17 Best Sights in The Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

Boats ferry bathers from Hydra Town harbor near the Mitropolis church to pebble beaches on the island's southern coast, the best of which is Agios Nikolaos, where there are sun beds and umbrellas for a charge (starting at €5) and you can also rent canoes. Agios Nikolaos is located on the south side of the island, facing the Aegean Sea, and it is the largest organized beach on the island. It is mostly pebbled with some small sandy stretches that are ideal for children's play. The large boats heading to and from here have set fees (to Agios Nikolaos from Hydra Town is €10; water taxis, max eight passengers, charge around €180 for round-trip). Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

In summer, caïques make frequent 10-minute trips from the fishing port of Perdika to the little island of Moni, a real heaven on earth inhabited only by peacocks, wild deer, relocated kri-kri (Cretan goats), and some remains of a 1960s campground. Shadowed by pine trees, hiking trails wind their way through the island's pristine landscape. Once the property of the Monastery of Chrysoleontissa, it is now a nature preserve. After your hike, take a most refreshing swim off the little sandy beach in the marvelously clear green waters by the quay. Note that the boatmen come back every hour, allowing you to leave whenever you wish (the round-trip ticket costs €10). A small beach bar operates in summer, offering cool drinks and toasted sandwiches, but if you plan to spend the day here, you would be better off bringing a full picnic lunch. In crowded peak season, Moni is a lovely way to escape the madding crowds. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: swimming; walking.

Just beyond Marathonas, this mostly sandy bay with crystalline green water is fringed by eucalyptus and pine trees. Shallow depths suit young swimmers; the beach bar rents loungers, runs a volleyball court and hosts low-key DJ sets on summer weekends. KTEL buses to Perdika stop about 200 meters (656 feet) above the beach. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming.

Favored by fashionable Greek socialites, the mostly sandy beach at Agia Marina is the home of the elegant Paradise Beach Bar, tavernas, and many water-sports activities. Sun beds and umbrellas are available for a fee. It's a 20-minute walk from Spetses Town on a lovely coastal path; alternatively, you can hire a horse-drawn buggy from town to arrive in style, or you can come by caïque. Warning: this beach can get pretty busy during the summer months with a younger, party-loving crowd. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

The best sandy beach on the island, Agia Marina is popular with the parenting set, as the shallow water is ideal for playing children. A rockier stretch just north of the pier offers good diving and snorkeling. Tavernas and cafés line the bay, and the Apollo Resort Hotel is a short walk away. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

Pine trees, a canteen, sun beds, and umbrellas line Agia Paraskevi, a sheltered and popular beach with a mostly sandy shore (and coarse pebbles in other parts). The beach gets fairly busy during the summer months, and if you don't manage to snag a sun bed (€15 for a pair), you can sun yourself on the rocks bordering the sandy beach, but be aware nudism around those spots is still permitted. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

A clean and cosmopolitan beach, Agioi Anargyroi has a gently sloped seabed with deep waters suitable for snorkeling, waterskiing, and other water sports (rentals are available on-site). It is the island's best-known beach, 6 km (4 miles) away from town. You can also swim (or take a path) to beautiful Bekiris cave, a famous historical spot used by Greek revolutionaries as a hiding place during the 1821 revolution. Look for Taverna Manolis by the beach; nearby you can rent two sun beds and an umbrella for about €15 a day. There is also a pretty hotel (Acrogiali) right on the beach. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Trendy Kaiki Beach (otherwise known as Scholes or College beach due to its proximity to the Anargyros School) is a triangular patch of sandy beach that draws a young crowd with its beach volleyball court, water-sports activities (about €50 for 20 minutes of Jet Skiing), and the Kaiki Beach bars (yes, there are two of them!) and restaurant, the hippest on the beach in Spetses. It will cost you about €15 for a huge umbrella, two bamboo sun beds, two beach towels, and a bottle of water for a relaxing day on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

A semisecluded sandy beach, Klima (aka Keithi), which is just south of Perdika, has a finely pebbled bay of crystal clear waters that rarely kick up any waves. To reach it, turn left at the intersection toward Sfentouri before entering Perdika, and then go right at the crossroads and continue until you reach Klima. It is also a popular destination for yachts. There's a beach bar that rents sun beds and umbrellas during the summer months. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Aegina Town's beaches, notably the pine-surrounded Kolona, are pleasant enough with their shallow waters—and crowds—for a refreshing dip after a hot day. This largely undeveloped beach is within easy walking distance to a few tavernas and the archaeological site of Kolona, a wonderful backdrop for some great pictures (Hotel Rastoni is also not too far away); you can find some precious shade in the adjacent pine forest. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: swimming.

One of Hydra’s only sandy stretches, Mandraki sits about 1½ km (¾ mile) east of Hydra Town—an easy 20-minute coastal walk—or you can zip over in a three-minute water taxi from the main port. The Mandraki Beach Resort rents sun beds and umbrellas (€30–€40 per set, depending on row). Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

Sandy Marathonas A beach offers excellent swimming on the island's west side. Beyond the village, Marathonas B provides another beautiful stretch. Both beaches feature rental sun beds and umbrellas but get crowded in summer—arrive early for prime spots. The western location delivers spectacular sunset views, making staying till evening particularly magical. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: sunset; swimming.

Kamini’s small gray-pebble beach, known as Mikro Kamini, lies about 300 meters (1,000 feet) west of the sleepy fishing port, right in front of Castello Bar & Restaurant, which rents sun beds and umbrellas. Kodylenia’s and other tavernas cluster nearby, perfect for watching boats and yachts slide in. The water is calm and shallow, so the beach suits families with young children. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); rentals. Best for: swimming; walking.

The sandy and pebbled beach of Souvala is one the nicest on the island and was once famed for hot and cold sulfur springs, a trickle of which still reaches the sea near Loutra. Close to the village it offers umbrellas, sun beds, and a pair of new beach bars. Elsewhere along the coastline you can sunbathe and swim off the rocks. Stand-up paddleboarding is available near the hotel Irides. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; water sports. Best for: swimming.

This is a sandy beach next to a picturesque harbor. The café/bar Aerides next to the beach rents sun beds and umbrellas, and serves coffee, drinks, and bites all day long. A few pine trees provide much-needed shade, and there's easy parking nearby. The taverna is also open during winter weekends, with lunch and dinner served by a fireplace. Look for an even quieter stretch of beach at the right side of the harbor. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

This scenic little gray-pebble beach west of Kamini is a good dive destination (ask at Enalion taverna) as well as a nice swimming spot for families due to its shallow waters. Sun beds and umbrellas can be rented from the beachfront tavernas. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

This is, in fact, two beaches split by a verdurous little peninsula. On the right, the larger beach offers a day of relaxation away from the cosmopolitan crowds, with few amenities other than the beautiful water. You can rent sun beds and umbrellas from the local taverna (June–September). On a clear day you can see all the way to Nafplion. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming.