Salamina Island

Salamis sits in the Saronic Gulf directly opposite the port of Piraeus, so close to the mainland that it functions as a densely populated Athenian suburb rather than a remote getaway. The main town, Salamina, anchors an island dotted with towns, dockyards, beaches and pine-covered hills, with everyday Greek life rather than resort glamour setting the tone.

The island's fame rests on antiquity: in 480 BC the outnumbered Greek fleet lured and crushed the invading Persian navy in the narrow Strait of Salamis, a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars watched, according to legend, by King Xerxes from the shore. The playwright Euripides is also traditionally linked to the island, said to have written in a coastal cave here.

• The Strait of Salamis, the narrow channel where the 480 BC battle was fought
• Salamina town, the island's lively main harbor and commercial center
• The Monastery of Faneromeni, known for its extensive interior frescoes
• Ampelakia and Selinia, laid-back coastal villages and swimming spots
• Kaki Vigla, Kanakia and other beaches along the quieter southern coast
• The Cave of Euripides, traditionally linked to the ancient tragedian

Salamis is the easiest Greek island to reach from Athens, and has no airport. Frequent car ferries make the short hop from Perama, near Piraeus, across to Paloukia on the island in just a few minutes, running throughout the day and evening. Additional ferry links connect other nearby mainland points, and the crossing is so quick and cheap that many treat it as an extension of the city.

Salamis shares Attica's hot, dry Mediterranean summers and mild, wetter winters. Athenians pour over on summer weekends to reach the beaches, so July and August are busiest, while spring and autumn are pleasant and calmer. Thanks to its proximity to Athens, it works as an easy day trip almost any time of year.