Conveniently located near Athens, the Saronic islands are a popular day trip from the Greek capital for travelers and locals alike. The southernmost islands in this group can be visited from the Peloponnese, by taking a ferry from the port towns of Ermioni or Porto Heli. You could also rent your own boat, or book a private tour by yacht.
The Saronic islands do not have airports, and can only be reached by sea.
If you would like to experience Athens and the Saronic islands in one trip, you can do so with this fourteen-day itinerary.
From Athens
Duration: from 10 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your destination
Athens is connected to many of the Saronic islands via Piraeus port. To get to Piraeus from downtown Athens, you have the option of taking a private transfer, taxi, rental car, or the green line (M1) of the Athens Metro.
On some routes, you will be able to book a ticket for either a regular ferry or a hydrofoil. Choosing the hydrofoil can significantly reduce your travel time. However, if you plan to bring a rental car with you to the island, you will need to take a regular ferry. Ferry tickets can be booked in advance.
Aegina, Hydra, Poros, and Spetses can be reached from Piraeus. Getting to these islands takes anywhere from forty minutes to two hours. Agistri is served by a once-weekly ferry from Aegina, while some of the smaller islands, like Dokos, can only be visited by private boat.
Salamina (Salamis) is the largest Saronic island, and is very close to Athens. Small passenger boats travel from Piraeus to Salamina several times a day. However, connections to Salamina are much more frequent from the port of Perama, a thirty-minute drive from Piraeus. The boat ride from Perama takes under ten minutes.
From Ermioni or Porto Heli
Duration: from 10 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your destination
The towns of Ermioni and Porto Heli, located on the tip of the Argolid Peninsula, also offer ferry connections to the Saronic islands. To reach these towns from Nafplio or elsewhere in the Peloponnese, you can drive a rental car, book a private transfer, or take a bus to the town of Kranidi, where you can catch another local bus heading to either port.
Both Ermioni and Porto Heli offer connections to Hydra, Poros, and Spetses. The ride can be as short as ten minutes, or as long as two hours. Note that the vessels making these journeys are generally small hydrofoils, and cannot support cars. Only a few ferries leave per day, so booking in advance is recommended.