If I could retire on an island, I would.
T and I really enjoyed our trip to Athens and it’s definitely recommended to visit Greek Islands as well. However, if you’re on a tight schedule and you can’t really pick an island, well, why not pick three? Three islands, one day.
I’m usually not a fan of tours in general as I like to travel at my own pace. However, we had a lot of ground to cover and it turned out to be roughly the same price if we were to do the three islands without the tour. Let me introduce Key Tours!
Our One-Day Cruise from Athens with Key Tours to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina Greek Islands
I came across Key Tours online and the reviews definitely varied.
We had previously booked the Half-Day Acropolis Tour in Athens, which was actually very informative, covering all that what was necessary.
And so, T and I signed up to the day cruise form Athens to enjoy a relaxing day on the sea to discover the three beautiful Greek Islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina.
All transport (from Athens to each island) was included, which made it very convenient. We were picked up near our hotel by a luxury bus, and then dropped off at the port where we boarded the cruise ship.
At each island stop, we had free time to discover the island.
It took two (miserable) hours to reach our first stop. Guys, please EAT before boarding a boat. Do NOT board a boat on an empty stomach. Have a light sandwich and a pill for sea-sickness. I didn’t eat, I took the pill, and I was so sea-sick that I was in hell for the entire two hours it took to arrive to Hydra. In summary, EAT.
Stop #1: Hydra
We had 1 hour and 45 minutes to spend on Hydra.
Hydra is, as I like to describe it, the Greek island of (really fat) cats and timid donkeys. Hydra is unbelievably beautiful.
There are no cars or scooters here, which adds to the island’s charm. The only modes of transport are donkeys and water taxis. We didn’t ride a donkey, but we took loads of pictures while discovering the island on foot.
We got ice cream from Karamela by the port; it was oh-so-creamy and delicious. A much needed treat after the trauma I experienced to get here!
Back on the Boat!
A buffet lunch awaited us next on the boat. Note that drinks aren’t included in the tour package; even water, which I thought was ridiculous since we were spending a whole day on a boat and in the sun. The lunch was okay – nothing to write home about.
Stop #2: Poros
We arrived to Poros next with about 40 minutes to spend, so we made each and every minute count.
First stop, ICE CREAM! T and I wanted to sample ice cream on every island.
Poros was ever so picturesque and seemed the closest to an authentic Greek island without the influence of tourists. I felt as though the only tourists here are those coming from cruise ships and stay for short periods of time. This makes Poros the ideal Greek island closest to Athens for a peaceful vacation.
Stop #3: Aegina
Upon arrival to the island of Aegina (Egina), we had the choice of joining an excursion to the Temple of Aphaia with Key Tours on Aegina. We preferred to roam the island on our own – and eat ice cream and all with pistachios. Aegina is renowned for its pistachios – so much so that they have an actual festival celebrating the nut! We tasted island specialties including pistachio baklava and creamy pistachio ice cream.
In case you’re wondering, we didn’t gain any weight after our trip to Greece – we walked A LOT.
This popular getaway island is definitely worth a visit if you prefer to cover one island out of the three (it’s only an hour away from Athens). In fact, if you visit in September, you can join the pistachio celebrations.
We bought many edible souvenirs including raw pistachios and fried pistachios covered in sesame and sugar, as well as non-edible products such as olive oil soap.
Key Tours cruise entertainment on the way back to Athens
We unwillingly left Aegina, hopped back onto the boat and sailed back to Piraeus port. On our journey back, we enjoyed Greek dancing and singing while we binged on the pistachios we bought on our final island stop.
Once we arrived at the port, our Key Tours bus was waiting to take us back home – aka our AirBnB flat.
Final Verdict?
If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Athens, a day cruise from Athens is always a good idea if you’re into sun and sea as well as discovering new places when traveling.
It’s important to note that with the Key Tours day cruise from Athens, there’s no guide and no hotel pick-up. There are specific meet-up points that they pick you up from (so you choose the most convenient to you) for an additional 10 euros per person. Otherwise, the meeting point is at the port. Also, drinks aren’t included. I would only suggest to Key Tours to include water for the well-being of their guests.
The fact that transport was taken care of on our day cruise from Athens was huge load off our shoulders. As for the no-guide issue, here’s a good tip to follow: With any tour abroad, try to memorize a few faces of your tour mates, so in case you do get lost, you know who to follow. If you chose an equally lost familiar human, well, good luck. At least you’ll be lost together.
I particularly enjoyed the cruise as it showed me a glimpse of each Greek island. Next time, I can use this experience to perhaps choose one that I would like to explore more (*cough* check out my guide to Aegina).
More info about the Day Cruise from Athens to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina Islands with Key Tours Greece
Price per person: 99 euros (incl. tax)
So what’s included in the price?
- Cruise ship transport (from Athens port to each island and back)
- Buffet Lunch (excl. drinks)
- Entertainment
Optional: For bus transport from Athens to Port, add 10 euros
Total time: 8:00am-8:00pm
What to wear? You probably won’t be swimming since there are no beaches right on the ports of the Greek Islands we visited. Definitely wear a swimsuit top and tunic on top for when you get off the boat. You can wear sandals, but if you want to join the excursion, it’s preferable to wear comfortable walking shoes. Also, sunglasses and a hat.
What to bring? WATER, at least 2L per person
For more information about this Day Cruise from Athens to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina Islands and other tours offered, check out the Key Tours website and Facebook page.
LIKED THIS ARTICLE? DISCOVER MORE ADVENTURES IN GREECE AND ATHENS!
Unless otherwise noted, all posted content and photographs are owned exclusively by me. None of the content / photographs may be reproduced, modified, recirculated, commercially exploited or reused in any form whatsoever without my prior written consent.
Thank you Key Tours for providing us with complementary tickets to facilitate the review of the article, Day Cruise from Athens to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina islands. As always, all opinions are my own.
For further information regarding permission to use content or photographs, please contact me.
What a great way to see different islands! Smart idea thanks for sharing Christina