A one day cruise from Athens visits three beautiful Saronic islands, Hydra, Poros and Aegina, in a single relaxed day, with an onboard lunch, live music and time ashore on each. Book this popular escape alongside skip-the-line tickets and tours from My Greece Tours for an effortless taste of Greek island life.
This easy island cruise is a favourite option in the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover what the cruise is, the islands of Hydra, Poros and Aegina, the daily schedule, what is included, the price and upgrades, and tips for the trip.
What is the one day cruise from Athens?
The one day cruise from Athens is a popular full-day boat excursion that visits three islands of the Saronic Gulf, Hydra, Poros and Aegina, in a single day. Departing Piraeus in the morning and returning by evening, it sails between the islands with time ashore on each, an onboard buffet lunch, and live Greek music and dancing. It is an easy, all-inclusive way to sample three different and beautiful Greek islands without the hassle of planning or staying overnight.
For visitors who want to experience the magic of the Greek islands but have only a day to spare, the one day cruise from Athens is a wonderfully convenient and popular choice, offering a taste of three distinct and beautiful islands in a single, well-organised outing. The cruise, run by several operators on large excursion boats, visits the three most famous islands of the nearby Saronic Gulf, Hydra, Poros and Aegina, sailing between them and allowing time ashore to explore each. Departing from the port of Piraeus in the morning and returning in the evening, the trip is designed to be effortless and all-inclusive, typically featuring a buffet lunch served on board as you sail, and live Greek folk music and traditional dancing to entertain passengers, usually on the return leg.
The great appeal is that it removes all the planning, ticketing and logistics of independent island hopping, and lets you sample three different islands, each with its own character, without having to stay overnight, making it ideal for those short on time. It is island life made easy. Each of the three islands offers something different.
What are the three islands like?
The cruise visits three contrasting Saronic islands. Hydra is a chic, car-free island of stone mansions around a beautiful horseshoe harbour, where donkeys replace vehicles. Poros is a green, pretty island close to the mainland, with a charming town, a clock tower and sandy beaches. Aegina is the largest and most varied, famous for its pistachios, its lively town and the ancient Temple of Aphaia. Together they offer a rich and varied sample of Greek island life in one day.
The real reward of the cruise lies in the three lovely and contrasting islands it visits, each with its own distinct charm and atmosphere. Hydra is perhaps the most beautiful and chic of the trio, a sophisticated, car-free island where vehicles are banned and donkeys, mules and water taxis provide transport, its elegant stone sea-captains’ mansions rising in tiers around a perfect horseshoe harbour ringed with cafés, boutiques and art galleries, exuding timeless style. Poros, lying close to the Peloponnesian mainland across a narrow strait, is a green and pretty island with a picturesque main town of white houses climbing a hillside crowned by a landmark clock tower, along with pleasant sandy beaches and a relaxed, friendly feel.
Aegina, the biggest and most varied of the trio and the closest to Athens, is famed for its delicious pistachios, its bustling and authentic harbour town, and, for those who take the optional excursion, the magnificent ancient Doric Temple of Aphaia, one of the best-preserved Greek temples. Together, in a single day, these three islands offer a wonderfully rich and varied glimpse of the Saronic Gulf and Greek island life. The day is carefully timed to fit them all in.
What is the daily schedule like?
The cruise departs Piraeus around 8am and returns by evening, around 7pm. It sails to each island in turn, with roughly 1.5 hours ashore on Hydra, about 50 minutes on Poros, and around 2 hours on Aegina, the longest stop. A buffet lunch is served on board during the day, and live Greek music and dancing entertain passengers, often on the way back. The timing lets you stroll, shop, swim or take an optional tour on each island before reboarding.
The one day cruise follows a well-planned schedule designed to make the most of the daylight hours and give a satisfying taste of each island. The boat typically departs the port of Piraeus in the morning, around eight o’clock, after which passengers can settle in and enjoy the sea air as it sails toward the first island. The time allocated ashore varies by island to suit each one’s character and size: you usually get around an hour and a half on Hydra, enough to wander the harbour, explore the lanes and shops and soak up the atmosphere; about fifty minutes on smaller Poros, time for a stroll and a coffee; and the longest stop, around two hours, on Aegina, allowing you to explore the town, swim, or take an optional guided excursion to the Temple of Aphaia.
In between the island stops, life on board is part of the fun, with a buffet lunch of Mediterranean dishes served during the day and a programme of live Greek music and traditional folk dancing, often staged on the homeward leg, creating a festive atmosphere. The boat returns to Piraeus in the early evening, around seven. The pacing keeps the day relaxed yet full. Knowing what is included helps you plan.
What is included in the cruise?
A standard one day cruise ticket usually includes the round-trip boat journey, time ashore on all three islands, a a buffet lunch served on board, plus live Greek music and dancing, and multilingual commentary. Hotel transfers and the optional guided tour or temple entrance on Aegina are often extra. VIP upgrades add hotel pick-up, priority boarding, a premium lounge, upgraded dining and a guided walk. Check exactly what each operator includes when booking, as offerings vary.
