SpetsesArgo-Saronic Islands · Greece

All About Spetses

Spetses is considered to be one of the most popular islands in Greece. Situated in the heart of the Saronic Gulf, it is just two hours away by ferry from Athens, and it serves as an ideal weekend escape destination. Taking a ferry to Spetses is easy, just use Ferryscanner to compare ferry companies and book ferry tickets.

Spetses is famous for its long naval tradition and its significant contribution to the 1821 War of Independence. The island is covered in pine trees, the population is small and the people mainly use horse-drawn carriages for their transportation, since the use of cars is forbidden here.

Spetses offers an elegant atmosphere and a picturesque landscape, mainly thanks to the Venetian mansions of its main town, which emit an ageless aura. Among the many sightseeing opportunities of the island are the Museum of Spetses, the Anargyros Mansion, the old harbor, and many secluded and beautiful beaches. Spetses is a true traveler’s paradise.
 

Routes and Ferries to Spetses

You can book your ferry tickets to Spetses with Blue Star Ferries by using Ferryscanner. The ride is two hours and fifteen minutes long and the ship will make interval stops at Poros, Hydra, and Hermioni. There is just one ferry crossing to Hydra every day starting at 17:00, so be sure to get to the port on time!

As Hydra has no airport, the only option is to travel there by sea. If you are flying into Athens International Airport, you can either take the X96 shuttle bus to the port of Piraeus or catch the direct train from the terminal. Otherwise, take a taxi from the airport for a more relaxed journey. On Ferryscanner you can easily compare prices or ferry companies and book cheap ferry tickets to Spetses.
 

Ports of Spetses

There are two ports on the island of Spetses. Baltiza is the old port and it is located at the feet of the small inhabited village. It was an important shipbuilding center during the 18th and 19th-century and it is still active today, offering essential services, such as water and fuel on the quay. The new port, Dapia, is the heart of Spetses and the latest settlement of the island. Its beautiful cobblestone roads create an ideal landscape for relaxing walks by the water, especially during the summer.
 

Capital & Villages

Take your time exploring all of what Spetses has to offer by taking a stroll or renting a boat. The proximity to Athens makes this a weekend getaway you can return to again and again.

Town of Spetses

The town of Spetses is the capital and administrative center of the island. Most of the available facilities on the island, such as banks, grocery stores, bakeries, and tourist shops are concentrated here. The town also offers many hotels, luxurious villas, traditional restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. The monastery of Agios Nikolaos, patron of the sailors, situated just outside of the town, is an interesting landmark. Since cars are not allowed in Spetses Town, you can use horses, donkeys, and bicycles as your usual means of transport.

Baltiza

Baltiza is the old port of Spetses, a natural harbor, and a deep inlet. During the 18th and 19th-centuries, Baltiza was the place where the main ship building activity of the island took place, and where traditional wooden ships are built still to this day. During the winter, the harbor is very quiet and picturesque, while in the summer it turns cosmopolitan, full of yachts, sailboats, and tourists from all over the world. The lighthouse stands on a little peninsula, while the view from the chapel of the Virgin of the Armada, situated right across the port, is astonishing, especially during sunset.

Dapia

Dapia is the new harbor of the island and it is located at the heart of Spetses town. Many buildings in this area are painted in white and blue, while a cobblestone coastal road provides the main means of travel. Here most of the cafes, tourist shops, and restaurants of the island can be found. Furthermore, here you can visit the Spetses Museum, the Bouboulina Museum, and the beautiful Anargyros mansion. The square located in the middle of the main road is the place where the island’s seafaring leaders met to organize the revolt against the Ottomans during the 1820s.

Kasteli

Kasteli is the oldest district of Spetses Town. It was first built in the 17th-century and destroyed by the Ottomans as a punishment for the participation of the inhabitants in the Orlov revolt, during the Russo-Turkish war. Today the area is packed with box-shaped traditional Spetsiot houses with clay tile roofs and large colored windows. Important landmarks here are the church of Agia Triada with its splendid wood-carved iconostasis and the remains of some Venetian fortifications.

Kounoupitsa

Kounoupitsa is a historic district of the island, created right after the 1821 Revolution. It is the closest village to Dapia, and it offers a number of small marble and sandy beaches. Kounoupitsa is also a great tourist attraction thanks to its high-quality seaside taverns, cafes, and gift shops.
 

Best Beaches

It’s hard to believe the gorgeous beaches of Spetses are just a short ferry ride away from Athens. These crystal clear waters and soft sandy beaches are all worth a visit.

Agia Paraskevi

The Beach of Agia Paraskevi is located in a sheltered cove on the western coast of Spetses, just 12 kilometers from Dapia. This is a beautiful and peaceful sandy beach, shaded by many pine trees, which offers some watersport facilities and a snack bar. The beach owes its name to the cube-shaped chapel situated in the area, and it can be reached by road or taxi boats.

Agioi Anargyroi

The beach of Agioi Anargyroi is one of the largest beaches on the island and it is located on the southwestern coast of Spetses. It is situated in a nice cove and it offers soft sand, many pebbles, and deep waters, ideal for water sports, such as windsurfing, water skiing, and rocket rides. The beach of Agioi Anargyroi can be reached by local bus or taxi boat.

Kaiki Beach

Kaiki Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island, located in a close distance from the town of Spetses. It offers clean waters, beautiful natural surroundings, many sunbeds and umbrellas to rent, a rich bar, and a few watersport facilities, such as flyboarding and jet-skiing. This beach is easily accessible on foot in about 20 minutes from Dapia.

Agia Marina Beach

The beach of Agia Marina, also known as Paradise, is the most popular beach in Spetses, located just a couple of kilometers away from Dapia. A beautiful beach is surrounded by wonderful scenery full of palm trees, pines, and cypresses, it is named after a small chapel in pink and white colors, dedicated to Agia Marina. There you will find a wide range of watersports, a beach bar and various nice taverns where you can enjoy some relaxing moments. The beach can be reached by taxi boat, on foot or by the local bus.
 

Transportation around Spetses

Since the use of personal cars in Spetses is prohibited, there are some other ways in which you can explore the region. You can book a taxi, a water taxi, or rent bicycles and motorbikes if you are feeling more adventurous. Otherwise, you can ride horse carriages, since they are extensively used around the island. There are two starting points for carriages, one on the port of Dapia and another on Poseidoniou square.