Getting from Santorini to Spetses

If you are heading to Spetses from Santorini you are in for one of the more rewarding island switches you can make in Greece. Spetses sits in the Saronic Gulf just off the Peloponnese coast, a car-free island of neoclassical sea captains' mansions, pine-covered hills and a harbour that manages to feel genuinely elegant without trying too hard. John Fowles lived here and set The Magus on the island, which is worth reading before you go. The beaches are good, the old harbour is beautiful in the evening and the absence of motorbikes and cars means the island has a pace and a quiet that is almost impossible to find anywhere in the Cyclades in summer.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Spetses. The connection goes via Piraeus. Take the ferry from Santorini to Piraeus, which takes around 5 to 8 hours depending on the vessel, and then connect onto the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses, which takes around 2 to 3 hours. Total journey time by this route is significant, which makes flying the more practical option for most people.

What about flying?

Spetses has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Santorini to Athens and then taking the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Spetses gives you a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours, which is considerably faster than going by sea the whole way. 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 practical approach and the ferry from Piraeus to Spetses is a pleasant crossing through the Saronic Gulf. One thing to know before you arrive: there are no cars or motorcycles on Spetses. You get around on foot, by bicycle, by horse-drawn carriage or by water taxi. It is one of the island's best qualities and you will appreciate it within an hour of arriving.