Getting from Mykonos to Spetses

Spetses has a charm that is hard to pin down but easy to feel. It is a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf, close enough to Athens to attract Athenians for weekends but far enough from the main tourist circuit to retain a character of its own. The old harbour is beautiful, the neoclassical mansions around it speak to a prosperous seafaring past and the pine-covered interior gives the island a different smell and feel to the bare rock of the Cyclades. John Fowles set The Magus here, which is worth knowing before you go and worth reading on the beach while you are there. Getting to Spetses takes a bit more planning than a Cyclades hop but it is absolutely worth it.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Mykonos to Spetses. The connection goes via Piraeus. Take the ferry from Mykonos to Piraeus, which takes around 2.5 to 5 hours depending on the vessel, and then connect onto the Saronic ferry from Piraeus down to Spetses. The Piraeus to Spetses crossing takes around 2 to 3 hours depending on the service and the stops along the way. Total journey time from Mykonos is around 5 to 8 hours but the Saronic leg is a scenic one, passing Poros and Hydra on the way.

What about flying?

Spetses does not have an airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Mykonos to Athens and then taking the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses is the fastest overall approach, with total travel time around 4 to 5 hours. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and take the Saronic ferry from Piraeus. It is the most time efficient approach and the ferry from Piraeus to Spetses passes through some of the finest coastline in the Saronic Gulf. One important thing to know before you arrive: there are no cars or motorcycles on Spetses. You get around by horse-drawn carriage, water taxi, bicycle or on foot. It is one of the island's best qualities.