Just an hour’s ferry ride from Athens lies a magical little fisherman’s island without cruise ships. This Grecian surprise hides between Hydra and Spetses. Welcome to Poros, Greece.
This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Poros. You can download an interactive map of this walk here.
Don’t confuse PorOs with PAros over in the Cyclades Islands. This Poros, in the Saronic Gulf, receives a few ferries a day, many yachts on a weekend-sail from Athens, and the day visitor from the Pelopennese. It’s the perfect place for a grand lunch and a good walk.
Whether you come from the slow ferry, the fast Cat, or the tourist boat, make sure you plan time for a nice amble and a good meal. Our favorite place to eat is hidden in an alley where locals go. But if you want a view of the sea, you can’t go wrong with our second favorite place, The Sailor Fish Taverna, to the right of the Flying Cat drop-off. Look for the handsome sailor painted on the facade. But if you want the best Greek salad on the island, order the Dakos from Perel, which is a few spots down from Sailor Fish.
Now, after you’ve gotten your fill of delicious Greek food, it’s time for a glorious walk. You could walk completely around the island, which will take about 45 minutes, or you could even hike up to the Temple of Poseiden on the top of the North island. (Poros is actually two islands. The smaller one which contains Poros Town, and the larger one which has the Temple, the Monastery and the best beaches. They’re connected by a small bridge.)
If You Have a Car/ATV/Ebike in Poros
Most people grab a taxi or hire an ATV to drive to the Temple. The Temple of Poseiden shares the secrets of mythical and Ancient Greece. It used to be the center of the Calaurian amphictyony that functioned as a voluntary alliance formed by the city-states of Epidaurus, Prassiai, Hermione, Aegina, Athens, Nauplia and Orhomenus for the resolution of religious as well as civic issues. It is generally believed to date back to the year 520 BC.
On the way to the Temple, you can stop at the Zoodohos Pigi Monastery. The Monastery is the largest landowner on Poros. Named after the larger island’s only stream, the icon of the Zoodohos Pigi was painted around 1850 by the Italian artist Raphael Ceccoli, who visited the monastery seeking a cure for his young daughter. Ceccoli painted the icon in his daughter’s image after she died; the girl is buried in the church courtyard along with two War of Independence heros.
If you go to the Monastery, be sure to be appropriately covered. They generally have scarves for women to cover bare shoulders and legs.
Just outside of the Monastery is a fantastic cafe called Melístakto. Pull up a chair under the pine trees, order some mountain tea and enjoy one of the several homemade cakes they make. It’s a treat.
If You’re Walking in Poros
Whether you go to the Temple and Monastery or not, you’ll definitely want to make time to walk to our favorite places in Poros Town.
If you’ve started with a good meal at Sailor’s Fish, right near by is the Katheti Cultural Center. It hosts writing groups, art shows, piano recitals, theater productions and other performing arts. Stop in and see what’s on display, as things change all the time. When you’re finished at Katheti, walk back toward to Archeology Musuem.
The Archeology Museum
Founded by Christos Fourniadis, an archaeology aficionado whose passion rescued and preserved Trizinias’s antiquities, yu’ll find two floors filled with sculptures, epigraphs, architectural elements and other finds from Trizinia, Kalavria, Methana, and the Ermioni area dating from 600 BC. The Museum sets of the story for the Temple of Poseiden if you end up driving (or hiking!) up to it.
The Poros Sign and Clock Tower
Walk back towards the ferry port and grab a picture of the Poros sign. Next, look for English-written signs on walls as you climb up the stairs. There’s no one way to get there, as you can meander through the alleys and up various flights of stairs until you get to the top of Poros Town.
The Poros Clock Tower, in its light blue and white, dings on the hour throughout the day. Built in 1927 on the hill of Sferia and refurbished in 2015, you can take a look at the American-built clock works inside the glass casing of the tower. From the tower, you can see all of Poros, across to Galatas, and even see the fragrant Lemon Forest.
The Shell Collection
After enjoying the Tower, make your way downstairs towards the library. (Check hours.) Inside you’ll find the most unexpected joy, the permanent exhibition “Shells and the Sea” is housed in the ground-floor gallery of the Hatzopouleios Municipal Library. Curated by the University of Athens and a donation from Georgos and Helga Kanellakis, you’ll find a wonderful display of shells, volcanic rocks, and even jewelry.
The Cathedral
Just around the corner from the Library is the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Agios Georgios marking the center of Poros Town’s upper sector. The 1828 census references the church under Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias, who lived briefly on the island. The church is known for its hagiography which is the work of one of the most important modern Greek artists, Konstantinos Parthenis.
The Folkloric Museum
From the church, head to the Poros Folkloric Musem. Put together by the Poros Women’s Cultural Society, these curators have collected examples of Poros life. You’ll find a range of household utensils and other items, farm tools, traditional furnishings, a loom, embroidering, weavings, handicrafts, traditional costumes, photographs, and other items.
The Poros Mermaid
After enjoying the museum, walk back towards the ferry depot, waving to the Poros mermaid. You can enjoy all kinds of shops along the way, grab some ice cream, and take in the great sights. Keep your eye out for famous Greeks who have sailed over for the day from Athens.
Grab a Snack on Poros
In the Gelato shop, get an island favorite–baklava with kaimaki flavored ice cream. When you’re ready for a cuppa, drop in at Clock Tower Cafe for the island’s best Freddo, an iced latte.
Enjoy your Day Walking on Poros
Have a wonderful time in Poros.
Chris Englert, the Walking Traveler, believes walking is the platform for life. Wanderlusting since the age of 5, she’s since traveled all 50 US states and 62 countries. Chris shares her love of walking while traveling via blogs, books, and presentations. A natural storyteller, she invites you along as she explores the world, one walk at a time.
Currently, Chris and her husband, Steve, travel the world, full-time as nomads, with just their two carry-ons. They’ve been traveling since May, 2021.