Athens is the perfect starting point for cruising to the Saronic Islands, however the same does not hold true for Alimos Marina. Owned by the government, the marina suffers from neglect and lack of investment, and the quality of the facilities and the number of berths available leave something to be desired. As such we recommend weighing anchor as soon as possible.
The island of Aegina lies 13 miles from Athens, at the center of the Saronic Gulf. Past its clamoring port, Aegina has the enticing, nice character of a common Greek island, but unlike other islands of its size, Aegina is home to unexpectedly numerous famous ancient sites such as the 5th Century Temple of Aphaia and the enchanting Byzantine ruins of Paleohora. The island is also famous for its endemic variety of a delicious pistachio nut.
A narrow sea channel separates Poros and the mountainous Peloponnesian peninsula. Thesheltered port of the island makes the encircling Poros Town seem like a quiet lakeside resort. Streets with pastel colored houses stretch up the hill, on top of which rests a clock tower which is the first landmark to be seen when approaching the island.The island offers pristine beaches, pine forests and a bustling waterfront home to shops, tavernas, restaurants and quaint cafes.
Hydra is definitely the jewel of the Saronic Gulf and it is the only Greek island withoutvehicles with wheels. No autos. No motorcycles. Simply narrow cobblestone streets, donkeys, rocky cliffs and the sea. In addition to sailors, throughout the years the island has attracted artists, actors, performers and celebrities such as Nikos Chatzikyriakos-Ghikas, Brice Marden, Melina Mercouri, Sophia Loren, Panayiotis Tetsis, and Leonard Cohen.
The small island of Spetses spans just 12 km from one end to the other. This green island has rolling hills, pine forests as well asgreat beaches. The main town is Spetses, named after the island as is the case in most Greek islands. The town is picturesque, with traditional whitewashes houses with blue roofs and narrow, romantic streets.
The tiny, pastoral island lies near the southern tip of Aegina. Moni stays uninhabited for the greater part of the year, with just a little cafe opening in top season. The natural beauty of the island is preserved, and the only inhabitants are animals. Moni is perfect as a quiet stopover, where you can swim in the clear waters of “Paradise Beach” which lies on the north shore of the island and enjoy the tranquil beauty of nature.
The name “Angistiri” means “fishing hook” in English, which gives some idea of the significance of the island and its main port that lies on the northern coast. Angistiri is a great starting or ending point for a yacht charter in the Saronic islands. It is a small, quiet and pictoresque island that is very close to Athens.