Hydra on the Saronic Gulf is the donkey-only island where Athens goes for the harbour-front seafood lunch, a 90-minute Flying Dolphin from Piraeus and back the same day.
Tip: First Flying Dolphin out at 08:00; latest return at 20:00. Cars are banned on the whole island.
Spetses in the Saronic Gulf is a longer 2h 15m Flying Dolphin from Piraeus, the smarter island for a long taverna lunch on the Old Harbour and the almond pastries.
Tip: Spetses requires an earlier ferry; the Old Harbour tavernas serve until 23:00 for the late return.
Delphi and the adjacent ski town of Arachova on Mount Parnassus, 2h 30m from Athens, run the winter and shoulder-season mountain taverna circuit with formaela cheese.
Tip: Arachova lights up Friday and Saturday from November to March; lunch is the easier weekday option.
Nafplio in the Argolid, two hours from Athens, is the seafront town with harbour-front tavernas, the long-running Antica Gelateria di Roma and the citadel walks above.
Tip: Antica Gelateria di Roma on Farmakopoulou is the destination ice cream; walk up to Palamidi after.
Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, 40 minutes by ferry from the Piraeus port of Athens, is the PDO pistachio island, the harbour-front taverna lunch and the September Fistiki Festival.
Tip: Sample pistachio paste at the harbour shops; the September Fistiki Festival is the peak weekend.
Nemea in the Peloponnese, 115 km southwest of Athens, is the Agiorgitiko PDO wine country with two or three winery tastings, a lunch in town and the ancient site nearby.
Tip: Book wineries ahead; organised Athens day tours run EUR90 to EUR150 including transport and lunch.