Luxury holidays in Spetses

When to go

If you come during the July-August summer season or over the Easter weekend, you’ll be sharing the town with holidaying Athenians, so visit in April or September if you prefer things cooler and quieter. The hydrofoil service dries up between November and January.

Getting there

• Planes

  Most people fly to Athens (www.athensairport-2001.gr) and hop into a taxi or onto a bus to Piraeus (the port of Athens), from which the hydrofoil – otherwise known as the flying dolphin, or the faster flying cat – goes to Spetses. Athens International Airport serves many European cities including London (British Airways) and Paris (Air France).

• Boats

  With no airport on the island, most people fly to Athens before jumping onto the hydrofoil from Athens’ port of Piraeus (€35 euro each way), which can take two to three hours depending on the number of stops it makes (www.hellenicseaways.gr).

• Automobiles

  Private cars are not allowed on the island and taxis are rare, but you can hire bikes or motorbikes. In the summer there are also horse-drawn buggies available to ferry you around.