Athenians often escape for long weekends on Poros, located just an hour away from the Greek capital in the Saronic Gulf. (Poros actually comprises two small islands, Sphaeria and Kalaureia, which connect via a bridge.) Just beyond the yacht-filled marinas lies a Greece of bygone days, where time naturally slows down so you can better appreciate the pretty beaches and lush pine forest that extends to the water’s edge. The 18th-century Monastery of Zoodohos Pigi (“life-giving spring”) welcomes with its lovely gardens, while the archaeological museum in Poros Town displays an impressive collection of artifacts dating to the Mycenaean period. You can climb the town’s clock tower for stunning views across the harbor. Take a leisurely stroll along the seafront promenade, dine on the day’s catch in a tiny family-run taverna, or simply relax on a sunny stretch of sand. Popular Askeli Beach offers families plenty of facilities, while northernmost Vagionia Beach is wrapped in lush greenery for the ultimate seclusion.