Car Hire Porto Heli
Mini guide to Porto Heli
Porto Heli is a picturesque harbour town on Greece's scenic southern coast. An area of outstanding natural beauty, this modern town offers the visitor first class beaches, spectacular scenery and a vibrant nightlife.
Porto Heli is one of Greece's safest harbours and attracts a myriad of water-sport enthusiasts. Visitors can water-ski and windsurf as well as explore the vast bay and its many hidden coves by sailboat. Porto Heli has a long sandy beachfront perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
The ruins of the ancient city of Halieis are located on the southern side of the bay and are best explored early in the morning. The hilltop acropolis affords panoramic views of the bay. In the afternoons, the town's promenade is a hive of activity of locals and visitors alike, with a myriad of entertainment from shadow puppetry to concerts and fairs.
Porto Heli offers numerous eateries. From traditional Greek dishes to European specialties, there is something to suit every budget. In the evenings the famous bouzoukias are open late, with floorshows and loud revelry till early hours, as are the harbour’s many traditional ouzeris.
Porto Heli is ideally located for a number of interesting excursions. In particular, Spetses is a pretty island with a mixture of traditional and modern buildings. The museum of Bouboulina, dedicated to the island’s heroine, is a must see. There are also two intriguing metal sculptures around the old harbour. Water taxis make the short journey across the bay regularly. The fishing village of Koliada, renowned for its numerous bays and excellent seafood, is also worth visiting.
Although Porto Heli has a small airport, it is not used by commercial carriers. If you are arriving by air at Athens International Airport, a bus service (1¼ hours) runs to Pireaus Port, where regular hydrofoils ply the route daily (2 hours). Travelling by coach is also convenient, with many companies making the scenic (4 hours) journey.
