Spetses Island Transportation

Horse Carriages 2298073170
Water Taxis and Caiques 2298072072
Taxis - Cars

6942635656 Lefteris and Ioannis
6944605784 Ilias
6946853253 Antonis and Michalis
6932200240 Kostas
6946167251 Dimitris
6944251945 Panagiotis and Dinos
6932200204 Yiorgos

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Modern modes of transportation mingle with the old on the busy roads of Spetses. Today's travellers, move by horse drawn carriages, by foot, by motorcycle and even by Segway! What's a Segway? It's that new individual electrically powered mover-standup-strange looking vehicle! One of the big yachts moored in the harbour at Dapia had two of these new devices parked on the dock for their private use. They look very strange indeed, but how I wanted to try it! I'm certain if I had been 40 years younger, those young boys would have been chasing me with those begging me to go for a ride with them...ah, too young too soon!

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The only way to reach Spetses island is by ship, Ferry, Catamaran (Flying Cat) or Hydrofoil (Flying Dolphin). The company that has the majority of the ships is Hellenic Seaways (www.hellenicseaways.gr).

Due to its proximity to the mainland, many choose to travel to Spetses overland, parking their cars (€4 per day) at Costa on the Peloponnese and then crossing over either on one of the four daily landing-craft ferries (15 minutes, €0,85) or by sea-taxi (3 minutes, €15). Public Inter-City (KTEL) buses connect with the ferry at Costa, to/from Athens and Nauplion daily year-round.

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Ferries and hydrofoils connect Spetses with the other islands in the Argosaronic Gulf and, via these islands, with Piraeus.

The following is an account of my experiences of boat travel to and from the island in October 2005:

I arrived at Spetses on a catamaran ("Eurofast 1") from Poros (via Hydra). The journey took about 1 hour and cost 13.50 Euros.

I caught the catamaran at Poros at 10:45am and arrived shortly before midday. The Eurofast 1 catamaran stays in Spetses harbour, before departing north again at 4:00pm.

I thus spent 4 hours in Spetses before catching the same catamaran to Hydra. The journey from Spetses to Hydra took approximately 30 minutes and cost 9.60 Euros.

Ferries and hydrofoils plying the Argosaronic Gulf route call at the following ports (in sequential order):

Piraeus - Aegina - Poros - Hydra - Spetses.

The journey between Piraeus and Spetses takes nearly 2 hours by hydrofoil and between 3 and 4 hours by ferry.

One can't help but think that as time passes when the end of an era is fading into the darkness, that we are loosing something precious. Hold on to those dreams and cherish the traditions of your culture that make your country truly unique. That 'rose' that is yours may be the best there is.

One of the major attractions of Spetsis Island has to be the fact that NO cars are allowed during the peak summer months of the holiday season. During that time, only picturesque horse-drawn carriages can be seen transporting tourists along the beach roads. Unfortunately, local residents have demanded at least some form of convenience in their daily lives and the island has succumbed to the noise of the motorbike. During certain winter months, a limited number of cars and small trucks are allowed by special permission for transporting large items to and from the island. When the heavy tourist season begins in June, even the motorbikes are forbidden to enter the central business and port areas!

Two bus routes are available in Spetses, effectively serving all the places of interest of the island.

Four daily buses leave from the square of Agias Mamas (in Spetses Town) and go to Agioi Anargiroi beach, passing via the beaches of Agia Marina and Xilokeriza.
A bus leaves every hour from Possidonio Hotel for the beach of Ligoneri.
Departure times are displayed on a board nearby the bus stops.

Taxi-boats are a very pleasant alternative to visit the beaches of the island and regularly leave from Spetses Town to Agia Marina, Agioi Anargiroi, Zogeria and more.

Only motorbikes are permitted as motorised vehicles and can be rent in various places in Spetses Town.
But the best way to discover an island is the bicycle (can be rent in Spetses town)

Ferry

One daily ferry link Spetses to Piraeus (4, 5 hours) via Hydra (1 hour), Poros (2 hours) and Aegina (3 hours).

Flying Dolphins (hydrofoils)

Nine daily Flying Dolphins link Spetses to Piraeus (2, 5 hours), via Hydra (30 minutes) and Poros (70 minutes).

Cars are not allowed on the island...Motorbikes...I am not sure but I have seen a few.
If you want to go around the island there is a taxi and a local bus service. In the town you can go around by the traditional horse carriages.

If you drive all the way from Athens to Kosta (it is a long but beautiful trip) you can take a sea taxi or a little boat to Spetses from there.
The duration of the trip with the little boat is 10-15 minutes and it costs about 3 Euros/person.