Aegina vs Hydra vs Poros: Which Saronic Island to Visit From Athens

Aegina is the easiest Saronic island to visit from Athens: about 40 minutes by fast boat from Piraeus and a little over an hour by ferry. Poros takes about an hour by fast boat. Hydra takes 1 to 2 hours and costs the most. As of November 2026, all three work as day trips if you catch a morning boat.

Boats to the Saronic islands leave from the southern end of Piraeus port, near the metro station. Most Saronic sailings use gate E8, a short walk from Piraeus station on Line 1 and the tram stop. Check the gate on your ticket, as operators sometimes move berths.

How do Aegina, Hydra and Poros compare?

The table sums up the differences. Times and fares are rough ranges from Piraeus as of November 2026, collected from operator and booking listings that do not always agree. Confirm the fare when you book.

For how the port works, including gates, the free shuttle and arriving early, see our guide to taking a ferry from Piraeus.

What is there to do on Aegina?

Aegina is the most practical choice for a first trip. Boats run all year, the main town has shops and bakeries open in winter, and you can move around by local bus or taxi.

• Temple of Aphaia. A well-preserved 5th-century BC temple on a pine-covered hill in the northeast of the island, reached by bus or taxi from town.
• Monastery of Agios Nektarios. A large pilgrimage church on the road to Aphaia, busy on 9 November, the saint’s feast day.
• Pistachios. Aegina pistachios have protected designation of origin status. Shops along the harbor sell them roasted, salted and as spreads and sweets.
• Perdika. A fishing village in the southwest with fish tavernas facing the islet of Moni.
• Beaches. Agia Marina on the east coast and the sandy coves around Marathonas on the west are the easiest to reach.

Why go to Hydra instead?

Hydra is the island for walking and swimming. No cars or motorbikes are allowed, so you get around on foot, by water taxi or by mule. The harbor town is built in gray stone around a horseshoe bay, with mansions of 18th- and 19th-century ship owners on the slopes.

Swimming is mostly off rocks and small pebble coves, reached by a coastal path or water taxi. Kamini and Vlychos are walking distance from the port. The island has no large sandy beach.

Hydra is the most expensive of the three for both boats and food. It is also the most popular with day visitors from Athens in summer, so book return fast boats for weekends in July and August.

What makes Poros different?

Poros is separated from the Peloponnese by a channel only a few hundred meters wide. Small boats shuttle across to Galatas on the mainland all day. The town climbs a hill to a clock tower with views across the channel.

• Beaches. Love Bay and Askeli are the closest swimming spots to town, a short bus or taxi ride away.
• Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi. An 18th-century monastery in the east of the island, near the coast.
• Lemonodasos. A lemon grove on the Galatas side, reached by crossing the channel.

Poros is quieter than Aegina and cheaper than Hydra. It is a good choice for a slow day, or a base for driving on to Nafplio and Epidaurus.

What changes in winter?

The number of sailings drops from November to March. Aegina keeps frequent daily boats because many residents commute to Athens. Poros and Hydra have fewer departures, and some fast boats run a reduced timetable.

• Weather. Strong winds can cancel fast boats at short notice. Conventional ferries are more likely to sail.
• Strikes. The seamen’s union PNO sometimes calls 24-hour strikes that stop all sailings; they are usually announced a few days in advance.
• Services. Many beach tavernas and hotels close for the season. Harbor cafés and some restaurants stay open, especially at weekends.

Check the last boat back before you go in winter. On Hydra and Poros it can leave in the mid-afternoon. Our guide on how to check for strikes in Athens lists where ferry strikes are announced.

Which works best as a day trip?

Aegina is the safest day trip in any season. Hydra is the most memorable but needs a morning fast boat and a booked return. Poros works well in the warmer months, especially if you combine it with a drive into the Peloponnese.

For other options within a few hours of the city, see our comparison of day trips from Athens. Several cruise companies sell one-day trips to all three islands. They are an easy overview but leave about an hour or two on each island.

Bottom line

Buy return tickets when you book, not on the island, and choose the slowest boat you can live with: conventional ferries to Aegina cost less and are less often cancelled in wind. On public holiday weekends, book well ahead, since Athenians fill the boats to their island houses.

FAQ

Which Saronic island is best for a day trip from Athens?

Aegina, because it is the closest and has the most boats all year. Hydra is the most popular in summer but costs more and has fewer winter sailings.

Can you visit Aegina, Hydra and Poros in one day?

Only on an organized cruise, which stops briefly at each island. On scheduled boats, one island per day is realistic.

Do ferries to Aegina run in winter?

Yes. Aegina has daily sailings all year, though fewer than in summer. Fast boats can be cancelled in strong wind.

Can you take a car to Hydra?

No. Private cars and motorbikes are not allowed on Hydra, and there is no regular car ferry. Visitors arrive on foot by fast boat.