Poros
Between Poros and the coast of the Peloponnese, level with the town of Galatas, the sea narrows to a channel barely three hundred...
Updated 10 July 2026
Poros
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This season · July · Summer
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The story
The story of Poros
Two islands in one: Sferia and Kalavria
What we now call Poros is in fact the union of two distinct islets. Sferia, of volcanic origin and small in size, is home to the main settlement, which has grown in tiers up a conical hill overlooking the strait. Kalavria, much larger and almost entirely wooded, is connected to it by an artificial isthmus filled in over the centuries, which today can be crossed in just a few minutes on foot or by car. This dual nature explains the contrast between the dense, lively town centre and the silent hinterland covered in Aleppo pines that opens up just beyond the inner channel.
The sanctuary of Poseidon and the death of Demosthenes
On the wooded hill of Kalavria once stood the Panhellenic sanctuary of Poseidon, seat of an amphictyony, a religious league that brought together several Greek cities of the region for shared rites and games. The site is remembered above all for a dramatic episode: in 322 BC, hunted by the Macedonian soldiers of Antipater after the defeat of the Athenian revolt, the orator Demosthenes took refuge in this very sanctuary and, rather than be taken prisoner, took his own life with poison. Of the temple's remains, which can be visited today among the pines, foundations and squared blocks survive that allow one to imagine its original layout.
Poros and the birth of modern Greece
In 1828, as the Greek War of Independence drew to a close, Poros was chosen as the venue for important diplomatic meetings between the great European powers, keen to define the borders and status of the new Greek state. The strait's sheltered position and its closeness to the Peloponnese, the scene of the fiercest fighting, made the island a practical location for these negotiations. It was an episode that, together with the role of temporary capital played by nearby Aegina in the same period, testifies to how central the Saronic islands were in the formative phase of contemporary Greece.
The naval cadet school
For much of the twentieth century Poros was home to the cadet school of the Hellenic Navy, an institution that left a tangible mark on the island's identity: school buildings, a constant presence of cadets in uniform, and a deep bond with Greek naval traditions, similar in spirit, if more institutional, to that of Hydra and Spetses. The base, now scaled down compared to the past, has nonetheless helped keep Poros an island less devoted to mass tourism and more tied to a diversified local economy.
The clock tower, symbol of the island
At the top of the hill of Sferia, clearly visible from any point of the harbour and the strait, stands the clock tower, built in 1927 and, since then, the most recognisable image of Poros. To reach it you climb a stairway that runs through the oldest part of town, among white and blue houses stepping down towards the sea: the view from the top takes in the harbour, the channel and the coast of the Peloponnese all at once, capturing the island's distinctive geography in a single glance.
The monastery of Zoodochos Pigi
Set within the pine forest of Kalavria, a few kilometres from the centre, stands the monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, founded in the eighteenth century and dedicated to the Virgin as "Life-Giving Spring". The building, with its shaded courtyard and carved wooden iconostasis, is still an active place of worship today and a destination for short visits along the route that leads from the town inland into the island's wooded interior. The contrast between the monastery's silence and the bustle of the harbour, just a few minutes away, is one of the most characteristic features of a trip to Poros.
Lemonodasos, the lemon grove across the strait
On the opposite shore of the channel, on the Peloponnese side near Galatas, lies Lemonodasos, one of the largest citrus groves in Greece, planted as early as the eighteenth century and still cultivated today with lemon and orange trees numbering several thousand. Shaded paths cross the grove to a small traditional tavern at its centre, a destination for walks that combine easily with a visit to Poros thanks to the very short boat crossing. In spring, when the citrus trees are in bloom, the air of the grove fills with an intense scent that can already be sensed from the water.
The pine forests of Kalavria
Once past the isthmus linking the two islands, the landscape changes radically: Kalavria is covered almost entirely by a dense Aleppo pine forest that runs down to the coves of the coastline, interspersed with occasional cultivated clearings. Dirt tracks and small paved roads allow you to cross it by bicycle or on foot, taking in little-visited coves and scenic viewpoints over the strait. It is the island's most natural and least touristy face, appreciated by those seeking a slow pace far from the harbour.
Neorio and Askeli, the island's beaches
Poros's two main seaside spots lie along the coast of Kalavria: Neorio, to the north, with a sheltered pebble beach and several family-run establishments, and Askeli, larger and better equipped, dotted with taverns that look straight out to sea towards the Peloponnese. Both are easily reached by local bus, taxi or bicycle from the centre, and are the most practical option for those wanting a swim without straying too far from the main town.
- Climb to the clock tower for the view over the strait
- Cross the channel by boat and stroll through the lemon grove of Lemonodasos
- Visit the remains of the sanctuary of Poseidon among the pine woods of Kalavria
- Hire a bicycle to explore the island's wooded hinterland
- Swim at the beaches of Neorio or Askeli
- Dine at a seafront tavern watching the lights of Galatas come on
When to go and how to experience Poros
Poros has a quieter character than Hydra and Spetses, and is frequented mainly by Greek families on summer weekends and by those looking for a convenient base from which to explore the nearby Peloponnese coast as well. Spring, with the citrus groves of Lemonodasos in bloom, and early autumn remain the most pleasant times to walk in the pine woods of Kalavria without the summer heat. A stay of one or two nights lets you alternate between the pace of the harbour and the much slower pace of the hinterland and the opposite shore of the channel.
FAQ
Come si arriva a Poros da Atene?
Quanto è largo il canale tra Poros e il Peloponneso?
Cosa vedere a Poros in un giorno?
Poros è adatta a chi viaggia con bambini?
Ci si sposta in auto a Poros?
Getting there
- Aeroporto Internazionale di Atene "Eleftherios Venizelos", circa 2 ore tra trasferimento al Pireo e traversata
- In auto si può raggiungere Galatas, sulla costa del Peloponneso, e da lì attraversare il canale con il traghetto locale in pochi minuti; in alternativa aliscafi e traghetti partono direttamente dal Pireo.
- Se si viaggia in auto dal Peloponneso, il traghetto navetta per Galatas è economico e frequentissimo: spesso conviene lasciare l'auto sulla terraferma e girare Poros a piedi o in bici.
Perfect for
Il santuario di Poseidone tra i pini di Kalavria custodisce la memoria della morte di Demostene.
Il bosco di limoni di Lemonodasos, a un passo dal porto, profuma l'aria in primavera.
Meno mondana di Hydra e Spetses, Poros è l'isola giusta per un ritmo lento e familiare.
Le pinete di Kalavria si prestano a camminate e giri in bicicletta lontano dal centro.
To see
What to see in Poros
Routes · Trovido Route
