Poros

"The island revolves in cubistic planes, one of walls and windows, one of rocks and goats, one of stiffblown trees and shrubs and so on. Yonder, where the mainland curves like a whip, lie the wild lemon groves and there in the spring young and old go mad from the fragrance of sap and blossom. You enter the harbor of Poros swaying and swirling, a gentle idiot tossed about admidst masts and nets in a world which only the painter knows. To sail slowly through the streets of Poros is to recapture the joy of passing through the neck of the womb. It is a joy too deep almost to be remembered."
Henry Miller-The Collossus of Marousi

Imagine staying on an island so close to Athens that you could wake up in the morning and in a little more than an hour, be walking around the acropolis, shopping in the flea-market or wandering around the Plaka looking for gifts or a nice place for lunch. Imagine an island that is a three minute boat ride to the Peleponnesos and places like Nafplion, Myceneae, Epidavros. Imagine an island that is less then an hour from Pireaus, where you can make ferry connections to Mykonos, Ios, Santorini, Crete, Paros, Naxos, Lesvos, Rhodes and almost every island in the Aegean sea. And if this island was blessed with beautiful forests that came right down to the beach, quaility and inexpensive accommodations, great restaurants, water sports and cafe life on par with the best Greek islands, then why would you bother staying in Athens?

Poros does not have the incredible long sandy beaches of the Cyclades, but neither does downtown Athens. The beaches of Poros are small, shaded and calm, even on the windiest days. The island hugs the shore of the Peleponisos so that sailing through the channel is like going down a river. Its the perfect island for a day trip but in my opinion Poros is more than that. It is the most sensible place to base yourself if you are planning to see Athens, the Peleponisos and the Aegean islands.

Think about it. You are in Athens and you want to visit the Peleponisos. You leave your hotel for the car rental agency and then have to make your way through the Athens traffic to the National road. In two hours you have reached the isthmus of Corinth and cross over into the Peleponisos. If you are in Poros you leave your hotel, pay 50 cents to the little old guy who runs the water taxi between Poros and the town of Galatas, hop into your rental car (or get on the bus) and you are ready to explore the ruins of Ancient Trizina and the spectacular sites of the Argolis and beyond.

The word Poros means a strip of sea, narrower then a strait, uniting two minor bays. The closest distance between the two bodies of land is 300m and during ancient times, according to the author Pausanias, you could walk across it.

Hydra

Hydra or Idra, a barren rocky island, has become a cosmopolitan artists' centre in recent years.

Its modern history dates from the 15th century but it rose to prominence as a shipping power in the 18th century, winning the appelation "Little England", as a result.

For artists and art lovers generally, Hydra is both a meeting place and showplace. The galleries scattered throughout the port offer something more than carefree relaxation by the sea.

Besides being so rocky, Hydra is not renowned for its beaches; rather its monasteries and churches dotting its rugged slopes attract more attention.

For visitors with a boat, a trip around the island with stops in the stunning coves on the east coast is well worthwhile.

Hydra is also blessed by the absence of motorcars. To walk through its narrow, arched back streets, is to leave the modern world behind.

Spetses

Spetses stands out for the distinctive architecture of its stately mansions and coves, some sandy, some rocky, many still rimmed with pines.

Cars are infrequent on the island and most of the inhabitants prefer to get around on bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, which lend a special charm to the place.

Sights worth-seeing on Spetses are the house of Bouboulina, the Revolutionary heroine; the Mexis house and the church of Agia Triada with its carved iconostasis.

The most popular beaches on the island are Agioi Anargyroi and Agia Paraskevi.