Despite the crisis Greece is one of the most classic European spring and summer destinations. Both the mainland and its islands are populated with tourists who come to enjoy the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
When we see the map we realize that there are many islands to visit and that unless we go backpacking all summer knowing them all is an impossible company. Many head towards Mykonos, Crete or Santorini directly but, did you know that you can take a cruise and visit three islands near the port of Athens? That is today's proposal, talk about these types of walks or mini cruises which can include the islands of Hydra, Poros, Aegina, Serifos and Andros.
Piraeus port
It is the port of Athens and it is on the outskirts of the capital, about 12 kilometers from the city center. It is on the coast of the Saronic Gulf and easily reached by metro or taxi. Beyond being the port, it is a neighborhood in itself and you can stroll, have lunch in one of its fish and seafood restaurants caught in the day and enjoy the views.
Piraeus It is the last station of the metro on Line 1, the one in green, and from the center of Athens you can take it in Monastiraki or Omonia. The cruise ship port is huge so you have to calculate a walking time between getting off the metro and arriving at the terminal. Fifteen or twenty minutes. You can also take the bus that connects the metro with the cruise port, No. 843. With it, the trip takes just five minutes.
You may link Athens with Piraeus by bus? Yes, it is the X96 bus, among others that make that route. The light rail and tram, on the other hand, also link both points from Syntagma Square. A taxi from Athens to Piraeus takes approximately 15-20 minutes, It can be around 20 euros and you should close the price with the driver, so that he does not ask you for more money later. A taxi can take up to four people and you should also consider that if there is traffic it may take longer and cost more.
Cruises to the Greek islands
There are many cruise deals but we said we would focus on the islands closest to Piraeus, so the idea is to make a day mini cruise. A company that deals with making these little cruisers is Athens One Day Cruise. Their ships link Piraeus with Hydra, Poros and Aegina on daily trips for a fee from 89 euros from the port.
It is one of the most popular cruises when it comes to killing several birds with one stone, spending a relaxed day at sea and having everything organized. This cruise includes lunch so all we have to do is sit back, enjoy and tour the islands. There is plenty of time to explore each one, to swim in Hydra or shop, to see the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina or to visit the Lemon Forest in Poros, for example.
Lunch is on board and for an extra fee They take care of picking you up at your accommodation in the city.. If so, the tour includes a tour of Athens beforehand. The boats are beautiful, they have a live orchestra and outdoor decks to enjoy the journey. ¿What is the route of this short cruise from Athens?
After two hours of travel the cruise ship arrives at Poros, the smallest of the three islands. It is separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strait. In Poros the boat stays 50 minutes. Once on board again lunch is served while traveling to Hydra, an island that is reached an hour and a quarter later. The views of the island as the cruise approaches are stupendous: the houses and mansions, the cobbled streets, the pack donkeys, the boardwalk, the crystal clear waters and the handicraft shops.
In Hydra the cruise stays for an hour and a half and on the way back to the cruise some more food is served.
The trip continues to Aegina, while on board some music shows with Greek rhythms take place. Aegina is the largest of the three cruise islands and that is why there are three hours to go through it and the services of a tourist bus which takes you through the main attractions of the island, the Temple of Aphaia and the Church of Saint Nectarios with its elegant Byzantine architecture, among them.
And to finish, a glass of ouzo and some typical Greek appetizers are served on the boardwalk. The hiring of this bus is not mandatory so you can also not hire anything and wander around Aegina on your own. You can rent a horse-drawn carriage to drive you around and do yours until the time the cruise finally departs back to Athens. Remember that this mini cruise of three islands from Athens costs 89 euros from the port and 99 if they pick you up from your accommodation.
A day cruise from Athens allows you to see beautiful islands without having to travel on your own or settle on any of them. They are very popular cruises for people who may be in Athens on vacation and do not plan to jump to the most distant Greek islands but want to know something of the island's character of the country. Of course you can also do these mini cruises on your own, the islands are there at your fingertips linked by the ferry.
Hydra It is less than two hours by ferry from Piraeus and there are services several times a day. The trip lasts from 90 minutes to two hours, depending on the ship. Andros It is the northernmost island of the Cyclades group and is close to the Attica peninsula. It is beautiful and is usually quiet even in high season. Its beaches are great and its Venetian-style capital is charming. Ferries leave only from the port of Rafina, a small port half an hour from Athens by bus. The trip is two hours.
aegina It is the closest island to Piraeus. The trip takes just half an hour and can be done by hydrofoil. Serifos It is another of the islands that is near the port of Athens. It is not included in the cruise we talked about above but it is very beautiful and has golden sand beaches. In summer there are daily ferries from Piraeus, the trip is two and a half hours on fast ferries.