Cruises in Athens
A trip to Athens would not be complete without a cruise to many of the nearby islands. There are dozens of excursions that take you to them; in this post I'll help you decide which one best suits your interests.
Cruise in the waters of Aegina | ©Herbert Frank
Greece has more than 2,000 islands, and while not all of them can be visited on day trips from Athens (you'd need to take a flight), there are some islands that you can see on a day cruise from Athens.
Hydra, Poros and Aegina Day Cruise from Athens
With this day cruise from Athens, a vehicle will pick you up from your hotel and take you back to your hotel at the end of the tour. You'll visit three islands and spend between one and two hours on each one, but the cruise itself will also be an experience in itself. The islands you will see are the closest to Athens, located in the Saronic Gulf:
Hydra
A small, commercially busy island where you'll find beautiful colourful houses, scenery to admire and great beaches. Your guide will tell you the history of a place that served as a refuge for pirates.
Poros
In the centre of the island, the remains of the temple of Poseidon stand on a hill and you can also visit places like the lemon grove, but my recommendation is to take a stroll around the harbour and enjoy the scenery.
Aegina
When you get there you can stroll around the town or take a trip to the temple of Aphaea, which is quite popular in Greece.
What's included in this cruise
- Expert advice from a guide
- A Greek buffet lunch
- A folklore show during the cruise
Ana's Traveller Tip
These cruises are a quick trip if your main travel destination is Athens, to enjoy the main Greek Islands in all their splendour you will need more time.
VIP Day Cruise to Hydra, Poros and Aegina from Athens
If you want to feel surrounded by luxury for a day and indulge yourself during your trip, this VIP day cruise from Athens is an ideal option to do just that. The main advantage of this activity is that you will not only enjoy the destination, but also the experience of the trip.
In addition to the visit to the islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina, where you will have a free time of between one and two hours per island. This tour is available in English, Spanish, Italian and French. You'll spend the whole day out with everything included and once on the islands you'll be able to explore them at your leisure, capturing their fabulous scenery and buildings in your mind's eye.
What's included in this cruise
- The transfer from your hotel in Athens to the ship in a luxury vehicle and vice versa
- A free business class buffet with Greek delicacies
- Snacks and drinks at your disposal during the tour
- A guided tour of Hydra Island
- Discount in the ship's shops
- Visit to the cruise bridge and meet and greet with the captain
- Expert guides to call on during the tour
- Priority embarkation and disembarkation at each of the islands
Ana's Traveller Tip
Some of these islands don't have sandy beaches, but you can find spots for a quick swim if you're wearing booties.
Tips for your Greek Islands cruise from Athens
The main purpose of day cruises departing from Athens is to give you the opportunity to get a closer look at the Greek landscape and some of the islands. In other words, the beaches themselves are not the main attraction of this boat tour. This is the first thing you should bear in mind before booking the experience so that you won't be disappointed later on.
How to choose the right cruise
If you've had a quick look at what's on offer, you'll have seen that there are dozens of similar cruises departing from Athens. How do you decide which tour to choose? My advice is to consider a number of factors:
- The price: These types of excursions are not cheap, but you don't necessarily have to pay an excessive amount to enjoy them.
- Free cancellation: You should always allow for unforeseen events. Choose a tour that gives you the security of being able to cancel 24 hours in advance without losing your money.
- Time on the islands: the greatest added value of a day cruise is being able to make the most of the time. Check before booking the estimated time you will spend on each of the islands included in the tour.
- The services included: being able to enjoy the journey between the different stops is also important. Many tours have on-board services such as food or entertainment to make your time on the boat part of the experience.
What to bring on the cruise
Finally, remember to bring everything you need to spend the day in comfort. Sunscreen, a swimming costume in case you get the chance to enjoy a swim and comfortable clothes and shoes are important. You won't need much else during your trip.
Other islands worth visiting in Greece
If a one-day round-trip cruise is too short for you, there are plenty of other options for enjoying the islands of Greece. Before you book your accommodation in Athens, consider spending a few nights away on a multi-day tour or even organising a self-drive tour. This will allow you to visit islands further away from the capital such as:
Santorini
Santorini has excellent beaches, nightlife and a landscape of whitewashed cottages perched atop a mountain. It is the ideal place for any travel photographer.
Mykonos
Known for its parties and nightlife. You can fly in and then hop from there to other nearby islands. Or you can join an excursion to Mykonos from Athens.
Paxos
Close to Corfu. It guarantees relaxation and privacy and won't be too crowded as it's only accessible by boat.
Rhodes
Ideal to spend a few days enjoying both its landscapes and tourist sites such as the Castle of Monolithos or the natural park of Epta Piges.
Crete
The largest island in Greece, Crete is another great place to start your trip around the country. As well as scenery and beaches, you can visit important archaeological remains.
If you are interested in a cruise around the Greek Islands, you may also be interested in
Greek Islands cruises from Athens are an opportunity to discover more areas of the country in the same trip and not just the image of the capital of Greece. With this in mind, I recommend you to take a look at this article on Best Tours and Day Trips from Athens
Sometimes we associate excursions with exhaustive planning and discard them for the simple fact of having to spend nights away from our main travel destination, but a solution to this lies in organised excursions. The vast majority of them also offer the services of a guide along the way, allowing you to learn more about the country's history and make the most of the time available.