The Saronic Islands is a Greek archipelago situated in the Saronic Gulf between Attica and Peloponnese. The main islands in the archipelago are the following: Aegina, Angistri, Dokos, Hydra, Poros, Salamis and Spetses. Dokos, Hydra and Spetes are technically not situated in the Saronic Gulf, but are nevertheless often included in the group.
Aegina occupies the central position in the Saronic Gulf. It is situated 27 km southwest of Athens, which means that it can be quickly accessed by a yacht. An extinct volcano dominates the island, whose northern and western sides are covered by fertile plains. The southern part of the island is rocky and mountainous. The coast has many beautiful beaches which offer excellent experience. There are numerous smaller islands around Aegina, so you can enjoy some privacy in deserted bays and coves.
Agistri is a small island west of Aegina, from which it can be reached in around ten minutes. Two largest tourist destinations on the island are Skala and Megalohori. Both villages are small, but are very lively during the summer, with clean beaches, and fine bars and restaurants.
Dokos is an island situated in the channel that separates Hydra and Peloponnese. It has a population of 18 people, mostly monks and sheep herders. The island is mostly desolate and does not have much to offer, but is excellent if you are looking for a vacation in style of Robinson Crusoe.
Hydra is situated between Saronic and Argolic Gulf. The town of Hydra is a lively place with beautiful houses which witness the island’s famous past. Here, you can enjoy restaurants, museums, churches and the town’s architecture. The island is very popular with people with yachts, who can have a great time discovering all the small islands around Hydra.
Poros is a pair of islands situated only 200 m from Peloponnese. Due to its proximity, the islands are very popular with the Athenians, especially during the summer, when the beautiful Poros town shines in all its beauty by day, and provides a dynamic atmosphere by night.
The largest island in the Saronic Gulf is Salamis. There around 40,000 inhabitants on the island, but the number increases to almost 300,000 in the summer, which proves the island’s popularity. The whole island is beautiful and worth seeing, but the beaches are the cleanest on the southern side, so sail there if you want to have a good beach experience.
Spetses is the most distant of the Saronic Islands. It is situated southwest of Hydra. The island is an elite tourist destinations, with the majority of tourists being well-off Greeks. During high season, many superyachts can be seen in the secluded bays of the island. There is also a yacht race that takes place every June, which can be of special interest to those who visit the island by a yacht.