My trip to the Saronic Islands and Porto Heli

I’ve just returned from my first visit to the Saronic Islands and Porto Heli, and I can’t quite believe it took me so long to get there.

My journey began with a couple of nights in Athens. I always recommend starting a Greek itinerary this way. The city is brimming with history, culture and fantastic restaurants, and it provides the perfect contrast to the slower, more relaxed pace of the island life to come.

The Saronic Islands and Porto Heli are remarkably easy to reach from Athens. Within a couple of hours, you can swap city streets for harbour views, turquoise waters, and a completely different rhythm. It’s one of the reasons I think these destinations work so brilliantly for a villa holiday - they feel both accessible and wonderfully escapist.

My first stop was Spetses, where I spent a glorious week at a family wedding. It was the perfect introduction to the island.

Once the celebrations came to an end, I continued my journey with our local team, exploring Spetses in more depth before travelling on to Porto Heli and Hydra. Visiting many of our villas along the way, I discovered a corner of Greece that feels quite distinct from the Cyclades and Ionian Islands that many of our guests know so well.

The ferry journey from Piraeus to Spetses was a joy - smooth, scenic and, with a good book in hand, pleasantly quick at just under two hours.

Spetses immediately felt both elegant and relaxed. The waterfront is lined with handsome architecture, smart cafés and inviting tavernas, while horse-drawn carriages still clip-clop gently along the harbour. Despite its understated sophistication, the island never feels pretentious. Instead, it is wonderfully green and lush, with a laid-back atmosphere that encourages you to slow down from the moment you arrive.

Having already spent a week on the island before beginning my villa visits, I had the luxury of experiencing Spetses at a wonderfully unhurried pace. I cycled between beaches, explored its different corners, and quickly fell into the easy rhythm of Greek island life.

During my stay, I visited several of our villas, each offering a very different experience.

Clelia

Clelia is a charming family villa tucked away in the heart of Spetses Town. It's perfect for those who want to be within easy walking distance of cafés, shops beaches and restaurants while still enjoying complete privacy. I loved its courtyard pool area, which is a real oasis to return to after time spent out exploring.

Catrine

Catrine offers a similar sense of convenience as Clelia, but everything's on a larger scale. Its airy, luminous interiors combine traditional Saronic architectural features with a sense of contemporary panache. I loved the inviting, convivial terraces, and I'd recommend the property for larger groups wanting to dip in and out of Spetses Town's cosmopolitan buzz.

Cleonice

Cleonice is an exquisitely finished, sophisticated home set in a panoramic location just above, but within walking distance of, Spetses Town. I was transfixed by the wide-open views, which take in the town , the sea, and the Greek mainland. I also loved the property's extensive grounds, its amazing 20m-long infinity pool and the fact that an in-villa cook is included.

Daphne

Daphne, which is located within a few minutes' walk from Agii Anargiri beach on Spetses' quieter western side, gave me a completely different perspective of the island. I could imagine spending lazy afternoons by the pool before watching unforgettable sunsets with a drink in hand. It's a great spot in which to enjoy a laid-back, carefree holiday.

Porto Heli feels quite distinct from the islands nearby. It's situated on the easternmost peninsula of the Peloponnese and it has an aura of refinement and understated exclusivity. For many years, it's been a discreet retreat for wealthy Athenians, shipping families, and international visitors seeking quiet rather than overt glamour. The coastline, which is lined with sandy beaches, hidden coves and waterfront villas, is beautiful, and its proximity to both Spetses and Hydra makes it an exceptional base for exploring the wider region.

One of the most pleasant surprises I had during my trip was discovering just how effortlessly Porto Heli and Spetses can be combined. A short water taxi ride connects the two, and it’s easy to imagine staying at a villa in Porto Heli but still being able to pop over to Spetses for dinner, drinks, or an evening stroll along the harbour.

Neysa

Neysa embodies everything I associate with a classic Greek summer holiday: sweeping sea views, lush gardens, a nearby beach, and a seductively informal atmosphere. Its three independent guest rooms offer flexibility for different types of groups, and it's an easy house, well presented, and with everything you could need for a week or two of total relaxation.

Koralli

Koralli is one of the largest villas in our portfolio in this part of Greece. I loved its manicured gardens, its beach access, and its sea views. The jetty made an immediate impression on me, and I could imagine hiring a small boat for a week and exploring the coastline from the water. I understand why so many of our guests return there year after year.

Roellia

Roellia certainly lived up to my expectations. I'd been studying the photos before my trip and they perfectly capture the property's effortless sophistication and its sleek but soft contemporary design. What stood out for me, apart from the beach access, was the abundance of facilities, which include a 17m-long infinity pool, a basketball court and a gym.

Hopping between Spetses and Hydra was, once again, remarkably easy - just a scenic, 30-minute ferry ride across the Saronic Gulf.

Arriving into Hydra harbour feels like stepping back in time. There are no cars waiting at the port and no taxis or scooters weaving through the streets. Instead, luggage is transferred onto donkeys, visitors set off on foot, and life immediately begins to slow.

Hydra has a distinctly different character to Spetses. The theatrical harbour, with its elegant stone mansions, cafés and restaurants, is undeniably beautiful, but what I loved most was venturing beyond it, climbing the town’s many steps, wandering along quiet lanes, and discovering unexpected viewpoints looking out over the rooftops and the open sea. It all felt endlessly rewarding.

There is a real sense of timelessness on Hydra. The island’s grand historic houses speak to its rich maritime past, while the rugged, mountainous interior, which is scattered with monasteries and threaded with old mule paths, adds a quieter, almost contemplative dimension.

Pherenike

Pherenike strikes the perfect balance between privacy and proximity to Hydra Town. Its commanding position, its strong stone walls, and its generous spaces made me feel as if I was in a luxurious castle. The views, which are framed by curvaceous arches, are mesmerising and constantly changing depending on where you are. I could have sat and gazed at them all day.

Margarita

Margarita offered an entirely different arrival experience. Reaching the villa by water taxi, passing rocky coves and secluded beaches before docking at its jetty in Molos Bay, felt wonderfully atmospheric and romantic. I loved its multi-dimensional grounds, its direct sea access, and its excellent range of facilities, and I would warmly recommend it as an ideal property for large gatherings of family and friends.

Mirkella

Near to Margarita, high up on the cliffs above Molos Bay, is Mirkella. I loved its character and history, not to mention its extraordinary 180-degree panoramas, which take in the sparkling Aegean Sea, the island of Dokos, and the Greek mainland. I felt like I was in my own private domain, totally removed from the world. It’s easy to understand why so many illustrious guests have chosen to stay here over the years.

What I enjoyed most about the Saronic Islands and Porto Heli is how effortlessly they can be enjoyed. The logistics are simple, they're within easy reach of one another, and everything feels both elegant and relaxed. Above all, there's a genuine sense of history and place that runs through the area.

Whether it’s watching the harbour come to life in Spetses, crossing the water from Porto Heli at sunset, or listening to the steady rhythm of donkeys’ hooves on Hydra’s stone streets, the Saronic Islands offer a version of Greece that feels both refined and deeply authentic. Better still, they combine perfectly with a few days in Athens, creating a journey that balances culture, sea and total escape.

 A week was enough to convince me that I’ll be back. If the Saronic Islands aren’t already on your list, I think they certainly should be!