Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
come to on the southeastern harbourfront, and the most
reliably open year-round. Popular with expats and tourists,
and a good place to start your evening.
Daily 9pm-late.
Naftis
T
22980
23096.
Excellent
psarotavérna
with an
attractive waterside terrace overlooking the yachts, south
of the centre. As the evening wears on, the owners have
been known to put on an impromptu Greek dancing
display.
Daily, evenings only.
Platanos
T
22980
25409.
On the main square of the
upper town,
Platanos
serves earthy, rural food on a
vine-covered terrace, washed down with powerful retsina.
The owners also have a butcher's shop, so charcoal-grilled
meat is the speciality -
kondosoúvli
(hunks of pork roasted
on a spit) or pricier steaks.
Daily, evenings only.
Ì
Yiahni Sokaki
T
693 64 48 568.
Old-fashioned
mayireftá
establishment in the alley behind the fish market.
Take a look at the kitchen to see what's been prepared that
day - meatballs, moussaka or more original dishes like
chicken roasted with potatoes and cherry tomatoes, all for
€6-7. When it's all gone, they close.
Daily, lunchtime only.
Kalávria
KALÁVRIA
, Póros's “mainland”, is covered in pine forest and barely inhabited, though
there are a couple of fertile plateaus on the northern side with olive terraces, vineyards
and magnificent panoramic views.
Western Kalávria
Kanáli
and
Míkro Neório
, immediately across the canal from Póros Town, are
overdeveloped, though they do have some good seafront restaurants looking back
toward town. The first place worth a stop in its own right, though, is
MEGÁLO NEÓRIO
,
arguably the island's most pleasant resort, small-scale, with a sandy beach, an excellent
waterski centre with courses to professional level (
T
22980 42540,
W
passage.gr), and
some fine beachside tavernas.
Love Bay
, immediately west, has a lovely sandy beach, but
is unfortunately tiny and always packed; there's a friendly seasonal
kantína
, and kayaks
and snorkel gear can be hired here.
he
Rossikós Navstathmós
on Russian Bay, a crumbling Russian naval base dating from
the early nineteenth century, marks the end of the route for the westward bus. There's a
hard-packed, mostly shadeless beach here, with lots of small craft anchored offshore.
Askéli
Askéli
, with its strip of hotels and villas, is the first place you reach as you head east on
Kalávria. There are plenty of cafés and places to eat, many overlooking the narrow,
crowded beach. A good watersports centre hires out kayaks and small sailing boats, and
they also have a powerboat for ringo rides and the like.
EXCURSIONS TO THE PELOPONNESE
Take one of the boats shuttling constantly to and from Galatás and you're on the mainland
Peloponnese, where there are numerous potential excursions. Local travel agents run a variety
of tours, or you'll see hire cars on offer in Galatás from around €25 a day.
Troezen
Ancient Troezen is an unenclosed site near the modern village of Trizína, barely
10km from Galatás. Legendary birthplace of Theseus, the scattered site is most easily
understood if you purchase a map in the village - this also recounts the stories of Theseus's
life. A short walk up a gorge from the site takes you to the spectacular natural rock arch of the
Dhiavoloyéfyro, the Devil's Bridge.
Epidaurus
(Epídhavros) Most famous for its fourth-century BC theatre, one of the finest
ancient monuments in Greece, Epidaurus is also an extensive sanctuary to Asklepios, god of
healing. The theatre is used for productions of Classical Greek drama on Friday and Saturday
nights from June to August as part of the annual Athens & Epidaurus Festival (
W
greekfestival.gr;
organized excursions from many island travel agents). Daily summer 8am-7.30pm, winter
8am-5pm; €6.
Náfplio
A long day-trip, but arguably the most rewarding destination in the Peloponnese,
Náfplio is a gorgeous nineteenth-century town in a stunning coastal setting protected by
forbidding fortresses. There are plenty of excellent restaurants and cafés.
