Spetes is an island within the Salonic Islands group in Attica, Greece. It has a population of only 3,800 and its name refers to “spices.”
In the 1960s and 1970s, the island attracted many wealthy Greek vacationers from Athens and elsewhere.
However, from the 1980s, Greek vacationers have been replaced by Northern European tourists, particularly from the UK. I was particularly attracted to the low cost of holidays.
Package tours to Spetes declined and eventually stopped in the 1990s. Currently, the island's holiday clients are of the higher economic class, primarily Greeks.
This allows you to find low-cost rooms to rent, but there are many high-priced restaurants and “boutique” hotels all over town.
The stunning beaches and turquoise waters attract tourists, but the island doesn't welcoming as many tourists as Santorini or Mykonos.
The town of Spetes is the only large settlement on the island. This is unusual in that automatic cars are not permitted within those restrictions. Instead, you'll see locals travelling on foot, bikes, horses and carts.
Around the island's port of Dapia, there is a selection of cafes and bars perfect for romantic drinks with sunset views.
The Spetes Museum and Anargyros Mansion are located near the harbor and make up the island's two top attractions
Agia Paraskevi is considered the best beach on the island, but Vreros and Agioi Anargiroy are also the top beaches. Those coasts are far from town, so your best bet is to hire a bike or get there by bus.
The island is also loved by Hollywood. This is Maggie Gyllenhaal's 2021 drama “Lost Daughter and Leanne Johnson's 2022 Mystery Comedy Glass Onion: Knife Out Mystery was filmed on Spetsmes.
