Poros Island Hotels

We explored the islands close to Athens and our first stop was Aegina, an island far from the crowds but full of life. Now it's time for the second stop: Poros. We reached this lovely island just an hour's ferry ride from Aegina. To be honest, we didn't find much information about Poros on the internet before we set off, so we were a bit in the dark. But as the ferry slowly approached the port of Poros, the view we encountered erased all the question marks: Elegant houses painted in pastel tones, streets scattered on the hillsides and a clock tower overlooking the whole picture. The feeling was clear: we were about to set foot on a quiet, sincere and real Greek island. Poros is a place that doesn't need big plans or long lists. It is simple but charming, quiet but lively, small but with its own character. It is close to Athens, making it easy to reach, and yet it manages to stay away from the crowded tourist centers. Even with your first steps you feel the rhythm of the island: the unhurried people, the slow pace of time, the gentle rocking of the boats in the harbor... Poros is an island that gets more beautiful the more you discover it. It can be both a day getaway and a relaxing stop for a few days. If you are looking for a true Greek island experience near Athens, Poros could be one of the best surprises on this list.

How to get to Poros?

We traveled to Poros from Aegina, but you can also take a direct ferry from Piraeus Port in Athens. The journey takes about two hours. Alternatively, you can take a two-hour drive from Athens to Galatas and then take a 5-minute ferry across. In fact, Galatas is so close that at first we thought it was part of the island.

What to do in Poros?

Poros is a small enough island that you can easily visit it in one day. So we decided to spend two days here and then move on to Spetses. On our first day, as soon as we checked into our hotel, we rented a motorcycle and grabbed the beach map of the island and set off. Almost all of the beaches are on the south coast and very close to each other. Within 15-20 minutes you can visit all the prominent beaches such as Love Beach, Russian Bay and Askeli Beach. Our favorite was Love Beach. It is a lush green bay in the shade of pine trees. It is a really peaceful place. You should not have too high expectations about the sea, if you are looking for white beaches and turquoise waters, you may not find those scenes here. In the north of the island, there is only one beach called Vagionia Beach. We didn't make it there due to time constraints, but if you have the time, it might be worth a visit. In the evening, the coastline of Poros comes alive. The restaurants lined up side by side are suddenly full and the streets are buzzing. Boats from the mainland across the street carry passengers to Poros every 5 minutes, which makes the island a little more lively at night. We went to the mainland one evening out of curiosity, but to be honest, the warm atmosphere of Poros appealed to us more. Honestly, there is not much need to go to the opposite shore.

Where to Eat?

We have two good suggestions for dining in Poros. The first one is Apagio Taverna, a cozy family-run restaurant. The appetizers are delicious, especially the seafood is fresh and well cooked. The owner of the place takes care of the guests one-on-one and the service is prompt. Greek music playing softly complements the atmosphere. Our other recommendation is Karavolos Taverna. This place is also a small but sincere family business.

If you are planning a route that includes the islands around Athens, Poros should definitely be on your itinerary. This island, which gives peace with its small size and fascinates with its simplicity, is a really nice stop.