Ferry from Poros to Spetses

Poros Guide

The small Greek island of Poros is located in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf and is made up of two islands. Spharia is the southern island and Kalaureia is the northern and larger of the two islands. Spanning the narrow strait that separates the two islands is a bridge. The island is roughly 60 km to the south of Piraeus and is only 200 m from the Peloponnese on the Greek mainland. There are a few popular tourist attractions on the island including several chapels and churches located around the island with the most interesting being the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi and the Metropolitan Temple of Saint George. The 18th century Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi is located around 4 km from Poros Town and sits in an area surrounded by pine and plane trees. The monastery is where visitors will find the graves of the famous Greek captains Tobazis, N. Apostolis and An. Miaoulis.

The island is connected to the port of Piraeus by ferry and catamaran with a crossing time of around 2 hours and 30 minutes by ferry, and 1 hour and 20 minutes by catamaran. The island is also connected to Galatas on the Greek mainland. Ferries tend to depart every 30 minutes and the trip takes 5 minutes.

Spetses Guide

The Greek island of Spetses is part of the Saronic group of islands and is known for its long association with the navy and is famous for the part it played in the 1821 War of Independence. It was on the island that the revolution flag was hoisted in April 1821. The island has managed to retain a degree of its Greek charm and atmosphere visible to all are some lovely example of well preserved grand captain's mansions which bear testament to the island's past.

The island's harbour is at Dapia and is the tourist and commercial hub of the island and it is from here that lovely horse drawn carriage tours around the island can be taken which take in the many examples of mansions that line pretty narrow cobbled streets. September is perhaps the best time to visit the island when "Armata" takes place. This is a re-enactment of a naval battle that has taken place every year since 1931. A popular attraction on the island is the Church of Agios Nikolaos and was the former resting place of Paul Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, who came to Greece to fight to fight alongside the Greeks. It is reported that his body was kept in a barrel of rum for three years.