Hey Greek Island lovers! My name is Angeliki Antoniadi and welcome to my article on the best things to do in Poros, Greece. I was born and raised in Athens, the capital of Greece. I can still remember the first time I went by plane to Mykonos when I was three years old, and also my summers spent in Crete when I was very young visiting my grandparents who live there.
I truly believe that Greeks are extremely fortunate because in less than 30 minutes by plane, or one hour by ferry, we can find ourselves in paradise: a unique Greek Island. And I can say that I feel very lucky to have had many opportunities to visit these beautiful islands even just for a weekend.
This summer I visited 15 Greek Islands, including Poros. Poros is a famous island for Greeks but it’s not that well known for tourists as there isn’t much advertised about it. I went there in September of this year as I had a wedding to attend. I decided to stay for three days to see more of it.
It’s well known that the famous American writer Henry Miller and the Greek poet and Nobel prize winner Giorgos Seferis visited Poros and loved it, so why wouldn’t I? My first trip to this island in the heart of the Saronic Gulf was with my family when I was a kid. But this summer, I visited for the first time as an adult and I had such a wonderful time exploring it.
Poros is close to Athens, so yachts on the island abound as many people start from Athens and stay on the island’s waters or at the port. My favorite spot in Poros was the lovely port with a central road that I could walk down without cars, have an ice cream, sit for a drink and have a nice dinner.
9 Best Things To Do in Poros
- Check out the Poros Clock Tower: A clock tower built in 1927. After climbing up some stairs there you are offered incredible island views.
- Walk through the Port/Town: On one side you have the sea and on the other you have the shops, bars, coffee shops, restaurants and souvenir shops which are open and usually full of people during high season.
- See Ruins from a Russian Naval Dockyard: This place stands as a historical symbol of the Greek-Russian military cooperation that took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. Now there is a beach there with a beach bar as well as sunbeds (see my Instagram stories for more).
- Swim at Love Bay Beach: A beautiful beach with a wonderful set up. Here you will find lovely waters and trees very close to the sea.
- Take an Excursion to the Lemon Forest: Only five minutes by boat to visit the famous Lemon Forest near Galatas Village, Poros. Discover around 25,000 trees bearing fruit such as lemons and oranges. During the spring season, the smell there is simply unbelievable!
- Visit the Archaeological Museum of Poros & Municipal Library: These places are perfect for people who like history and exhibitions.
- Discover the Beautiful Little Church of Panagitsa: This stunning little white and blue church located at the end of Askeli Beach offers incredible views (see my stories) and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
- Have a Treat from Vessala Pastry Shop: Buy an ice cream or another dessert from this awesome little pastry shop in Poros. Yum!
- Pay a Visit at Sirene Blue Resort: Here you can go swimming or just order a coffee with a nice view of the resort. I went there as an external visitor in the sunbeds, had breakfast, relaxed and swam for hours.
Where to Stay in Poros (Accommodation)
Poros is home to 4,000 permanent residents (according to the last population census) but since it’s so close to Athens the island gets more crowded on weekends, especially during the spring and summer seasons.
There are many big (but old) hotels situated a bit outside of the port in the Askeli Beach area, which is a big beach and water sports center. The nightlife is mainly located in the port area too, so you can stay at either spot on your trip. But don’t expect high class hotels everywhere on this island!
Sirene Blue Resort is the best accommodation. It’s a 3-star hotel with a private beach and wonderful views of the Monastiri area, situated only 8 minutes drive from the main port/town. I highly recommend this resort.
Need to Know Before you Go
Poros is a relaxing island and is an easy choice from Athens. You can arrive by yacht or boat even just for the day. Despite it not being the most thrilling and famous of the Greek Islands with extraordinary beaches and stunning waters, it still is quite a lovely little place to visit. I enjoyed three beautiful days there with delicious food and incredible walks in the town.
Access to Poros (if you don’t have a private yacht) is possible by either taking the ferry from the Port of Piraeus, which normally takes around an hour or so, while the second option is to drive all the way to Galatas Village in the Peloponnese and then take the ferry (that accepts cars).
I would like to leave you with my favorite memory from my visit to Poros. It was when the ferry was approaching on my way there and I saw this beautiful green island with new classic houses and the clock from the Clock Tower. This moment stuck in my mind as a perfect postcard scene.
