Location
How to arrive
If you are arriving in Athens by plane, you can catch the X96 bus leaving from the airport every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day for the port of Piraeus. This takes about one hour to reach Piraeus and will drop you off at the bus station in the port, about 500m from Gate E8 where the flying dolphins for Spetses depart.
During the day you can also take the suburban railway leaving from the Athens Airport direct to the port of Piraeus. This takes 1h 40 m total and the station is about 700m from Gate E8 where the flying dolphins for Spetses depart.
From Piraeus, GATE E8 Argosaronikos, there are frequent Flying Dolphin and Catamaran departures to the port of Spetses.
With your own car or a rented one, take the national road, cross the Isthmus of Corinth and take the exit for Ancient Epidavros. Drive to Kranidi, Porto Heli and Kosta. The drive takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. From Kosta, a sea taxi will take you to Spetses in 5 minutes.
Useful Phone Numbers:
Athens Airport Information:
· Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”
Tel:+302103530000
Website: www.aia.gr
· Piraeus port information:
Piraeusport
Tel:+302104550000-100
Website: www.olp.gr
Blue Star Ferries
Tel:+302108919800
Website: https://www.bluestarferries.com/en/
By car or bus (KTEL)
· BUS (KTEL)
Tel:+302108808080
Website: www.ktelattikis.gr/en/
· Sea Taxi (transfer from Costa to Spetses)
Tel: +30 2980 72072
Spetses, island of scents
Spetses is a small island of 22.5 sq km area and a population of 4,000 people. The island’s beauty blends the blue colours of the sea with the green freshness of the pine forest, along with the small boats, the horse carriages, the landscape, the churches and the stunningly beautiful traditional architecture.
For more information visit:
https://www.discovergreece.com/attica/spetses
http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/spetses
http://www.united-hellas.com/tourism/saronic/spetses/info.htm
History
Spetses was originaly called ‘Pitioussa’ due to the abundance of pine trees and retained that name until the 6th century AD, when Slavic and Arab raids caused the depopulation of the island. Subsequent conquerors were the Venetians, who named the island ‘Isola di Spezzie’ (i.e. island of scents) which later Hellenised to “Spetsai”.
The island of Spetses is small but is nationally acknowledged for its valuable contribution to the Greek Revolution of 1821. At around 1774, the Spetsiots began maritime trading and over time the Old Harbour was transformed into a large shipbuilding area, where craft, large and small, were constructed. Thus a new age began for the island, during which it acquired great wealth and commercial power. Many types of ships were built using wood from the island’s abundant forests.
During the 1821 Revolution the Spetsiots were the first islanders to revolt, raising their revolutionary flag with the words ‘freedom or death’ printed on it, in April 1821. Prior to this, Laskarina Bouboulina had already acted, raising her own private revolutionary flag on the mast of her ship Agamemnon which she saluted with cannon fire in front of the Old Harbour of Spetses. With the start of the Revolution, squadrons of Spetsiot ships blockaded the castles of Nafplion and Monemvasia, thus cutting off the maritime supply of the Turks, and Spetsiot ships attacked Turkish vessels throughout the Aegean.
Culture
There are two important museums the ‘Laskarina Bouboulina’ and the ‘Hatziyanni Mexis’ where the visitor can take a tour at the houses of the captains of old. Personal items along with equipment from their ships and archaelogical artefacts are on display.
Explore the island
Spetses Island is a small and exciting place that makes it easy for the visitor to get around. There are various means of travel while in the island’s premises, however cars are not allowed. Spetses is suitable for walking, using a bicycle or a bike as areas of interest are close to each other. There is also a bus service, taxis, sea taxis and the traditional horse carriages with which you can enjoy a ride by the Spetses coast.
The visitor can visit many of the island’s beaches either by small boats or by using the bus service that is available throughout the island.
Beaches
PINE TREES OVER BLUE WATERS
Spetses Island features some unique beaches that one can enjoy the island’s sun along with various watersports, food and drinks! Noteworthy beaches include the following:
Zogeria beach: The most famous bay of the island for those travelling by yacht. Ideal for swimming and also known for the best wedding parties held there.
Aghia Paraskevi beach: Featuring the islands’ crystal clear blue waters and a beach bar.
Kaiki beach: One of the most popular beaches of the island, just a 100m away from the Spetses Hotel. A great variety of watersports await the visitor there along with a nice beach bar and restaurant.
Aghia Marina: Agia Marina features an organized beach with watersports and a restaurant which is also open for dinner.
Xylokeriza: A nice organized beach featuring crystal clear blue waters located close to the privately owned island, Spetsopoula.
Aghioi Anargiroi: A very popular organized beach with watersports and a restaurant where the visitor can enjoy seafood. Caiques perform daily cruises from the center of Dapia.
Vrelos: A small albeit organized beach close to the Spetses Hotel ideal for a swim and a cold beer.
Ligoneri: Ligoneri is a small and quiet beach perfect for an evening relaxing swim.
Useful Contacts:
SeaTaxis&Caiques
Tel: +30 22980 72072
HorseCarriage
Tel: +30 22980 73170
Bus
Tel: +30 6978949722