Travel

How to reach the event

The closest airport to the island is Athens International Airport (AIA).  

You should plan to arrive on the Island of Spetses on Sunday 10 May 2026 and depart on Saturday 16 May 2026.
We recommend that you book an afternoon flight on 16th as it can be difficult to reach Athens airport before noon.

10 May 2026 - getting from Athens Airport to Spetses

The course organisers will coordinate transportation by bus from Athens to Kosta (Kosta-Spetses Hotel: 15 min. by boat) on 10th May (at the expense of the organisers). The time of departure from Athens Airport will depend on the arrival times of the participants/speakers, but the bus needs to leave no later than 15:00 to be able to reach the island and check in at the hotel in time for the welcome reception at 19:00.

16 May 2026 - getting from Spetses to Athens Airport

The course organisers will book a large bus for all participants and speakers leaving in the morning (around 8 a.m. but not fixed yet) to go to the airport via Kosta to Athens (at the expense of the organisers). The trip from Kosta to Athens Airport takes about three hours.

If you plan to organise your own transportation between Athens and Spetses, you have the following options of reaching the island of Spetses from Athens: 

Travel plan 1 (cheaper, but longer)

1a. Fly to Athens International Airport
1b. Get from Athens Airport to Piraeus Harbour - 1-2 hrs
1c. Take a hydrofoil/catamaran to Spetses Island - 2-3 hrs
1d. Get from Spetses Harbour to Spetses Hotel - 15 min.

Travel plan 2 (faster, but more expensive) 

NB: if four people or more are travelling together, the cost is not much more expensive that for Travel plan 1.
2a. Fly to Athens International  Airport
2b. Take a taxi to Kosta - 3 hrs
2c. Take a water taxi from Kosta to Spetses Hotel - 15 min.

Travel plan 1

Travel plan 1b. Athens International Airport to the Port of Piraeus
From Athens Airport, you can choose one of the following means of transportation:

suburban railway - 1 hr 
metro - 1 1/2 hrs 
bus - 1-1 1/2 hrs, depending on the traffic
taxi - 1-1 1/2 hrs, depending on the traffic

Suburban railway from Athens Airport to Piraeus
The suburban railway line connects Athens International Airport directly with Piraeus port and trains depart approximately every hour. The railway station is right next to the metro station and in front of the port.

Get off at the train terminal at Piraeus, and to your left you see the sea after you exit the terminal.

Timetable (at the bottom of the page)
Tickets - online or at a booth

Metro from Athens Airport to Piraeus
Take the metro line 3 ("blue line") and get off at Dimotiko Theatro. From there, it is a short walk to Piraeus. The Metro from the Airport runs every 30 min. Tickets are available at the airport’s train terminal station. Stamp your ticket in the machine at the gate to the train platform before boarding the train. 


Bus from Athens Airport to Piraeus
The X96 Airport Express bus leaves directly outside the arrivals area of the airport (between doors 4 and 5). Take this bus nearly to the end of the line, at Piraeus harbour. Get off at the bus stop "ΠΛ.ΚΑΡΑΙΣΚΑΚΗ" (Karaiskaki Square).

Walk towards the sea, enter through a large iron gate to get to the harbour area.

The Airport-to-Piraeus bus departs every 20 or 30 minutes. Tickets from the the Bus-Ticket kiosk next to the bus just outside the Arrivals area of the airport.

Taxi from Athens Airport to Piraeus
The most convenient (and most expensive) way of travelling.
There are taxis outside the arrivals hall of the airport.

More information about how to get from Athens airport to the harbour (Pireaus)


Travel plan 1c. The Port of Piraeus to the Island of Spetses

Hydrofoil/catamaran (Flying Cat or Flying Dolphin) from Piraeus to Spetses
Price: Approximately 50 EUR. Travelling time: 2-3 hours (depending on the number of stops on the way)

You can see the itinerary and book tickets via HELLENIC SEAWAYS https://www.hellenicseaways.gr/en-gb

Tickets can be bought online or you can buy the ticket when you arrive at the harbour as there is a ticket office by the hydrofoil. Except for a few busy weekends during the year, there are not normally any problems getting a ticket.

There are normally 4-5 hydrofoils/catamarans a day from Pireaus to Spetses. 

Normally the hydrofoils/catamarans leave gate "E8" - ARGOSARONIC (or sometimes between gate E8 and E9).

Travel plan 1d. Spetses Harbour to Spetses Hotel
walk, take a bus, water taxi, horse buggy or taxi - 1.1. km  
From the Spetses harbour ("Dapia") to the Spetses Hotel (1.1 km)

By foot (recommended): it takes about 15-20 min. to walk the distance along the water. This is a beautiful walk and can be recommended if you do not have too much luggage. Sometimes the hotel picks up the luggage of their guests at the harbour. Look out for a mini van with "Spetses Hotel".

By bus. The bus stop is by the harbour in front of the Poseidonion Hotel (to the right when you get off the boat). Stops at Spetses Hotel. Very cheap. Does not run very often. See timetable by the bus stop.

By water taxi. The water taxis are very close to the hydrofoils and ask them to sail straight to the pier of the Spetses Hotel. Fairly expensive, but if several people share, it is not too expensive.  A water taxi takes up to 8 people.

By horse buggy. Takes up to four people - but only two-three people with luggage. The buggies are parked by the harbour in front of the Poseidonion Hotel.

By taxi. There are taxis by the harbour. They go around the town to take you to the hotel, as cars are not allowed in the centre of the town.

Travel plan 2. Athens Airport by taxi to Kosta (across from the island) + water taxi 

 Visa information

If you need an invitation letter to attend the event, please contact the organizers.