Located a little over two hours away from Athens, the luscious island of Spetses is a perfect weekend escape from the Greek capital. This idyllic, car-free island of the Argosaronic Gulf is a favourite spot for affluent Athenians and international jet-setters. Here we share our 20 favourite things to do on Spetses Island.
1. Enjoy an afternoon or evening stroll around the buzzing harbour of Dapia Port. The tiny port of Dapia is surrounded by whitewashed, Neoclassical houses and surrounded by chic cafés, and stylish boutiques.
2. Stay at the famous Poseidonion Grand Hotel or at least enjoy a coffee, cocktail, or dinner at Poseidonion Restaurant in Spetses Town, an awarded eatery that uses products from its Organic Farm and has a beautiful veranda where you can enjoy the view of the Saronic Gulf.
3. Grab some pastries at Klimis, housed in Klimis Hotel; this long-running family shop is famous for its sokolatina (chocolate pie), galaktoboureko (custard pie), ekmek (cream and kataifi pie) and voutiki (serano dipped in chocolate.)
4. Visit Panagia Armata Church. Surrounded by lush greenery, the white and yellow chapel located on a hill above the old port of Spetses was built between 1824 and 1830 by captain Ioannis Koutsis, to commemorate and honour the defeat of the Ottoman fleet during the naval battle of 1822.
5. Swim at one of the many beautiful beaches including Palaia Garifalos, Paralia Agioi Anargyroi, Agia Marina, or Agia Paraskevi.
6. Eat at Agios, a family-run tavern that offers authentic Greek food and service with a smile.
7. Visit the Cave of Bekiris, located at Agioi Anargyroi beach. Inside the cave, you can make your way by foot to the fountain which has been created naturally from stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the cave.
8. Have a swim in the bay of Zogeria and then head straight to the tavern right on the water and enjoy a small menu with simple but delicious dishes.
9. Head to Bikini Bar for some lush cocktails, lounge music, and a great vibe.
10. For dinner, make your way to Orloff where they serve creative dishes using pure ingredients; highlighting traditional Greek cooking, they offer exceptional hospitality, great service, and a magical view.
11. The House of Bourboulina is an absolute must. Created in honour of the world’s first female admiral, it was built around the end of the 17th Century. Bouboulina was a heroine who played a significant role in the 1821 Greek War of Independence.
12. The Hatzigiannis- Mexis Museum, housed in a beautiful 18th-century mansion, is also well worth a visit. Here you can see relics and letters written in wartime during the 1821 Greek War of Independence.
13. Admire the Cathedral of Agios Nikolaos, Greece’s Holy Patron Saint of the Sea. With a charming white-marble bell tower, the monastery is located at Hydra’s port and it was here that the islanders first raised their flag of independence.
14. Enjoy the car-free island and make the most of cycling around town on a bike or enjoy a romantic horse ride.
15. Sail to Xylokeriza, a secluded beach 8 km from Dapia, on the south-eastern part of the island.
16. Head to Vanilia, a wonderful local patisserie in the centre of town, just behind the church of Agios Antonios, and try one of the island’s famous amigdalota (almond sweets).
17. Explore the Korgialenios School of Spetses. The Anargyrios and Korgialenios School of Spetses is a historical and cultural heritage site of the island of Spetses. It was established in 1923.
18. Try some local honey, as Spetses produces excellent varieties from the many pine trees around the island. This honey has a distinct taste and flavoured aroma that is amazing with a scoop of Greek yogurt.
19. If you are in the mood for some great music and an uplifting vibe head to Kaiki Beach Club restaurant, which has a great atmosphere.
20. Taste the local specialty la Spetsiota– a delicious seafood dish of Spetses Island. Prepared using freshly caught fish fillets that are marinated in lime juice and ground pepper; the dried fillets are spread over breadcrumbs and drizzled with a fresh tomato and garlic sauce.
How to get to Spetses
There are several daily departures of flying dolphins to Spetses from the port of Piraeus in Athens.
The duration of the trip is approximately two hours with the flying dolphins and 2.5 hours with the flying cats.
