Spetses occupies little more than 20 sq. kilometres and is home to about 3500 residents. It’s a fertile island heavily pine-forested and, beyond the sprawling main town, lacking in any major population density. A huge area of pine forest was ravaged by a major fire a few years back and it will, unfortunately, take many years for that area to recover. As it’s a significant distance from the Athenian mainland of Greece, Spetses island receives far less attention from weekenders than Aegina and Agistri and has also suffered a decline in international visitors with the re-location of Athens Airport potentially adding a further couple of hours to the journey time to reach here.

Spetses is close to the Peloponnese mainland and there is a local ferry service with mainland Kosta. So it can be reached by road via Corinth and the attractive Peloponnese coastal route south. But you’ll have to leave your car on Greece mainland as no cars are allowed on Spetses island! (There’s a holding area for vehicles at Kosta).
Another alternative is to travel with the excellent train service to Corinth, direct from the airport, and then travel onwards by bus (but it’s a messy journey). Hydrofoils and catamarans from Piraeus tend to be the favoured way to reach here, but even they take two to three hours. Traditional ferries are relatively few and far between and take considerably longer!

Spetses is described as the "fragrant" island and enjoys an enviable summer climate. Because it’s that bit further from Athens, it doesn’t receive as much weekend trade as Aegina or Agistri but still attracts domestic visitors and weekenders from the nearby mainland. Spetses an attractive, heavily wooded island with a pleasant, sprawling, port capital, plus a reasonable historical and cultural focus. It has to be said that most people visit for a relaxing holiday in the fresh, tangy air rather than the culture or the nightlife. However, literary fans of John Fowles make pilgrimages to explore the location for his classic "The Magus" and there’s a selection of other cultural pursuits available.

There are no direct air links and Athens hosts the nearest airport. However, onward links via the express bus to Piraeus and regular daily connections with Spetses island make journeying here far from uncomfortable. You can also island hop the Saronics with services to Hydra, Poros and Aegina as well as various Peloponnese mainland destinations.
In fact, there’s probably not enough here to occupy you for a complete fortnight (unless your ambition is a total chill-out; in which case there undoubtedly is!) and hopping your way down the chain with a few days on each island is an excellent plan. The main town of Spetses hosts the only major tourist area and is semi-pedestrianised. Cars are banned but, unlike Hydra, you can hire motorbikes and pedal cycles and these provide a great way to explore the pine forests and further-flung beaches. There are also two local bus routes, calling at the best beaches and other local places of interest. Spetses is a relaxing location, whether for a few days or a longer vacation. Attractive beaches and plenty of places to eat and drink make it a super destination for families and those who relish some nightlife.

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