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Travelling is in so many peoples’ hearts. Whether you travel for amusement or educational reasons, business or family obligations traveling is and will be essential for a big part of the world. Some people like visiting museums or theatres, some casinos to play and place Free Bets, some have to travel because of work, and some go to see loved ones. There are many faces and reasons to traveling but here we will be covering beautiful Greek islands close to Athens for a city/island combo trip.
Do you want to visit Greece, but you can’t decide between visiting the mainland or the islands? Why not both? We have gathered the top Greek islands close to Athens, so you combine both the mainland historic and cultural attractions with the unique, blue Mediterranean waters and sandy beaches.
Hydra
Hydra is 2 hours and 30 minutes away from the port of Piraeus. The city of Hydra is located in the center of the island and is built amphitheatrically around the port, being a model of architecture and aesthetics.
At first glance, Hydra wins its visitor. Maybe it’s the picturesqueness of the island, its colors, maybe it’s its longevity and cultural heritage, or maybe all together.
In its cobbled alleys, there are no wheeled vehicles but only donkeys, so it is a first-class opportunity to completely escape from the sounds of the city. In general, Hydra is famous for the quiet life it offers during the day, but also for the cosmopolitan life, at night. There are many accommodation options.
Hydra has crystal clear beaches with sand and pebbles or rocks. Access is by foot, donkey, or boat.
Agios Nikolaos is an organized beach with pebbles and clear crystal-clear waters, with pine-covered slopes and suitable for underwater fishing. The same goes for Limnioniza, the most beautiful beach on the south coast of the island.
To the east, Nisiza stands out, while Klimaki is a large beach with many holiday homes.
Finally, Bisti has high cliffs and is suitable for longboats and snorkeling.
Elafonisos
For those of you who are looking for something extremely impressive, Elafonisos is a destination that may be a bit further from Athens but will compensate you with more beauty. To reach Ellafonisos, you will drive from Athens, via the Athens-Corinth highway in about 4.5 hours to the port of Pounta where you will cross across to Elafonisos by ferry in a few minutes.
You can also travel from Piraeus by boat or dolphin boat to Naples and then drive to Pounta and cross opposite the local ferries and boats. Elafonisos is only 300 meters from Pounta.
If you are looking for a quiet vacation, the earthly paradise of Laconia, Elafonisos is waiting for you. Choose to go around the island by boat. In the village, you will find cafes, bakeries, supermarkets, and mini markets.
In Elafonisos you will see some of the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean, taverns, and ouzo in the port, and a relatively satisfactory number of rooms for rent.
The sea area in Pavlopetri and Hamokelo are offered for windsurfing and kite surfing. Elafonisos is also a paradise for fishing as in its waters there is the whole sea world of the Aegean.
Elafonisos has many sandy beaches. Most famous of all, the duo Frangos – Sarakiniko (Simos) but also one and only on the pebble island that is well hidden behind the islet of Aglyftis. Each beach of Elafonisos is of incomparable beauty: Kontogoni, Kalogeras, Megalo Tigani, Lefki, Pounta, Pavlopetri, Panagia islands, one more beautiful than the other are waiting for us to discover them.
Andros
They called her “princess of the Cyclades”. Andros, lively but also peaceful and it will offer you an unforgettable stay. With beautiful beaches, good food, nightlife, museums, libraries, monuments, a combination of mountain and sea, caves, wonderful natural environment and finally just two hours away from Rafina, sounds attractive proposal for the weekend.
Its port is Gavrio. The center of the island is not in the port and since Andros is the second-largest island in the Cyclades it would be good to have your own means of transport.
The island has several rivers, streams, torrents, waterfalls, and springs and is quite green. Andros also has a rich network of paths-cobbled streets and is generally suitable for walking due to its rich terrain and dense vegetation in several places. As a genuine Aegean island, it has some beaches for surfers (Agios Petros, Korthi).
Generally, on the west side of Andros, there are large leeward, sandy beaches, used for tourism. Those who are looking for peace and wild beauty will find it on the beaches of the northeast and southeast.
Kea
Daily departures from the port of Lavrio in 1 hour take you to the port of Kea also known as Tzia.
Kea is not yet saturated with tourism. It is an island with incomparable natural beauty and strong traditional character. It belongs to the Cyclades and is located between the southeast coast of Attica and the islands of Kythnos, Syros, and Andros. Although Kea is not famous for its nightlife, there are still entertainment opportunities.
For hiking enthusiasts, Kea has trails with a total length of 36 km, of which 65% are paved and most end up on secluded beaches, offering a unique experience and contact with nature. In terms of food, local cuisine is famous for its delicacies!
Jia has streams, valleys, hills, olive groves, sandy beaches, picturesque villages. It is ideal for those seeking relaxation. It also has many beautiful settlements with a variety of taverns and restaurants, as well as many hotels, apartments, rooms to let, and studios. Chora is located in the center of the island and the port on the west side and has a very picturesque beach, the beach of Korissia.
Pisses is a picturesque seaside village on the west side of the island, built on a cove. For the cosmopolitan, the settlement of Vourkari is offered with a view of the yachts. Gialiskari beach is one of the most popular on the island and is overgrown with eucalyptus trees. Finally, in Kambi for those of you who will stay on the beach until sunset you will enjoy a great sunset.
Poros
Poros is 2 hours and 15 minutes by conventional ferry from Piraeus and 1 hour by dolphin boat. With its picturesqueness, cosmopolitan life, and modern comforts, it has become a pole of attraction.
It is overgrown with pines that reach the sea. In the picturesque alleys of Poros, among the whitewashed houses, there are scattered traditional taverns. Along the pier, there are cafes, restaurants, tourist shops, and bars.
Neorio is probably the most picturesque area of Poros. The beaches Mikros and Megalos Neorios, the Port of Love, and the Russian Naval Station with the small island of Daskalio stand out, while frequent transportation by bus, taxi, or by boat connects the city with these areas. Especially in the Port of Love, you can enjoy a bath
Also, Vagionia is an organized beach offered for quiet holidays and spearfishing. It is an underwater “museum”, since at its bottom the whole state can be seen, even paved streets and foundations of ancient houses.
