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The island of Poros is located in the Saronic Gulf, southeast of Greece. Poros is a very good opportunity to spend a weekend if you are in Athens.
In fact, many tourists who want to get to know other beaches outside the Greek mainland go to Poros, which is an hour away from the capital.
When we talk about Poros, we must clarify that it is made up of two different islands called Kalavria (the largest) and Spheria (the smaller one, in which the center is located and which is of volcanic origin). There is a bridge between them.
Poros has 4,000 inhabitants and its landscape is characterized by its extensive vegetation, temperate climate, and mountainous soil. The main city, homonymous, was built on a hill and its port has direct access to Athens and nearby islands, such as Aegina or Hydra.
In addition, this island played an extremely important role during the independence of Greece and resulted in the first naval base in the country. In terms of mythology, Poros is said to be the island of Poseidon, the Greek deity of the oceans.
If you want to visit Poros, Greece, you should keep in mind that there is only one way to do it: by ferry.
But of course! You have options to do it. The most common thing among travelers who visit Poros is to take a boat from Piraeus, the port of Athens, to the islands of the Saronic Gulf. In the case of Poros, it is 1 hour by hydrofoil (a smaller and faster boat) and 2 hours by ferry.
You can also travel to Poros by sailing boat, but that's another detail. Other islands which are commonly connected are Agistri, Aegina, Hydra, and Spetses.
If you plan to travel to Poros, we recommend that you explore the island on foot, by bicycle, by public transport, or by car. In the case of a bike or car, you can rent either of these two at multiple points on the island.
The island of Poros has different beaches to which visitors go, mainly on weekend trips to Greece. These are the most important attractions of the location and develop the island's tourism. Among them, you can find:
Here we tell you about the main attractions of the island of Poros, Greece.
Poros is an island famous for its lemon grove, which has direct views of the Peloponnese. Sure, it sounds dreamy, doesn't it? This forest was the setting for different works, such as the famous homonymous story by Kosmas Politis, a Greek writer, and film director, where life in the countryside in 1930 is portrayed, along with iconic animals of Greece, the donkeys.
Lemon trees were of great importance within Poros, not only because of their beauty but also because of the economic income they brought to the island. Until the 18th century, a large part of the lemon production was exported to other destinations such as Turkey and other locations in Greece, especially to the rest of the Saronic Islands and Athens.
Every city in Greece usually has a characteristic museum. In the case of the city of Poros, in Koryzi Square, you can find this beautiful museum that houses different archaeological objects dating from ancient times. Among them, we can mention stone engravings, ceramics, steles, Hellenistic figures, vessels, sculptures, and objects from the Temple of Poseidon.
It is located in the center of the island and dates back to the 6th century BC. Due to different natural catastrophes, only the ruins remain of this temple. However, it is exciting to visit, as you will be able to see Doric and Ionic columns among the remains.
It is the symbol of Poros, which dates back to 1927 and was built in the highest area of the city. Every traveler on the way to the island will see this attraction peer out from the waters of the Saronic Gulf. In turn, no matter where you are in Poros, you will always have him in your sights.
From its top, you can see the entire bay of Poros and take impressive photos. The time that this activity will take you is around an hour. The clock tower is located in Kastelli, a very busy and picturesque area, so you can take the opportunity to walk through the typical streets of Greek architecture.
If you are wondering about the traditional food of Poros, then we will tell you about the most important typical dishes of the island.
It is one of the specialties of the famous Greek cuisine restaurant called Panorama Resto, which is located in Askeli and has unmissable views of the sea. This dish is a cheese scramble with fried mussels, accompanied by a sautéed carrot, celery, bay leaf, onion, garlic, and served with parsley on top.
This is another traditional food from the island of Poros. Do you remember the lemon tree forest that we mentioned before? Well, that's where this recipe comes from. In its preparation, the sardines are accompanied by notes of lemon, mint, garlic, olive oil, and pepper and are wrapped in vine leaves and grilled. Finally, the dish is served. You can find this delicious preparation in different complexes of Askeli Beach.
A very interesting production on the island of Poros, as in many regions of Greece, is that of olive trees and oil. Its cultivation dates back to centuries of antiquity and, in this case, the olives and oils inherited from a variety of Trizina, a small town in the Peloponnese that is dedicated to this production, should be emphasized. On the island of Poros, the harvest area is very recognizable, as an enormous olive mill belonging to the Koutouzis brothers stands out. There you can get to know their factory and visit the tasting area with an incredible view of the Saronic Gulf.
If you are passionate about lemon, be sure to visit the Confectionery Workshop in the lemon forest! They dedicate their production of sweets to this fruit.
You can also find a family business, Amygdalota Porou Dagklis, which is dedicated to almond pastries, especially Poros macarons (also called daglis macarons), a delicious combination of almonds and macaroons. In addition, you can try almond liqueurs and ice creams, a fruit that the producers themselves plant and collect.
If you are wondering how to travel to Poros, you can take a ferry from Hydra or other nearby islands.
You can also visit Poros from Athens. Boats from Athens usually take between one and two hours, depending on the type of service you choose.
Another option is to get to Poros by car. For this, you must drive to the town of Galatas (Peloponnese), about 2 hours from Athens, and from there take a ferry to Poros.
There is no airport on the island of Poros, so the Athens International Airport is the closest to Poros.
The port of Poros is located in the center of the city, so you can easily reach your accommodation by taxi, public transport, private transfer, or even on foot.