Athens is considered to be one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. With many places to see in the heart of what was once Ancient Greece, the cultural and historical heritage places it among the top of tourist attractions.
Back in the day , Athens started its economic expansion with the seagoing development of the port of Piraeus, situated along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf. In present, Athens enjoys the well-deserved recognition it received in all the spheres, from economic and maritime, to art and culture. Being in the influence sphere in terms of tourism, people take into account the Islands near Athens as much as they do with Athens itself. 7 beautiful Islands near Athens attract millions of tourists every year. The lucky ones that already live in their proximity, spend their weekends in such a way that’s sure to recharge their batteries.
- Aegina
One of the Saronic Islands of Greece, Aegina is the closest island near Athens and relatively close to Poros. With Ancient Temples ready to be explored, Byzantine Churches, and delicious food, Aegina is the type of destination that makes tourists return- because they bought a holiday house there. It’s food and nightlife are pretty good as well and if you consider that it is very easy to get there, it makes it an ideal destination for a day trip from Athens.
Situated on a slope overlooking Argo-Saronic Gulf, Hydra encourages tourists to step into a realm of art. With weighty names like Picasso or Chagall that got inspired by the landscape and transposed the romantic views of the Island on paper, it’s no doubt that tourists will feel the same connection.
With buildings dating back to the 18th Century and stone-paved streets, the Island has a tradition to assure an enjoyable staying by being diverse, in terms of activities. With donkeys ready to give you a ride, water activities, and hundreds of churches, monasteries as well as museums to be visited, Hydra deserves its position among the tourist choices.
Hydra is also one of the very close islands to Athens since it is only 37 nautical miles which means that it will take you around 1 hour and 30 minutes to get there.
Anyone that wants to dive into spending their holiday, must start by visiting the Temple of Poseidon, in Poros. The historic Clock tower shouldn’t rush you, but rather influence you to stop and start admiring the view. As for the Lemon Forest of thousands of lemon and orange trees, it’s a sure thing you’ll bear the hot weather and enjoy the refreshing exotic view.
For any visitors that don’t have the time to visit this Island near Athens and want to see the temple of Poseidon, you are lucky because there is another one in Sounio.
- Agistri the heaven of camping.
Agistri or Angistri is around 5 minutes from Aegina and 1 hour from Piraeus. Widely known for its beautiful gulfs, secret caves for tourists with explorer spirit, wandering routes, and cycling spaces, the small but compact Island promises to offer an engaging holiday that combines activity with relaxation.
The crystal clear Island always managed to attract tourists to its shores, especially those living in Athens, that spend every weekend relaxing and swimming in Skala, Dragonera, Megalochori, and the beach of Aponisos.
For nonconformists, nudist beaches are common in Agistri. The most famous is Chalikiada beach, and that can be seen with the naked eye. With many lakes and churches to be visited, like the Church of Agioi Anargyroi, Church of Virgin Mary, and Church of Agia Kyriaki, there are options for everybody to spend quality time.
- Spetses
Also called “ The Island of Captains”, Spetses is full of surprises, and one of the options that many tourists are quick to consider in their search for the ideal holiday destination.
Poseidon Square is protected by the statue of Laskarina Bouboulina, the Greek War of Independence heroine, and invites tourists to be good citizens and visit the heroine’s Museum, otherwise…
Housing ports and a beautiful promenade, Spetses also holds historic value, being the perfect host for the House of Hatzigiannis Mexis, where tourists can have an insight into the past by observing the details of many items. The most famous church, Church of Agios Nikolaos near Dapia, welcomes tourists to convince themselves the interior is just as impressive as the exterior. Baltiza, or the Old harbour of Spetses cannot be missed. At a distance of around 2 kilometers from New Harbour, also called Dapia, the passionate about ships, are welcome into the naval world of the past to see and discover the most important shipbuilding center, dating back to the 18th and 19th Century.
- Kythnos spend a relaxing weekend in this Island near Athens
With plenty of flowers to surround the traditional small villages, tourists often find themselves returning to this place of tradition. Landscapes to be discovered along with the history behind might awake the curiosity in many tourists interested in the past, starting from the Mesolithic. Also called Thermia, the Island is attractive for its numerous sandy beaches, one of the most appreciated being Kolona.
- Tzia/ Kea one of the most-well known Islands near Athens.
Located in the proximity of the port Lavrio, at just an hour, the atmosphere of the Island Tzia and the trekking tradition are sure to attract tourists. After long walks on the cobbled alleys and enjoying the nature, along with exploring ancient ruins and the sea caves, tourists can enjoy the traditional Greek dishes at nearby restaurants.
They say we don’t have enough holidays to cover all the landscapes worth seeing in a lifetime. But the right choice, at the right time, during the right holiday, will surely make experiences and memories once in a lifetime.
The Islands near Athens have always been a dear option to those accustomed to the beauty of Greece, and are likely to become one for those visiting for the first time. With history and stillness all around, the Islands of the Sargonic Gulf are the ideal choice for holiday, no matter what other goals you have besides that of completely detaching from daily life: whether you want to connect to the ancient past by visiting and exploring the monasteries and museums, or you want to learn more about the ships and naval tradition while admiring the crystal clear beaches around, the Islands near Athens are known to have a long history of providing the best landscapes and activities, to assure the tourists a relaxing vacation that they won’t regret or forget.
Athens at a Glance 