An hour from the capital
Hydra · Spetses · Poros · Tzia (Kea)
Best for Short trips, long weekends and families avoiding extra flights
Why go
The Saronic and Argolic islands are the elegant short game: no domestic flight, no early transfer, a fast boat or a private helicopter from Athens and you are in a car-free harbour town by lunch.
Neoclassical, car-free and effortlessly sophisticated. Hydra and Spetses are the Athenian art-and-sailing set at play; Poros is green and quaint; Tzia is the locals' secret — stone villas, empty coves and no airport.
What each one is really like
Hydra
No cars, no scooters — donkeys, sea-captains' mansions and one of the strongest contemporary art scenes in Greece.
Spetses
Horse carriages, pine forest to the waterline and old shipowning grandeur, with proper restaurants.
Poros
Green, quiet and pretty, separated from the Peloponnese by a channel you can swim.
Tzia (Kea)
The Athenians' own weekend island: oak valleys, ancient trails, stone villas and no airport at all.
- A captain's mansion converted into a small hotel on Hydra
- A grand old waterfront house on Spetses
- Private stone villas with pools on Tzia
- Helicopter or private speedboat transfer from Athens
- Gallery and studio circuit on Hydra with a curator
- Cycle or carriage the perimeter road of Spetses at dusk
- Ancient footpath walk to the Lion of Kea
Saronic long weekend
A starting shape, not a fixed programme. Every day below moves, stretches or disappears depending on who is travelling.
- Day 1
Athens to Hydra
Private speedboat or helicopter from the city. Car-free harbour, captains' mansions and an evening at a waterside table.
Overnight — Captain's mansion hotel, Hydra - Day 2
Art and swimming
Gallery and studio circuit with a curator, then a boat to Bisti or Agios Nikolaos for the afternoon swim.
Overnight — Captain's mansion hotel, Hydra - Day 3
Across to Spetses
Short crossing to pine-forested Spetses. Horse carriage through the old harbour, dinner in the shipowners' quarter.
Overnight — Waterfront house, Spetses - Day 4
Perimeter and return
Cycle or drive the coast road at dusk, then a private boat back to the mainland and a car to Athens.
Overnight — Departure
What we would tell a friend
The things that decide whether a week here is good or unforgettable — timing, access and knowing which side of the island to be on.
- Gateway
- Athens (ATH)
- Transfer
- Fast ferry 2h, private speedboat 1h 15m, or helicopter 20 min
- Ground
- No cars on Hydra; carriages and water taxis on Spetses
- Pairs well with
- Athens, Nafplio and the Peloponnese
No flights required
This is the itinerary for a four-night trip, an add-on before a mainland tour, or anyone who refuses another airport.
Hydra has no wheels
Donkeys carry the luggage. Hard-shell cases and steep lanes do not mix — soft bags only.
Weekends belong to Athens
Athenians arrive Friday night. Midweek stays are quieter and easier to book at short notice.
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Start an enquiryHow the six categories differ
| Category | Best for | Season | Pace | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
City & coast Athens & the Athenian Riviera | First-timers who want culture plus a swim, and short stays before the islands | April–June · September–October | 2–3 nights, ideally before the islands | Open guide |
Cosmopolitan The fashionista islands | Travellers who want design hotels, beach clubs and a scene | Late May–June · September | 5–7 nights, two islands maximum | Open guide |
Trending now The new darlings of the Cyclades | Repeat visitors chasing the islands everyone will talk about next year | June · September | 6–8 nights, best combined by private boat | Open guide |
Off the beaten track Barefoot and unhurried | Independent travellers happy to trade polish for authenticity | June · Early September | 7+ nights, low-key and unstructured | Open guide |
Close to Athens An hour from the capital | Short trips, long weekends and families avoiding extra flights | May–October, and weekends year-round | 2–4 nights, no flights required | Open guide |
The real rural Greece beyond the postcard | Slow travellers, food and nature people, and anyone escaping crowds | May · September–October | 5–7 nights, best driven | Open guide |
