Trizónia

It’s not really a Saronic island at all; it’s actually the only inhabited island in the Gulf of Corinth but it doesn’t fit anywhere else, but most people get there from Athens so here it is. A best-kept secret of yachties and weekending Athenians, Trizónia, all 2.4 square kilometres, is a little gem cloaked in olives, pines and vines in a greeny-blue mountain lake setting. The water, clear at gin, laps its quiet beaches and large natural harbour. Its tranquil beauty, in fact, attracted Aristotele Onassis who tried to buy the island from the inhabitants for a huge sum of money in the 1960s. They refused, so he ended up purchasing Skórpios.

And quiet is the key word here: although it’s only 400m from the mainland, cars and motorbikes are banned (everyone gets around on bikes) and a magic stillness reigns, especially on weekdays. To get there from Athens, take the bus from terminal A at 100 Kifissou Street; it’s a three-hour trip to Nafpaktos. From here it’s a short taxi ride to Chania, then a 5-minute caïque hop to Trizónia.

Practical Info

Tourist information