The islands of the Saronic Gulf, which lies between Attica and the Peloponnese, are so close to Athens that each summer they are inundated by Athenians—all of whom, of course, are seeking to avoid the crowds of Athens. These islands are especially packed on summer weekends, as well as whenever there is a serious heat wave in Athens. n addition, the Saronic Gulf islands are popular destinations for travelers whose time is limited, but who are determined not to go home without seeing at least one Greek island.

1/ Hydra (Idra)

Hydra (Idra), with its bare hills, superb natural harbor, and elegant stone mansions, is the most strikingly beautiful of the Saronic Gulf islands. One of the first Greek islands to be “discovered” by artists, writers, and bon vivants, Hydra, like Mykonos, is not the place to go to experience traditional village life. The island has been declared a national monument and cars have been banished, which makes it blessedly quiet (although motorcycles are beginning to infiltrate the scene). One drawback: There’s almost no decent beach, but lots of places to swim off the rocks. Despite the hydrofoils that link Hydra with other islands and the mainland, the island manages to maintain a certain sense of resolute individuality.

2/ Aegina

Triangular Aegina (Egina), the largest of the Saronic Gulf islands, continues to be the most visited island of Greece, due to its proximity to Athens. In fact, many of the 10,000 who live here commute daily to Athens. If you have only 1 day for one island, you may decide on a day trip here to see the famous Doric temple of Aphaia. Most ships arrive and depart from the main port and capital of Aegina town on the west coast, though there are a few that stop at the resort town of Souvala on the north coast and the port of Ayia Marina on the east coast. Ayia Marina is about as charmless as it’s possible to be, but this port is your best choice if your principal destination here is the temple of Aphaia.

3/ Poros

Poros shares the gentle, rolling landscape of the adjacent Peloponnesian coastline, and has several good beaches, some decent tavernas, and a lively summer nightlife. If that sounds like lukewarm praise, we’re afraid it is: Poros does not have enough of the atmosphere of an island to make us want to return often—and, in July and August, the island virtually sinks under the weight of package-tour groups. As someone once said, “Geography is destiny”: Poros (the word means “straits” or “ford”) is separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow channel only 370m (1,214 ft.) wide. This makes the island so easy to reach from the mainland

that weekending Athenians and many tourists flock here each summer.

4/ Spetses

Hydra (Idra), with its bare hills, superb natural harbor, and elegant stone mansions, is the most strikingly beautiful of the Saronic Gulf islands. One of the first Greek islands to be “discovered” by artists, writers, and bon vivants, Hydra, like Mykonos, is not the place to go to experience traditional village life. The island has been declared a national monument and cars have been banished, which makes it blessedly quiet (although motorcycles are beginning to infiltrate the scene). One drawback: There’s almost no decent beach, but lots of places to swim off the rocks. Despite the hydrofoils that link Hydra with other islands and the mainland, the island manages to maintain a certain sense of resolute individuality.