Travel & Stay

Nearby Places to Visit

Island of Spetses

For those of us still in Porto Heli come Monday July 15th, wouldn’t it be fun to spend the day on Spetses together !?

Just a 10 minute water taxi ride to the island, we could come and go as schedule and time permits. Archeological findings indicate Spetses has been inhabited since The Early Bronze Age around 2500 BC. The Venetians who ruled from 1200 - 1460 named it Isola de Spezie (Island of frangrances/herbs). Visit: The lighthouse, The Museum of Lascarina Bouboulina, the mansion where the famous heroine of the Greek Revolution lived. Walk around town and the harbor, eat & drink, take a horse carriage ride! Fun fact - No private automobiles are allowed within town limits.

Island of Hydra

Hydra is about a 1 hour ferry ride from Porto Heli. Hands down one of the most quaint Greek Islands!

Wheeled vehicles are banned in Hydra so put on your walking shoes. Famous for its contribution to the War of Independence (1821), Hydra was first discovered as a destination for relaxation in the 1950’s by a group of artists, like Leonard Cohen & Axel Jensen, who were gibbed by its authentic and magical beauty. The stunning capital town is built amphitheatericaly around the port. The best thing to do is lose yourself walking the picturesque alleys taking in the stone mansions, blooming courtyards, quaint squares with traditional taverns. Enjoy: The waterfront, Cathedral of Assumption, Rafalia’s Pharmacy founded in 1890, museums, Fort of Mandraki, exquisite beaches, and so much more.

Nafplio

(The first capital of the modern Greek state)

A little more than a 1 hour drive from Porto Heli, the Peloponnese town of Nafplio is considered one of the best getaways in Greece!

Impressive castles, museums with invaluable treasures, historic churches, beautiful Neoclassical or Venetian buildings and paved cobbled paths decorated with Bougainvillea bear the grandeur of bygone days of yesteryear. According to mythology, the town was founded by Nafplios, the son of god Poseidon and the daughter of Danaus (Danaida) Anymone. The town’s history traces back to the prehistoric era when soldiers form here participated in the Argonautic expedition and the Trojan Wars alike. Visit: The Fortress of Palamidi (the view alone is worth the 999 steps to the top!), Nafplio’s War Museum, eat!, maybe take a boat ride to Bourtzi. On the way to Nafplio from Porto Heli, be sure to stop at Mycenae, the home of Agamemnon, as well as the Sanctuary of Asclepius in Epicurus, home to the largest and one of the best preserved ancient theaters in Greece.