Spetses is an island just off the south coast of the Peloponnese mainland about 2.5 hours from the Athens port of Piraeus. If you are flying to the Greece, aim to land at Athens International Airport. Athens International Airport (AIA) is located 33 km northeast of Athens, while the Piraeus harbour is in the southern part of Athens.
TRAVEL PLAN
- Fly to Athens International Airport.
- Go by bus (1 1/2 – 2 hrs), metro (1 hr. 20 min.), or taxi (1 hr) to Athens harbour (Piraeus), where you can take a hydrofoil/catamaran (2 – 2 1/2 hrs) or ferry (4 1/2 – 5 hrs) to the Island of Spetses.
- Take a water taxi (3 min.), a taxi (5 min.), a horse buggy (5 min.) or walk (20 – 30 min.) from Spetses Harbour to Spetses Hotel.
Alternative (needs arrangement of private car or shuttle – can be more economic/faster if traveling by groups) – organize a private car or shuttle from Athens International Airport to Kost port (3hrs) and a water taxi (20mins) to Spetses hotel.
ATHENS AIRPORT TO ATHENS HARBOR (PIRAEUS)
Bus/metro
There is a direct bus (X96) from the Athens International Airport to Piraeus. 24 hr ticket: Euro 3.20. The travelling time varies between one and two hours depending on the traffic.
You can also go via the centre of Athens (bus nos. E94 and E95) or by metro. You must then change at Omonia Square in the centre of Athens and take the direct metro to Piraeus.
All buses depart from the designated area on the inner curbside of the arrivals level of the main terminal building just outside the Schengen Exit (Doors 4-5). Follow signs for metro stop (in terminal).
***CHECK THE TRAVEL WEBSITES FOR UP-TO-DATE TIMES AS THEY DO CHANGE***
Taxi
You can also take a taxi, but as there are special lanes for buses, it is not faster to take a taxi. Euro 30 – 50, depending on travelling time and the amount of luggage.
The taxi queue starts from Door 4 of the Arrivals Level and extends up to Door 1.
ATHENS HARBOR (PIRAEUS) TO SPETSES
To get to Spetses from Piraeus you can choose to take:
- A hydrofoil (about 2 – 3 hrs) (the travelling time varies depending on how many stops the hydrofoil makes on the way)
- A ferry (4 1/2 – 5 hrs)
There are two different hydrofoil companies:
- Euroseas-Eurofast-1 (with 1 – 2 daily trips to Spetses) - approx. Euro 40
- Hellenic Seaways (with 5 – 6 daily trips to Spetses) approx. Euro 40
Tickets can be bought online or you can simply buy the ticket when you arrive at the harbour as there is a ticket office by the hydrofoil. It usually works with buying a ticket in the port (except for a few busy weekends during the year), but calculate more time for this.
SPETSES HARBOUR TO SPETSES HOTEL
The distance from the harbour to the hotel is about 1– 1/2 km
Means of transportation:
It takes about 20 – 30 min to walk the distance along the beach.
There is a bus starting from the main square at the front of the Possidonion Hotel to the right of Dapia Harbour as you look at it from the sea which stops at Spetses Hotel.
A water taxi takes up to around 8 people. The water taxis are very close to the hydrofoils and they sail straight to the pier of the Spetses Hotel.
There are four taxis on Spetses. You can find them in front of the petrol station in the Dapia near the end of the jetty where you disembark from the hydrofoils, ferry or catamaran.
The horse buggies, which take up to four people - or two people with luggage - are parked by the harbour in front of the Possidonion Hotel. Make sure you arrange the price in advance.
