Getting from Crete to Spetses

If you are heading to Spetses from Crete you are going to one of the most elegant of the Saronic islands. 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. John Fowles lived here and set The Magus on the island, and the house that inspired it is still there.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Crete to Spetses. The two are not connected by sea. Getting there means taking the overnight ferry from Crete to Piraeus and then connecting onto the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses, which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours with several daily departures. Total journey time by this route is the better part of a day.

Getting there by air

Spetses has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Crete to Athens takes around 50 minutes and then the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Total travel time via Athens is around 4 to 5 hours and is the most practical approach.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and take the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses. It is considerably faster than the overnight ferry from Crete and gets you on the island in under 5 hours. If you are combining Spetses with a trip to the southern Peloponnese, the water taxi from Porto Heli is a useful connection from the mainland side.