Easiest island hopping or beach area near Athens

Rick's Athens/Peloponnese guidebook covers the nearly traffic-free island of Hydra, under 2 hours from Pireus by faster boat with www.HellenicSeaways.gr.

Or take a look at Aegina, just ONE hour from Piraeus ... if you take a "regular" ferry (not a closed-in, no-view hydrofoil), you can enjoy the wonderful view of the whole Saronic Bay, with colorful ships, swift motorboats, and full-sail yachts. While Hydra has a lovely port, with donkey carts, I go for Aegina because of the high-hill inland, with the most perfectly preserved ancient Temple (Temple of Aphaia) on any greek island. PLUS (unlike Hydra), Aegina has several sandy beaches, for a swim and lunch at a local taverna. NOTE: For your day-trip in warm weather, choose a weekday, because on weekends Athenians throng to all the close-in islands for a quick getaway from the city, crowding things up a lot.

Dani

I agree with Janet. Aegina is easy to reach and has a nice island atmosphere. Also a couple of nice sites.

Alan

Thanks so much all!

I thought I remembered a beach near Sunion--no ferry required--and I was right. Check out this site that tells you about mainland beaches near Athens. And I'm sure he's right that the further out you go the better the beach. That advice applies for any city near an ocean or sea.