Day trip to Poros from Athens with swimming
Coach transfer from Athens to the Peloponnese coast, a water taxi across to Poros harbour and free time to wander and swim at Love Bay.
This is the simplest way to see Poros if you are staying in Athens and do not want to organise anything. Air-conditioned coach to the Peloponnese coast, a water taxi across the channel and five or six hours of free time on the island before heading back.
We like it as an introduction precisely because it does not try to squeeze three islands into one day, which is what the classic Saronic cruises do. Here you visit a single island and there is time to actually see it.
What it includes and how it works
Departure is early from central Athens, around seven in the morning. The road journey to Galatas takes about two and a half hours, with a comfort stop at the Isthmus of Corinth that usually includes a photo of the canal.
On reaching the coast you cross by water taxi or shuttle to Poros harbour. It takes five minutes and it is one of the loveliest arrivals in the Greek islands, with the town opening up like an amphitheatre in front of the boat.
Once on the island, the free time is usually structured around a short guided walk through Poros town and then several hours on your own, with a transfer included to Love Bay for a swim.
The return gets back to Athens between seven and eight in the evening.
Pain points, honestly
It is a long day. Twelve hours door to door, with around five of those on a coach counting both directions. If you get travel sick, the Peloponnese route has some winding stretches: sit near the front and bring something for it.
Not for anyone who hates early starts. Pick-up is between 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning.
Time on the island is limited. With five or six hours you see the town and one beach. There is no room for the monastery, the sanctuary of Poseidon and the lemon forest. If those interest you, better to sleep a night on the island.
Lunch is not always included. Check the details for the specific date: on some it includes lunch and on others you are on your own in the harbour tavernas, where a meal costs between 12 and 20 euros.
What to bring
Swimsuit on under your clothes (changing facilities at the beach are limited), a towel, water shoes because Love Bay is pebbly, sun cream, a hat and a bottle of water. And some cash, because not all the small harbour tavernas take cards.
If you plan to look inside any of the churches, bring something to cover your shoulders.
When to do it
May to October, which is when swimming makes sense. June and September are the sweet spot: warm water, less heat on the coach and slightly lower prices.
In July and August the trip fills up and the midday heat in town is considerable. Book ahead in those months.
An alternative worth considering
If you are travelling around the Peloponnese, the same excursion runs from Nafplio and is considerably shorter (nine hours instead of twelve) because the road journey shrinks a lot.
And if you have more than a day, the honest alternative is not to take a tour at all: take the fast catamaran from Piraeus, sleep a night on the island and organise yourself. It costs about the same and you see three times as much of Poros.