Poros
Poros is a delightful and tranquil island in the Saronic Gulf, making it a perfect destination for family vacations. Just an hour’s ferry ride from Athens, it is a popular weekend destination, particularly during the summer months. The island's central hub, Poros Town, is beautifully situated on the hillside, offering stunning views of the sea and surrounding landscapes. Most of the island's activities and attractions can be found in the town, including quaint cafes, shops, and historical sites. With its relaxed atmosphere and scenic beauty, Poros is the ideal spot for those looking to escape the bustle of city life and enjoy a relaxing getaway by the sea.
Poros is a charming Greek island with a fascinating history and diverse scenery. Originally two separate islands, Sphería and Kalávria, formed after a volcanic eruption in 273 BC. Today, Poros is known for its rich pine forests, pristine long sandy beaches, and a cosmopolitan yet peaceful atmosphere that attracts visitors of all ages.
The island is home to the picturesque capital, with its traditional houses, cobbled streets, and vibrant waterfront lined with shops, cosy cafes, and lively restaurants. Visitors can also explore Poros' rich history through the Archaeological and Folklore Museums, and visit significant landmarks such as the Temple of Poseidon, where the famous Athenian orator Demosthenes took his life, and the Zoodochos Pigi Monastery, a key ecclesiastical site. Other significant spots include the Russian naval base, the Residence of Governor Kapodistrias, and the iconic Clock Tower offering panoramic views of the town.
Nature lovers can take a walk through the Lemon Forest, a lush hill with over 30,000 lemon and orange trees, located just a few minutes by boat from the mainland. The island also boasts several stunning beaches, such as Askéli Beach, known for its lively resort atmosphere, and the serene Meyálo Neório, where pine trees grow right to the water’s edge. For a more tranquil experience, Love Bay offers a peaceful retreat surrounded by pine trees that reach into the crystal-clear turquoise waters.
For a more adventurous side, visitors can explore nearby islets like Boúrtzi, home to a fortress and shipwreck, or Daskaleió, with its chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Poros seamlessly blends history, culture, and natural beauty, making it a perfect destination for both relaxation and exploration.
Our Recommended Properties in Poros
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!