Guide to the Saronic Islands

The tourist season in the Saronic Islands is generally April through October with the best time to visit depending on your travel preferences and interests. You’ll enjoy the warmest weather in the summer, with July and August the busiest and hottest months, averaging around 90 degrees. It’s not the best for hiking but it is ideal for swimming and other watersports. If you visit from around late April through mid-June or mid-September through October, you’ll enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere as it won’t be as crowded and the prices for both accommodation and airfare are typically lower. Spring is best for greenery and colorful wildflowers, while early fall is best for swimming as the sea will still be warm enough.

Visiting Hydra feels like a journey into the past with development restricted, allowing only the renovation of existing structures rather than new builds. A nearly car-free island, it’s ideal for a peaceful escape, with locals and visitors navigating it by boat, donkey, or their own two feet. Along the narrow cobbled streets you’ll see lavish mansions constructed for some of the island’s most important families by Italian artisans. Today, many are home to museums. It is worth visiting the National Historical Museum annex in Lazaros Kountouriotis Mansion, a fine example of the homes of Hydra’s ruling class in the 1800s. The island is also popular for snorkeling, diving, and hiking, in addition to offering plenty of enticing shops and eateries.

Aegina, the closest island to Athens, boasts a main town with neoclassical architecture and a wealth of shops and eateries. But we especially enjoy the small fishing village of Perdika which has a beach next to the Church of Agios Sozon with loungers and umbrellas as well as being ideal for swimming in the clear cobalt waters. Further out there are pebbled and sandy beaches while forested mountains appear in the distance. The village’s cobbled streets and alleyways are lined with whitewashed homes and buildings featuring flower-filled courtyards. There are cafes for enjoying your morning coffee and bars for a relaxed drink with the locals, along with traditional fish tavernas overlooking the Saronic Gulf – Aegina is particularly renowned for its fresh fish.

Agistri is renowned for its stunning beaches, including Aponisos and Dragonera with crystal-clear waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The island’s lush pine trees and vibrant flora create a picturesque landscape ideal for hiking and biking. Lekani Lake in the southwest part of Agistri is the perfect destination for either, surrounded by pine trees while home to many birds and rare plants. The island draws many for water sports like kayaking and sailing too. Megalochori, Skala, and Limenaria, the island’s three villages, provide the chance to get to know the local traditions and sample the local cuisine. While there aren’t many historic sites, the Church of Agioi Anargyroi with its blue dome next to the beach of Skala is popular for photographs.

Although the scenery, opportunities for relaxation, and outdoor activities are the main attractions, the Saronic Islands have a rich historical and cultural heritage. Hydra boasts well-preserved late 18th- and early 19th-century architecture with stunning mansions that reflect its maritime history while Poros hosts the ruins of the ancient Temple of Poseidon, providing insight into its significance in antiquity. The medieval village of Paleochora on Aegina was the island’s capital for nearly a millennium and features a castle built around the 9th century in the same style as Mystras on the mainland. Aegina is also home to the archaeological site of Kolona. The site of the ancient acropolis of Aegina includes well-preserved Mycenaean walls and ruins of the Temple of Apollo. 

There are beautiful beaches throughout the Saronic Islands. Aegina Island is home to sandy Agia Marina with crystal-clear cobalt water offering enticing swims. Hydra’s beaches tend to be pebbly and further from the main town but Kamini is within a relatively short stroll just a third of a mile from the center below Castello. It offers loungers and umbrellas while edged by shallow, clear blue waters, and an abundance of small fish to see with a mask and snorkel. Spetses is known for Agia Paraskevi Beach, located in a sheltered cove with fine golden sand while surrounded by pine forest and mesmerizing translucent turquoise waters. Aponisos on Agistri is one of the most picturesque, popular for watersports and scenic views.

The Saronic Islands are better known for their scenic, tranquil settings conducive to relaxation and outdoor adventure but you will find nightlife on the more cosmopolitan islands of Spetses and Hydra. Spetses’ old port has many bars and clubs that stay open late and host dancing. If nightlife is a priority, it’s the best place you can be. Hydra is home to the infamous Pirate Bar which has been a big part of the nightlife scene on the island since the 1970s, frequently hosting live music and DJs. Aegina has a more relaxed, traditional scene with some tavernas offering live music while quieter Poros has a good selection of laid-back bars that are ideal for drinks under the stars.