Getting from Athens to Spetses

If you are heading to Spetses from Athens you are going to one of the most elegant of the Saronic islands and one of the most immediately charming. Spetses is car-free, its streets given over to horses, carriages and scooters, and the old town around the harbour is a good-looking mix of neoclassical mansions, a clock tower and waterfront tavernas. The island has a strong nautical tradition and played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence. The beaches around the coastline are good and largely accessible only by water taxi or boat, which keeps them from getting overwhelmed. John Fowles lived here and set The Magus on the island, and the house that inspired it is still there.

Take the ferry

The Piraeus to Spetses ferry is one of the most popular Saronic crossings. Fast ferries cover the distance in around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours with several daily departures year-round. Conventional ferries take around 2.5 to 3 hours. The crossing is well served and you rarely need to book in advance except on summer weekends. Spetses is also reachable by water taxi from Porto Heli on the Peloponnese coast in around 15 minutes, which is useful if you are combining the island with a Peloponnese trip.

Getting there by air

Spetses has no airport. The ferry from Piraeus is the only practical option and at under 2 hours on the fast boat it is one of the easier Saronic connections from Athens.

Your best option

Take the fast ferry from Piraeus. It is frequent, reliable and the crossing through the Saronic Gulf is a pleasure. If you are combining Spetses with a trip to the southern Peloponnese, the water taxi from Porto Heli is a convenient way to reach the island without returning to Athens.