Spetses (Saronic Island) is a food day trips in Athens.
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.
Editorially verified May 20, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
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.
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.
Tip: Antica Gelateria di Roma on Farmakopoulou is the destination ice cream.
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.
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.
Tip: Book wineries ahead; organised Athens day tours run €90 to €150 including transport and lunch.
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.
Tip: First Flying Dolphin out at 08:00; latest return at 20:00. Cars are banned on the whole island.