Best islands near Athens: which to choose for your trip

Which island to choose from Athens

Athens is one of the best-positioned European capital cities for island access. The Saronic Gulf islands are within reach in under two hours by fast ferry. The Cyclades, including Santorini and Mykonos, are accessible by fast ferry in 3.5–5 hours or by a 45-minute flight. And Crete, Greece’s largest island, is an overnight ferry or 45-minute flight away.

The question “which island?” is not trivial. Each has a genuinely different character, and the right choice depends on your travel style, how much time you have, and what you’re hoping to experience. This guide gives honest comparisons rather than hype.

Quick comparison: islands near Athens at a glance

Island	Distance from Piraeus	Best for	Budget level
Aegina	40 min (fast)	History + beaches	Low
Hydra	2 hours (fast)	Atmosphere + walking	Medium
Poros	1.5 hours (fast)	Quiet beach day	Low
Santorini	5 hours (fast) / 45 min fly	Romance + views	High
Mykonos	3.5 hours (fast) / 45 min fly	Nightlife + Delos	High
Crete	9 hours (overnight) / 45 min fly	Culture + hiking	Medium

The best Saronic islands for a day trip

Hydra: the most atmospheric island near Athens

Hydra is the strongest single-day island experience available from Athens. No motor vehicles exist on the island — only donkeys, bicycles, and feet. The harbour is one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, framed by neoclassical mansions that once housed shipping merchants. The town climbs up rocky hillsides in all directions, with stone lanes, tiny churches, and views that keep improving with altitude.

The swimming is good (rocky coves rather than sandy beaches), the restaurants are above average, and the island has enough character to make even a single day feel substantial. Leonard Cohen lived here. That’s not irrelevant — it signals the kind of place Hydra is.

Best for: couples, architecture enthusiasts, people who want quiet and beauty without a tourist-resort feel. Ferry from Piraeus: 2 hours, €26 one way.

Read the full Hydra island guide.

Hydra full-day trip with swimming

Aegina: the island with the best ancient temple

Aegina offers the best combination of beach, ancient history, and food in the Saronic Gulf. The Temple of Aphaia predates the Parthenon and is better preserved than most people expect — 24 of 32 columns still standing, with a dramatic hilltop position above pine trees and sea. The harbour town has a working fish market and genuine tavernas. And the pistachios are outstanding.

Aegina is a good choice for those who’ve already done the Acropolis and want more ancient history without leaving Athens for multiple nights.

Best for: history buffs, families, first-time visitors who want one island day well spent. Ferry from Piraeus: 40 minutes (fast), €15 one way.

Read the full Aegina island guide.

Aegina guided day trip with swimming from Athens

Poros: the calm choice for beach days

Poros is the most relaxed of the three main Saronic islands. The 200-metre-wide channel separating the island from the Peloponnese mainland creates a stunning harbour view. Beaches are sandy (rare in the Saronic Gulf), calm, and suitable for families with young children. There’s less to see culturally than on Aegina but the atmosphere is genuinely pleasant.

Best for: families with children, visitors who want a calm beach day without cultural pressure. Ferry from Piraeus: 1 hour 15 min (fast), €24 one way.

Read the full Poros island guide.

The best islands for 2–3 nights

Santorini: the iconic view

No island in Greece has been more photographed than Santorini. The caldera — a collapsed volcanic crater now a crescent-shaped bay — is genuinely extraordinary, and the villages of Oia and Fira perched on the rim are as beautiful as photographs suggest. The wine is exceptional (Assyrtiko grape). The sunsets from Oia’s castle draw hundreds of people.

The downside: it is expensive, crowded in peak season, and requires a 5-hour fast ferry or 45-minute flight from Athens. Two nights is the realistic minimum to see it properly.

Best for: couples, milestone trips, wine enthusiasts, those doing the Cyclades circuit. Get there: fly from Athens, or fast ferry from Piraeus.

Santorini volcano, hot springs, and sunset dinner cruise

Read the Santorini from Athens guide.

Mykonos: for beaches and the ancient world

Mykonos is two islands in one: the nightlife-and-beach experience of Paradise and Super Paradise beaches on the south coast, and the extraordinary ancient site of Delos — uninhabited since antiquity, with better-preserved ruins than most visited sites in mainland Greece.

If you’re going to Mykonos purely for the beach clubs, you can get a similar experience elsewhere for less money. But if you add a Delos day trip, Mykonos becomes genuinely compelling beyond its reputation.

Best for: those who want nightlife AND serious ancient history, sailing enthusiasts. Get there: fast ferry (3.5 hours) or 45-minute flight.

Read the Mykonos from Athens guide.

Best island for families

Aegina for a day trip — easy ferry, sandy beach at Agia Marina, the temple is engaging for older children, and pistachio ice cream is an unambiguous win.

Poros for a calmer beach day with less walking. Sandy beaches and a very narrow sea crossing.

Crete for longer stays — excellent beaches, a water park near Heraklion, Knossos for history, and enough variety to keep everyone occupied for a week.

Best island for honeymooners and couples

Santorini remains the classic answer, and it’s justified — a cave hotel overlooking the caldera at sunset is hard to top. Hydra is the better-kept-secret alternative: intimate atmosphere, no traffic noise, beautiful at night, excellent restaurants.

Best island for history enthusiasts

Aegina (Temple of Aphaia, Palaiochora Byzantine ruins) for a day trip. Delos for pure ancient-world intensity — an entire abandoned ancient city on an uninhabited island, accessible from Mykonos. Crete (Knossos, Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Spinalonga) for a longer immersive visit.

Combining islands: the Saronic cruise option

For those who want to see multiple Saronic islands in a single day without the complexity of independent ferry connections, an organised cruise from Athens covers all three.

Saronic islands full-day cruise with VIP seats

This is particularly good for visitors with only one day available for island trips who want variety over depth.

For the mechanics of travelling between multiple islands, read the full island hopping from Athens guide and the detailed Greek islands from Athens guide.

Frequently asked questions about islands near Athens

What is the closest Greek island to Athens?

Aegina is the closest main island — 40 minutes on a Flying Dolphin from Piraeus. Some smaller islands in the Saronic Gulf (like Salamina) are technically closer but have little tourist infrastructure.

Can you see a Greek island in a single day from Athens?

Yes, easily for the Saronic islands. Aegina (40 min ferry), Poros (1.5 hours), and Hydra (2 hours) all work as full day trips from Athens with time to spare. Santorini and Mykonos are too far for a rewarding day trip — you’d spend most of the day in transit.

Which Greek island is best for a first visit?

Hydra for a day trip — manageable, beautiful, and genuinely different from anything on the mainland. Santorini for a 2–3 night first island stay — the caldera is unmissable and the island is very well-organised for first-time visitors.

Are there ferries every day from Athens to the islands?

Yes, year-round to the Saronic islands. To the Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos), there are daily ferries from April through October. In winter (November–March), services to the Cyclades reduce significantly — check timetables before travelling.

Which island has the best beaches near Athens?

For a day trip: Poros (sandy) or Hydra (rocky but clean and uncrowded). For a dedicated beach holiday: Mykonos for party beaches, Crete for variety, or Paros for the best combination of sandy beaches and Cycladic architecture.

How expensive are the Greek islands compared to Athens?

The Saronic islands (Aegina, Poros, Hydra) are broadly similar in price to Athens for food and accommodation. Santorini is significantly more expensive — roughly double for equivalent accommodation and food. Mykonos is similar to Santorini. Crete and Paros are more moderate, roughly 20–30% above Athens prices.