29.10.2026
Living in Corfu Year-Round: The Basics Before Buying a House
Corfu is a well-known island in Greece, particularly popular as a vacation destination, but it’s much more than that.
Regional Guides
If easy access from Athens is what matters most, the answer is Aegina. Just 40 minutes from the port of Piraeus by fast ferry, it's the closest of the Greek islands to the capital, near enough that some people commute. It isn't the only quick option, though, and the right choice depends on whether you want a short ferry hop or a quick flight to somewhere further afield. Here's how the easiest islands to reach compare, and why access is worth thinking about when you buy.
The Closest Islands by Ferry
The Saronic Gulf islands, just south of Athens, are the quickest escape from the city, with frequent departures from Piraeus throughout the day. By fast ferry, the rough journey times are: Aegina in about 40 minutes, Poros in around an hour, Hydra in about an hour and a half, and Spetses in roughly two hours. Conventional ferries take roughly double, but are more comfortable and, where available, carry cars. Several operators run these routes, with services most frequent in summer, and Aegina in particular can see departures as often as every half hour or so in peak season. That reliability is a big part of why the Saronic islands appeal to people who want an island they can reach easily and often.
Aegina, the Easiest Of All
Aegina is the clear winner for accessibility. The short hop from Piraeus makes it almost a suburb of Athens, yet it keeps a genuine island character, with traditional architecture, good beaches, and the famous Temple of Aphaia. Its closeness brings practical benefits too. The port town has shops, restaurants, and services on the doorstep, and utility and internet connections tend to be better than on remote islands. That mix of convenience and real island life draws weekend owners and year-round residents alike, which supports a steadier market than purely seasonal spots.
Reaching the Bigger Islands by Air
For islands further out, flying is often the easier route. Athens airport has year-round flights to Crete, with several services a day to Heraklion and Chania, plus seasonal flights to popular spots like Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, and Corfu. Flights typically take somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour and a half, which puts even distant islands within reach for a short visit. It's worth remembering that many of these routes are seasonal, busiest and most frequent in summer and thinner in winter, which matters if you'll use or let the property out of season. For somewhere like Crete, where the ferry from Athens is an all-day or overnight trip, flying makes a real difference.
Why Access Is Worth Weighing
How easily you can reach a property affects more than convenience. Good links widen the appeal, both for you and, if you let it, for guests, which tends to mean steadier use across the year. They also help when you come to resell, since buyers value easy access. And on a personal level, an easy journey means you're far more likely to use the place often, which is rather the point of owning it. One honest aside: if the very easiest access from Athens is the goal, it's worth remembering the mainland too. The nearer parts of the Peloponnese are reached by road in a couple of hours, with no ferry or flight to plan around at all.
Buying on the Islands
Island purchases come with a few specific things to check. Coastal zones and traditional settlements often carry protections that limit what you can build or change, so it's important to know the rules for a particular property. Some locations also involve environmental or archaeological checks. Title work deserves extra care on the islands, where homes have sometimes passed down through generations without complete paperwork. Careful verification confirms you're buying clean, clear ownership.
Why Elxis?
We've been guiding international property buyers to find their ideal house in Greece since 1991, with support right across the country. With Elxis, you get:
An in-house team of 10 lawyers, not outsourced work
Full due diligence on every property: titles, the National Cadastre, coastal and settlement restrictions, tax, and any outstanding obligations
Contract drafting and management of the whole transaction
Everything explained in your own language: English, Dutch, German, French, or Greek
A trusted network across Greece: notaries, surveyors, viewing teams, and technical specialists
Conclusion
The easiest Greek island to reach from Athens is Aegina, around 40 minutes from Piraeus, with the other Saronic islands close behind. For islands further out, a short flight is usually the simplest route, with Crete the best connected year-round. And if effortless access from Athens is the priority, the mainland Peloponnese, reachable by road, deserves a place on your list too.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. For any issues relating to specific cases, we recommend consulting a lawyer, an accountant, or a notary depending on your needs.
