SPETSES : ISLAND GUIDE

My guide to the Greek island of Spetses; where to stay, where to beach, where to eat

I have been going to Spetses since my early teens, initially during school summer holidays with my family and in more recent years for two blissful weeks each summer with my husband, Freddie. I debated about sharing this guide. Part of the magic of this special island is that it is not full of tourists. But I receive so many requests for where to stay etc. and am so thoroughly useless at gatekeeping secrets that I end up sending streams of WhatsApps or DMs to people who ask. So I thought it might be useful for both you and me to have it in one place.

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SPETSES, THE ISLAND OF AROMAS

Spetses is a small island just 54 nautical miles from Athens. Blanketed in pine trees, it was known during ancient times as Pityoussa (meaning pine-clad) and during its time under Venetian rule, as Isola di Spezie owing to it’s prominent position on the major spice trading routes. It is a car free island (bar the occasional taxi) which is one of my favourite things about it. Wherever you are staying you will always be able to walk to the beach and are never more than ten minutes from a taverna. The main port, Dapia is the heart of the island and is where most hotels and restaurants are situated. Further up into the hills and around the coast you will find some larger houses but for the most part everything happens between Dapia and the Old port. The island is only 27km and has one glorious road that stretches all around looping past acres of olive and pine trees with the sea to your side. It will take you about 25 mins to loop round by moped, 35-40 mins by quad and anywhere between 1-3 hours by bicycle depending on whether you take an E-bike or prefer the full sweat of a conventional geared bicycle (more on this later).

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WHERE TO STAY