Understanding what is and is not included in a one day cruise helps you choose the right ticket and avoid surprises. A standard cruise ticket typically covers the essentials: the round-trip boat transport from Piraeus and back, the time ashore to explore each of the three islands, a buffet lunch served on board featuring Mediterranean and Greek dishes, the entertainment of live Greek music and folkloric dancing, and multilingual commentary or announcements to guide you through the day. Some elements are usually optional extras, however, most notably hotel transfers to and from the port, which many operators offer as an add-on, and the optional guided excursion on Aegina to the ancient Temple of Aphaia, including its entrance fee, which is purchased separately on board or in advance.
For those wanting a more premium experience, VIP or upgraded class tickets are commonly available, adding benefits such as hotel pick-up and drop-off, priority or private check-in, access to an exclusive lounge area, upgraded buffet dining in a separate premium section, unlimited soft drinks and coffee, and sometimes a complimentary guided walking tour on one of the islands. Because the exact inclusions vary between operators and ticket classes, it is wise to check the details carefully when booking. Knowing the price completes the picture.
How much does it cost, and what are the upgrades?
A standard one day cruise costs roughly €100 to €130 per person, including the cruise, lunch and entertainment, with prices varying by operator and season. VIP upgrades typically cost around €160 to €260 for adults, adding hotel transfers, priority boarding, a premium lounge, upgraded dining and a guided tour, with reduced prices for children. Optional extras like the Temple of Aphaia tour on Aegina cost a little more. Booking online in advance is recommended.
The cost of a one day cruise from Athens is reasonable given everything it includes, though it varies between operators, ticket classes and the season. A standard adult ticket generally costs in the region of one hundred to one hundred and thirty euros per person, covering the round-trip cruise, the buffet lunch on board, and the live music and dancing entertainment, representing good value for a full day visiting three islands with meals and entertainment provided. For those seeking extra comfort and convenience, VIP or premium-class tickets are available at a higher price, typically around one hundred and sixty to two hundred and sixty euros for adults, with discounted rates for children, and these add valuable perks such as door-to-door hotel transfers, priority check-in, an exclusive lounge and premium dining area, and a guided walking tour on one of the islands.
Beyond the ticket itself, the main optional extra is the guided excursion on Aegina to the Temple of Aphaia, which carries a small additional cost for the tour and the site entrance. As with most popular excursions, it is best to book your cruise online in advance, particularly in the busy summer season, to secure your place and sometimes a better price. A few tips ensure a great day out. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
What tips help for the one day cruise?
For the best experience, book in advance and consider a VIP ticket if you want hotel transfers and comfort. Bring sun protection, a hat, sunglasses and swimwear, as you can swim on Aegina, plus comfortable shoes for Hydra’s cobbled lanes. Use the longer Aegina stop for the Temple of Aphaia if you love history. Sit on deck for the views, enjoy the lunch and music, and be punctual returning to the boat at each island so you do not miss it.
A few simple tips will help you get the most from your one day cruise to the Saronic islands. Book your cruise in advance, especially in summer, and consider whether a VIP or premium ticket is worth it for you, particularly the convenience of included hotel transfers if you would otherwise have to make your own way to the port early in the morning. Pack sensibly for a day in the Greek sun: bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and water, along with swimwear and a towel if you fancy a dip, as the longer stop on Aegina can allow time for a swim, and wear comfortable shoes suitable for the cobbled, stepped lanes of Hydra.
If you are keen on history, use the generous Aegina stop to take the optional excursion to the well-preserved ancient Temple of Aphaia. On board, claim a spot on the open deck to enjoy the sea breeze and the views of the islands, savour the buffet lunch, and join in the lively Greek music and dancing. Above all, be punctual when returning to the boat at the appointed time on each island, as it will not wait, and missing it would strand you. With these habits, the cruise is a delightful, carefree day. The islands are detailed in the Hydra day trip guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What islands does the one day cruise from Athens visit?
The one day cruise from Athens visits three islands of the Saronic Gulf: Hydra, a chic, car-free island of stone mansions around a beautiful harbour; Poros, a green, pretty island with a charming town; and Aegina, the largest, famous for its pistachios and the ancient Temple of Aphaia. The cruise gives time ashore on each, plus a buffet lunch and live Greek music on board.
How much is a one day cruise from Athens?
A standard one day cruise from Athens costs roughly €100 to €130 per person, including the round-trip cruise, a buffet lunch and live music and dancing. VIP upgrades cost around €160 to €260 for adults, adding hotel transfers, priority boarding, a premium lounge and a guided tour, with reduced prices for children. The optional Temple of Aphaia tour on Aegina costs a little extra.
How long is the one day Saronic islands cruise?
The one day Saronic islands cruise is a full-day trip, departing Piraeus around 8am and returning by evening, around 7pm. It gives roughly 1.5 hours ashore on Hydra, about 50 minutes on Poros, and around 2 hours on Aegina, the longest stop. A buffet lunch is served on board during the day, with live Greek music and dancing, often on the return leg.