Saronic
Spetses
Old money charm, horse-drawn carriages, and a quiet harbour that lingers in the memory.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Moderate
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
2h ferry
In pictures
Spetses
Spetses has an old-money atmosphere found nowhere else in the Greek islands — the kind of place where the Athenian bourgeoisie has summered for generations and developed a code of behaviour to match. Motor vehicles are restricted to the outskirts, and the island is navigated by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or boat taxi. The waterfront mansions, built by wealthy 18th and 19th-century ship captains, give it a grandeur unusual in the Saronic. The novelist John Fowles taught English here in the 1950s and used the island as the model for his novel The Magus — appropriately, given the island's slightly theatrical, conspiratorial quality. Agia Paraskevi beach, accessible by boat taxi, is beautiful. The best beaches require that boat ride; the town itself is the main draw. Best for 2–3 nights rather than a full week.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Small and limited for a full week. Better as a 2–3 night stop than a primary destination.
Hidden gem
Walk or cycle the full perimeter of the island — about 25km, mostly flat, beach stops the whole way.
Where it sits
Saronic, Greece
Spetses — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Spetses? +
- The best months to visit Spetses are May to October. It's busy but manageable in peak season, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Spetses from Athens? +
- Spetses has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, which takes about 2 hours. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Spetses good for couples? +
- Spetses is one of the most romantic Greek islands — sunsets, candlelit tavernas, sea-view rooms.
- Is Spetses good for families with kids? +
- Spetses is a solid family option, though you'll want a car for the best beaches.
- Is Spetses expensive? +
- Spetses is affordable by Greek-island standards — value-for-money is on the weaker side, so set expectations.
- Do you need a car on Spetses? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Spetses. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Spetses? +
- Small and limited for a full week. Better as a 2–3 night stop than a primary destination.