Top Reasons to Go to the Saronic Gulf Islands

Handsome Hydra: The place for the jet-setter who appreciates walking more than showing off new wheels, Hydra offers both tranquility and sociability—a bustling main town and abundant walking trails. What’s here (stone houses set above a welcoming harbor) and what’s not (cars) provide a relaxing retreat.

Ship-Shape Spetses: A fine jumping-off point for the Peloponnesian shore, cosmopolitan Spetses is famed for its Spetsiot seafaring tradition—not surprisingly, the Old Town harbor is car-free and picture-perfect.

Ancient Aegina: Not far from this vast island’s medieval Paliachora—with nearly 20 churches—is the Temple of Aphaia, one of Greece’s best-preserved Archaic sites. Aegina’s isle is the closest Saronic island to Athens’s port of Piraeus.

Pistachio Perfection: You can already taste them—salty, sweet, mellow—and the best pistachio nuts anywhere may come from Aegina.