Island Day Trips From Athens

11 day trips from Athens

The Saronic Gulf islands are Athens' great escape. Ferries from Piraeus reach Aegina in 40 minutes, Hydra in under two hours, and Poros and Spetses not long after. No car needed -- most of these islands either ban vehicles entirely or are small enough to walk.

For something further afield, Kea in the western Cyclades is a 50-minute catamaran from Lavrio, and Evia -- technically Greece's second-largest island -- is connected to the mainland by a bridge at Chalkida. Whether you want car-free harbours, pine-fringed beaches, or a quick swim and seafood lunch, there's an island day trip to match.

Island Day Trips From Athens

Aerial view of Hydra harbour with stone mansions and moored boats, Saronic Gulf Islands

Hydra Island Day Trip From Athens

No cars, no motorbikes, no high-rises. Hydra is the most atmospheric island you can reach from Athens in a day -- a car-...

65 km 90 min 5 min read
Doric columns of the Temple of Aphaia on a pine-covered hilltop, Aegina island Islands

Aegina Island Day Trip From Athens

The closest Greek island to Athens and the easiest to reach -- Aegina is a 40-minute ferry ride from Piraeus, with a 2,5...

27 km 5 min read
Aerial view of Hydra harbour, a stop on the Saronic Islands day cruise Islands

Saronic Islands Cruise From Athens: Hydra, Poros, and Aegina in One Day

Three Greek islands in a single day -- the Saronic Islands cruise is one of the most popular day trips from Athens. You ...

5 min read
Poros town waterfront seen from the sea with white and terracotta-roofed buildings rising to the clock tower, yachts in the harbour and mountains beyond Islands

Poros Day Trip From Athens

A small, green island separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strait just 250 metres wide -- Poros is one of the easi...

58 km 5 min read
Pine-fringed beach with turquoise water near Skala on Agistri island Islands

Agistri Day Trip From Athens

The least known of the Saronic islands and arguably the most beautiful for a simple beach day. Agistri is a small, pine-...

55 min 5 min read
Waterfront and harbour of Spetses island with neoclassical buildings Islands

Spetses Day Trip From Athens

The furthest Saronic island from Athens and the most refined -- Spetses is where wealthy Athenians have kept summer home...

6 min read
The Strait of Salamis where the Greek fleet defeated Persia in 480 BC Islands

Salamis Island Day Trip From Athens

The closest island to Athens and one of the most historically significant places in the Western world -- yet almost no t...

7 min read
Ioulida hillside village seen from Korissia port, Kea island, Cyclades Islands

Kea Island Day Trip From Athens: The Un-Touristy Cyclades

Kea is the closest Cycladic island to Athens -- just one hour by ferry from Lavrio port -- and almost nobody outside Gre...

8 min read
The old sliding bridge over the Euripos Strait at Chalkida, connecting Evia to the mainland Islands

Evia and Eretria Day Trip From Athens

Greece's second-largest island is right next to Athens -- barely an hour's drive to the bridge at Chalkida, or a quick f...

9 min read
The colorful waterfront buildings of Little Venice in Mykonos with balconies overlooking the turquoise Aegean Sea Islands

Athens to Mykonos: Ferry and Flight Guide

Mykonos lies just 150 km southeast of Athens across the Aegean -- close enough that the fastest ferry from Rafina port c...

150 km 40 min 17 min read
Blue-domed church with white walls overlooking the Aegean Sea in Oia, Santorini Islands

Athens to Santorini: Ferry and Flight Guide

Santorini sits roughly 200 km southeast of Athens across the Aegean Sea. Up to ten ferries make the crossing daily in su...

200 km 45 min 14 min read

Planning your escape from the capital? Browse our complete guide to the best day trips from Athens.