How to get to Spetses and Hydra by road - Map

John KarkalatosSeptember 19, 2025

You can reach the two most picturesque islands of the Saronic Gulf by road and cross over (from the mainland to the island) in just a few minutes by speedboat. Note that vehicles of all kinds are not allowed on Hydra and four-wheelers on Spetses so you must take care of where you will park them. We will see everything in detail below.

For Spetses

Head to Porto Heli in Argolida Prefecture, Peloponnese, and from there to the harbour of Kosta, the trip takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

In Spetses you can only take two-wheelers with you on the ferry boat. You can park your vehicle in private 24-hour guarded parking lots in Kosta which I recommend for security reasons if you spend the night on the island.

Regarding parking in the narrow streets of Kosta (it has holiday homes) I do not recommend it because signs prohibit it and the traffic police removes the license plates.

There are three options to get from Kosta to Spetses: ferry boat, Spetses Express speedboat, water taxi. Let's look at the options one by one.

• FERRY BOAT the cheapest transfer at 3½ € per person. It is better to choose it if you have a two-wheeler or a lot of luggage. There are four itineraries a day which in the summer become five. The trip takes 15 minutes.

• SPETSES EXPRESS speedboat with the ticket price at 4 € and transfer time of 5 minutes. Before you go you should be informed about the itineraries on the official website of the Spetses Municipality.
  

  The speedboat SPETSES EXPRESS. On the left is the ferry boat

• SEA TAXI these small speedboats are pretty expensive at 30 € per trip. At night, when the others have stopped operating, it is the only way to get to the island. Something that no one knows, at least at the first contact, is that the price applies to the trip and not to each person or group. I have seen groups of people who do not know each other sharing the trip. But don't expect for the driver to tell you this, you have to do it yourself. I emphasize that if you have not agreed with your fellow passengers, then it is very likely that the driver will ask each group for 30 €.
  

  Sea taxi

If you are hungry or if there is a wait, you can satisfy your hunger at the self-service tavern of Drouzas with homemade food and a very nice view.

For Hydra

For Hydra go to Kranidi where you turn left at the roundabout towards Ermioni - Thermisia - Galatas - Poros as the sign indicates. Do not turn towards Ermioni but continue straight. From Ermioni there are 30 minutes more left. You pass Thermisia and somewhere further on in the fields you will come across the sign for Hydra. The point is called Metochi and has a small harbour. The journey takes 3 hours.

You go to Hydra by speedboat of Hydra Lines with a ticket price of 7½ € which you get at the ticket booth.

There is also the option to go by sea taxi but you must have called in advance so that it will wait for you at the harbour. I do not know the price it charges but it is certainly more expensive than the equivalent one in Spetses because the route is longer.

All vehicles are prohibited on the island. I recommend that you park your vehicle in the 24-hour guarded parking lot. Of course, there is free parking, it is your choice where to leave it.

If you are hungry or if there is a wait, you can eat traditional products at the traditional cafe-grocery store that you find there.

Finally I should mention that the buildings you will see there must be an old monastery that is no longer in operation. Metochi means “monastery annex” or a farm belonging to a monastery.

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