Maisonette under construction, close to Spetses town
Spetses is the island of choice for wealthy Athenians and international independent holiday makers (there are no package holiday operators or big hotels). Access from Athens is two and a half hours by road or Hydrofoil and the island offers excellent beaches, restaurants, walking and vibrant nightlife (restricted to the Old Harbour). At weekends the harbours fill up with luxury yachts, jostling among the local fishing boats. Cars are not allowed on the island, and transport is by horse-drawn carriage, local taxi, water taxi, or moped. There are bus or local wooden boat (kaiki) services to beaches around the island, where small tavernas serve local food. Boat trips can be taken to other parts of the island and to other islands such as Hydra. The Peloponnese mainland is 5 mins by water taxi and from there the ancient sites of Epidavros theatre and Naflion can easily be visited.