Poros

A small island of the Saronic Gulf, Poros is a relaxing place for family vacations.  As it is only an hour ferry ride from Athens, Poros island is a popular weekend destination in summer.  Poros Town, constructed on the slopes of a hill, is the centre of most activities on the island.

The town of Poros is built in the shape of an amphitheatre over two hills.  In antiquity Poros consisted in fact of two islands, Sphería and Kalávria, but the last explosion of the Méthana volcano in 273 BC radically changed the morphology of the area.  Sphería was cut off from Méthana, and in this way Póros took its present-day form.  Lush pine trees, crystal clear beaches, a lively waterfront adorned with shops, cosy cafes and restaurants, a picturesque capital (it has been declared as a protected settlement) with grand traditional mansions and picturesque cobbled streets, as well as a wide selection of entertainment venues are the ingredients of this quiet, yet cosmopolitan, destination that attracts visitors from all age groups.

Peer into the history and tradition of the island through a visit to its Archaeological and its Folklore Museums.  Visit also the Temple of Poseidon (built in around 520 BC; the Athenian rhetorician, Dimosthenes, committed suicide in this temple by drinking poison, pursued by Philip, the King of Macedonia);  the Zoodochos Pigi Monastery  which remains the most impressive ecclesiastical monument on the island;  the Russian naval base and the Residence of Governor Kapodistrias.  Follow a route through the narrow streets of the town that leads up to a hill, where the trademark of the island stands: the historic Clock tower, where visitors can relax and enjoy a panoramic view of the whole town.

Take the opportunity to stroll around the Lemon Forest, a verdant hill with more than 30,000 lemon and orange trees, located on the nearby coast of the Peloponnese, southeast of the town of Galatás.  The boat trip over to the mainland will only take a few minutes. The view from the hilltop to the island of Póros is really stunning.  The surrounding islets can easily be explored by small boat:

Boúrtzi, home to the fortress of the Byzantine admiral Nasar Modi, with its shipwreck from the Mycenaean period Daskaleió, with its chapel dedicated to Virgin Mary.

Poros is also famous for its beautiful beaches, which stretch uninterrupted along the island’s coastline. Swim in the crystal clear waters of the long and sandy beach of Askéli where the hotels and bars situated here make for an interesting resort with buzzing nightlife.  Meyálo Neório is a sandy beach where the pine trees sweep right down to the water's edge. Bask in the turquoise blue waters of the “Love Bay”, a beach surrounded by verdant pine trees that literally dip their needles into the sea. Enjoy a unique natural shade!