Sifnos

Map of Sifnos

Sifnos is the 14th bigger island of Cyclades with 74km² extension and 2.625 population. It's a pretty, tidy and cultivated island and its size makes it easily explorable. Sifnos has a strong tradition of pottery(as early as the third century BC) and has long been esteemed for its distinctive cuisine, with sophisticated casseroles baked in the clay-fired gastres (pots), from the word gastronomy derives. The island is perhaps best appreciated today, however, for its many beautifully situated churches and monasteries, and for the beautiful scenery around Vathy in the far Southwest.

The areas to head for are the port, Kamares, the island's capital Apollonia, as well as the East and South coasts. There is nothing in the North worth peek, except maybe the small fishing village of Herronisos, but even that is too far and offers too little for the first-time visitor.

Generally the climate of the island is mild and healthy as all the Cyclades, and the ground is fertile enough. Main products produced are cereals, oil, wine, legumes, fruits, cotton textiles, pottery, and poultry and livestock products.

Milos

Map of Milos

Milos is the 5th bigger island of Cyclades. It has 158km² extension and 5.000 population approximately. Volcanic Milos is a geologically diverse island with weird rock formations, hot springs and odd outcrops off the coast. Minoan settlers were attracted by obsidian. This and other products of its volcanic soil made it one of the most important of Cyclades in the ancient world. Today the quarrying of many rare mineral has left huge scars on the landscape but has given the island a relative prosperity which today translates into several gourmet restaurants.

The Western side of Milos, as well the other islands around it, including Kimolos, is a nature reserve protecting three endemic species: like the extremely rare Mediterranean seal, the Milos viper and the Milos wall-lizard.

Capital of Milos is Plaka, the largest of a cluster of traditional villages that huddle beneath a small crag on the road Northwest of Adhamas., the lively main port of Milos, a small hamlet until it was populated by refugees from a failed rebellion in Crete in the 1840s.

Salamina

Map of Salamina

Salamina is the largest island of Argosaronic islands, 95km² extension and 39.000 population, and the quickest possible island-hop from Pireas. The island itself is highly developed, has few tourist facilities and is close enough to the Athenian dockyards to make swimming unappealing. The island's port is at Paloukia, facing the mainland, just a short hop across a narrow, built-up isthmus to Salamina Town, the capital, on the West coast. Five kilometers or so beyond Salamina Town, Eandio has the island's cleanest and most attractive beaches. A similar distance from Salamina Town to the North, the monastery of Faneromeni is a working nunnery with impressive frescoes, beautifully sited amid pine woods overlooking the mainland. Salamina is well-known by one of the most significant sea battles of ancient times.

Poros

Map of Poros

Poros is an Argosaronic island. It has 4.010 residents and 22,600 km² extension. Popular with Brits and Scandinavians more than any other Argosaronic island- it is also busy with weekending Athenians, who can get there by road(via Galatas) or on cheap ferries from Pireas. There are in fact two islands, Sferia(Poros Town) - for food, nightlife and shopping- and the far larger Kalavria-a little more peace-, separated from each other by a small canal spanned by a bridge. The Town is a busy place, with constant traffic of shipping and people.

Hydhra (Ydhra)

Map of Hydhra

Ydhra belongs to the Argosaronic complex. It is one of the most atmospheric destinations in Greece. With 49km² extension and 2.000 inhabitants approximately is the 4th bigger island of the Argosaronic islands (it's located between the Argolic and the Saronic gulf). Capital of the island is the Ydhra Town. Its harbor and main town preserved as a national monument. Entirely traffic-free with a bustling harbor and narrow stones streets climbing steeply above it, it feels like a Greek island. Away from the main settlement the rest of the island is roadless, rugged and barely inhabited. It is extremely picturesque and cosmopolitan island with sophisticated atmosphere and noticeably high prices. The island has a very limited number of beaches and the interior is mountainous and little-visited.

This island is a popular destination for foreign tourists and Athenians, given the relatively short distance from the capital. It has significant shipping history and tradition.

 

Ydhra

Spetses

Map of Spetses

Spetses is a famous island of Argosaronic complex with 22km² extension and 4.000 population. It's a popular destination, especially for Athenians. Capital of the island is Spetses Town, the biggest town of the Argosaronic islands, with apartments and villas spreading  for several kilometers along the Northeast coast, while the rest of the island remains almost entirely uninhabited, with pine forest inland and numerous excellent small beaches around the coast.

It's located near the Argolic peninsula right of the entrance of the Argolic Gulf, just 1.5 miles from Ermionida  and 50 miles from Piraeus.

Main products are olive oil, cereals, grapes, almonds and figs. The inhabitant's main occupation is shipping and fishing.

Spetses Town

For most visitors, shopping, eating and drinking are the principal attractions of Spetses, but it's a very enjoyable place to wander, with majestic old houses and gardens scattered through the narrow streets. The harbor, Dapia, marks pretty much the center of town, with the main square tucked in behind. To the East lies the town beach of Agios Mamas and beyond that the Old Harbor, upmarket focus of the island's nightlife, where private yachts moor up. West of Dapia is Kounoupitsa where much of the accommodation is here, and there are small beaches and waterfront taverns.

Egina

Map of Egina

A substantial and attractive island with a proud history, less than an hour from Pireas, Egina is a popular weekend escape from Athens. The second largest of Argosaronic islands with 82km² extension and 13.000 inhabitants approximately. The capital of Egina is Egina Town(Hora). It's an atmosphere island especially if you visit midweek or out of season. Famous for its pistachio orchards the island can also boast substantial ancient remains, the finest of which is the beautiful fifth-century BC Temple of Aphaea.

Egina Town

Egina Town, the island's capital, makes an attractive base, with some grand old buildings around a large harbor. It's a large town with plenty of shops places to eat and drink.

Agistri

Map of Agistri

Agistri, fifteen minutes by fast boat from Egina, is a tiny island, that belongs to Argosaronic complex. Capital of the island is Megalohori(Milos). It has 11,693km² and 1.120 residents. There's a small non attractive strip of development on the North coast facing Egina, but the rest of the island is very beautiful, pine-covered, with a very few beaches. The island has four villages: Megalochori or Milos (island country), Skala (the physical port where close to the ferry boat from Piraeus / Egina), Limenaria and Metohi. The island has daily ferry connections with Piraeus. The trip by ferry boat is 2 hours while "flying dolphin" 55 minutes.