SPETSES
All About Spetses
At the furthest end of the Saronic Gulf, Spetses is a minimum of two hours by Cat from Piraeus (via Poros, Hydra and possibly Ermioni) and is a popular weekend escape destination for Athenians.
Spetses is famous for its long naval tradition and its significant contribution to the 1821 War of Independence.
The island is covered in pine trees and while private cars are banned on the island, bikes, mopeds and quad bikes aren't. There are also a number of permitted business vehicles and a few taxis.
Spetses offers an elegant atmosphere and a picturesque landscape, mainly thanks to the Venetian mansions of its main town, which emit an ageless aura. Among the many sightseeing opportunities of the island are the Museum of Spetses, the Anargyros Mansion, the old harbor, and many secluded and beautiful beaches.
Routes and Ferries to Spetses
Ports of Spetses
There are two ports on the island of Spetses. Baltiza is the old port and it is located at the feet of the small inhabited village. It was an important shipbuilding center during the 18th and 19th-century and it is still active today, offering essential services, such as water and fuel on the quay. The new port, Dapia, is the heart of Spetses and the latest settlement of the island. Its beautiful cobblestone roads create an ideal landscape for relaxing walks by the water, especially during the summer.
Capital & Villages
Town of Spetses
The town of Spetses is the capital and administrative center of the island. Most of the available facilities on the island, such as banks, grocery stores, bakeries, and tourist shops are concentrated here. The town also offers many hotels, luxurious villas, traditional restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. The monastery of Agios Nikolaos, patron of the sailors, situated just outside of the town, is an interesting landmark.
Baltiza
Baltiza is the old port of Spetses, a natural harbor, and a deep inlet. During the 18th and 19th-centuries, Baltiza was the place where the main ship building activity of the island took place, and where traditional wooden ships are built still to this day. During the winter, the harbor is very quiet and picturesque, while in the summer it turns cosmopolitan, full of yachts, sailboats, and tourists from all over the world. The lighthouse stands on a little peninsula, while the view from the chapel of the Virgin of the Armada, situated right across the port, is astonishing, especially during sunset.
Dapia
Dapia is the new harbor of the island and it is located at the heart of Spetses town. Many buildings in this area are painted in white and blue, while a cobblestone coastal road provides the main means of travel. Here most of the cafes, tourist shops, and restaurants of the island can be found. Furthermore, here you can visit the Spetses Museum, the Bouboulina Museum, and the beautiful Anargyros mansion. The square located in the middle of the main road is the place where the island’s seafaring leaders met to organize the revolt against the Ottomans during the 1820s.
Kasteli
Kasteli is the oldest district of Spetses Town. It was first built in the 17th-century and destroyed by the Ottomans as a punishment for the participation of the inhabitants in the Orlov revolt, during the Russo-Turkish war. Today the area is packed with box-shaped traditional Spetsiot houses with clay tile roofs and large colored windows. Important landmarks here are the church of Agia Triada with its splendid wood-carved iconostasis and the remains of some Venetian fortifications.
Kounoupitsa
Kounoupitsa is a historic district of the island, created right after the 1821 Revolution. It is the closest village to Dapia, and it offers a number of small marble and sandy beaches. Kounoupitsa is also a great tourist attraction thanks to its high-quality seaside taverns, cafes, and gift shops.
Transportation around Spetses
Since the use of personal cars in Spetses is prohibited, there are some other ways in which you can explore the region. You can book a taxi, a water taxi, or rent bicycles and motorbikes if you are feeling more adventurous. There's also a bus that travels the almost circular main coastal road during the summer that stops at all the beaches.
Contact
Port Authority of Spetses: +302298072245
Municipality of Spetses: +302298072225