Planning a Trip

Getting There

Daily hydrofoil and ferry service to Poros and other Saronic Gulf islands is offered by Hellenic Seaways (tel. 210/419-9200; www.hellenicseaways.gr). Saronikos Ferries (tel. 210/417/1190) takes passengers and cars to Aegina, Poros, and Spetses; cars are not allowed to disembark on Hydra. Euroseas (tel. 210/411-3108) has speedy catamaran service from Piraeus to Poros, Hydra, and Spetses. For information on schedules for most Argo-Saronic ferries, you can try one of the various numbers of the Piraeus Port Authority (tel. 210/422-6000, 210/410-1480, or 210/410-1441), but phones are not always answered. On Poros, try tel. 22980/22-274.

The other Saronic Gulf islands are all easy to reach from Poros. In addition, in summer Marinos Tours (tel. 22980/22-297) offers excursions to Saronic and Cycladic islands.

Visitor Information

The waterfront hotels are generally too noisy for all except heavy sleepers, so if you want to stay in town, we suggest you check with Marinos Tours (tel. 22980/22-297), which handles several hundred rooms and apartments, as well as many island hotels. We've had good reports of Saronic Gulf Travel (tel. 22980/24-555; www.saronicgulftravel.gr), which usually has an excellent free map of the island. To learn more about Poros, look for Niki Stavrolakes's enduring classic, Poros (Lycabettus Press), for sale on the island. The websites www.poros.com.gr and www.greeka.com/saronic/poros have information in Greek and English.

Getting Around

You can walk anywhere in Poros town. The island's bus can take you to the beaches or to the Monastery of the Zoodhochou Pigis and the remains of the Temple of Poseidon; the conductor will charge you according to your destination. The taxi station is near the hydrofoil dock, or you can call for one at tel. 22980/23-003; the fare to or from the Askeli beach should cost about 10€. Kostas Bikes (tel. 22980/23-565), opposite the Galas ferry pier, rents bicycles for about 10€ per day, and mopeds from about 20€ per day.

Fast Facts

The National Bank of Greece is one of a handful of waterfront banks with an ATM where you can also exchange money. The police (tel. 22980/22-256) and tourist police (tel. 22980/22-462) are on the paralia (harbor). The port authority (tel. 22980/22-274) is on the harborfront. For first aid, call tel. 22980/22-254. The post office and telephone office (OTE) are also on the waterfront; their hours are Monday through Friday from 8am to 2pm. In summer, in addition to normal weekday hours, the OTE is open Sunday 8am to 1pm and 5 to 10pm. Coconuts Internet Café and Kentrou Typou (also a newsagent with foreign newspapers) are both on the harborfront and offer Internet service for about 5€ per hour.