Spetses has a character unlike any other island in the Saronic Gulf. It is elegant, pine-scented and almost entirely car-free — the only vehicles permitted are a handful of service trucks and the horse-drawn carriages that clip-clop along the waterfront. The island has a proud naval history, a tradition of education and culture, and a beauty that is refined rather than dramatic.

The Island

Spetses is medium-sized — around 22 square kilometres — with a permanent population of around 4,000 people. The landscape is dominated by pine forests that cover most of the island, with a coastline of rocky coves and sandy beaches. The main settlement is Spetses Town (also called Dapia), a beautiful harbour town of neoclassical mansions, cobbled lanes and a waterfront that is one of the most elegant in the Saronic Gulf.

Sights and Attractions

Spetses Town is the island's great attraction — a beautiful, lively town with a magnificent waterfront, elegant neoclassical mansions and a maze of cobbled lanes. The Bouboulina Museum is the island's most important cultural attraction — housed in the mansion of Laskarina Bouboulina, the female naval commander who played a crucial role in the Greek War of Independence, it tells her extraordinary story with intelligence and style.

The Spetses Museum in the old mansion of Hatzigiannis Mexis holds an excellent collection of objects relating to the island's naval history, including figureheads, weapons and documents from the War of Independence.

The Old Harbour (Palio Limani) is the most beautiful part of the island — a small, sheltered bay of traditional boatbuilding yards, tavernas and the beautiful Church of Agios Nikolaos, where the Greek flag was first raised on Spetses in 1821.

Beaches

Spetses has excellent beaches, all accessible by water taxi or bicycle. Agia Paraskevi is the most popular — a long, sandy beach on the north coast. Agioi Anargyroi is a beautiful bay on the south coast, with clear water and a taverna. Zogeria is a wild, pine-fringed cove on the northwest coast.

Eating and Drinking

The food on Spetses is excellent. Exedra on the waterfront is the place for a long, elegant lunch; Patralis is the local favourite for fresh fish. The island has a lively bar scene in summer, centred on the waterfront.

How to Get There

Spetses is served by hydrofoil and ferry from Piraeus (around 2.5 hours by hydrofoil) and connects to Hydra, Poros and Aegina.

Best For

Spetses suits travellers who want an elegant, refined island experience — those who appreciate history and culture alongside beautiful beaches, who enjoy cycling and walking and who want a Saronic island with a distinct, sophisticated character.

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Thinking about Spetses? Talk to us — we can build it into a Saronic island itinerary that takes in Hydra, Poros and Aegina.