeus (about 2.5 hours). Or add a day on Agistri before heading back.
Practical Information
When to visit: May–June and September–October for the best balance of weather, crowd level, and ferry frequency. July–August is peak season; the islands are busy but the water is warm and the atmosphere lively. November–March: quieter, some businesses close, but all ferries run.
Avoid: Friday evenings (Athens exodus) and Sunday evenings (Athens return). Easter weekend — every Athenian family in Greece is trying to be on an island.
Accommodation: Book well in advance for July–August and Easter. The shoulder season (May, June, September, October) is significantly more flexible.
What to bring: comfortable shoes, since Hydra and the Spetses Old Town are cobbled and stepped; a bag you can carry yourself on Hydra; and some cash for water taxis and smaller tavernas, where cards are not always accepted.
Do You Need a Car?
Not on Hydra, which has no cars at all, or on Spetses, where taxis, bikes and scooters are the norm. On Aegina, buses and taxis cover the main sights, though a scooter or hire car helps with the Temple of Aphaia and the beaches. Poros and Agistri are small enough for buses, taxis and bikes. Bring a car only if you are combining Aegina, Agistri or Poros with the Peloponnese.
Accommodation is the one genuinely tricky part of a Hydra trip — there are no chains, no lifts and no taxis to rescue a bad choice. See our best hotels in Hydra guide for what's worth booking in each part of town.
Plan Your Greece Trip
- Athens Travel Guide — the city you're departing from
- Complete guide to Hydra, Greece — the ferry from Piraeus, the Peloponnese crossings, and what the beach boats cost
- Aegina Travel Guide — history and pistachios
- Spetses Travel Guide — the southern gem
- Poros Travel Guide — sailing and the Peloponnese connection
- Best Greek Islands Near Athens — Saronic in context with other Athens-adjacent islands
- Greece Ferry Guide — how ferries work across Greece
- How to Plan a Trip to Greece — full planning framework
Written by
Athens-born engineer · Coordinates a 5-expert Greek team · 50+ years combined field experience
I write every article on this site drawing on real, first-hand expertise — mine and that of four colleagues who live and work across Greece daily: a Peloponnese tour operator, a transfer specialist across Athens, Mykonos & Santorini, a Cretan hotel owner, and a Northern Greece hotel supplier. Nothing here comes from a single visit or desk research.
Informed by 5 Greek experts
Every destination we cover has been visited and vetted by at least one team member — not for a review, but as part of their daily work in Greek tourism.