Galatas

GALATAS - Distance from Ermioni: 40 kms/50 minutes 

Galatas is the sister town of Poros, which is just 320 metres away across a small sea chanel. It has a pleasant waterfront, where you can sit and relax in many of the cafes, bars or tavernas, enjoying wonderful views of Poros.  Galatas is still a very traditional Greek coastal town, where time seems to stand still.  In Galatas they say that "the best thing about being on Poros is the beautiful view", especially at night with all the lights reflecting on the sea.  The cost of living in Galatas is slightly cheaper than Poros and the tourist market is undeveloped.  There are plenty of hotels, tavernas, cafes and bars along the waterfront, but the town still retains its genuine Greek feeling and most of the inhabitants live by growing olives and citrus-fruits.  To the Greeks, Galatas is more famous for its 30,000 citrus tree Lemonodassos Lemon forest, as opposed to tourism. 

A new amusement place can be found just West of Galatas called Elanova.  It offers visitors the chance to swim in their beautiful pool, sunbathe in comfort, enjoy good food in the first class restaurant, get cool drinks from the bar and enjoy a game of tennis, basketball or volleyball.  Children can play games in the safe playground or go and see all the animals in the mini zoo.

Although there are no beaches in Galatas, there are a few within 3 kms of the town centre.  The small beach at Bouja is only 1 km away, Plaka beach is just over 2 kms away and has a small taverna close bywith Aliki beach just 3 kms away being the best in the whole area, having two tavernas close by.  You can reach all three beaches by taxi, or taxi-boat from the main harbour.

The drive from Ermioni to Galatas is approximately 40 kms along the scenic coastal road, travelling East past the island of Hydra, and takes approximately 50 minutes.  There are many free parking spaces along the waterfront.  From Galatas, you can buy your ferry ticket and take the 320 metre, five minute, sea crossing over to Poros.  Tickets must be purchased prior to sailing, from a small kiosk next to the shuttle ferry-boat docking area, the cost being approximately 1 Euro per person, one way.  Cars can also be taken across on the ferry, cost approximately 5.00 Euros, including the driver.  The ferry boat sails from Galatas to Poros, with a return trip, every 30 minutes each day.

Close to the ferry boat station, there are small traditional motor-boats that cross over to Poros every 10 minutes (or sooner when they are full). Cost is 1 Euro per person, one way.  There are ample free car-parking spaces available along the whole waterfront, very close to the motor-boat and ferry boat crossing points, as it only really gets busy during the high summer months. 

There are plenty of cafes and tavernas close by, in case you just miss the larger ferry boat, if you are thinking of taking your car across. Just sit down, relax and enjoy the view with a nice cool drink.

Bourtzi is a small uninhabited islet that can be seen from Galatas.  There was a fortress originally built here during the Byzantine period, but the present fortress was constructed in 1827 on the whim of King Othon's philhellene Viceroy called Heideck, built to protect the Hellenic Naval base on Poros, and later King Othon, the first monarch of the newly created Kingdom of Greece.  King Othon resided on nearby Poros before moving on, first to Nafplio in 1833 and then to his newly built capital, Athens.  The subsequent history of the fortress is unclear, although it may have been garrisoned until the 1870's when it was decided to transfer the Hellenic Naval base to Piraeus.

Location

Galatas Town
Greece
37° 29' 47.1516" N, 23° 26' 56.8932" E
Picture Gallery
Galatas - The Galatas waterfront Galatas - Small boats and ferries will take you across to Poros Galatas - Some of the many hotels along the Galatas waterfront Galatas - Galatas has changed little in the last decades Galatas - Taxi-boats will also take you to some local beaches Galatas - Modern hotels with sea-view across to Poros Galatas - Taxis are available next to the ferry landing point Galatas - Small motor boats are available for the crossing to Poros Galatas - When the taxi boat is full - off you go! Galatas - These motor boats are the quickest way to get across Galatas - Enjoy a refreshing drink in the many waterfront cafes Galatas - The ticket kiosk for the ferry-boats to Poros Galatas - Shuttle ferry-boats depart for Poros every 30 minutes Galatas - The shuttle ferry-boat returning from Poros Galatas - The ferry-boat docking point at Galatas Galatas - Ferry-boats take transport as well as passengers Galatas - Time for one more drink before departure? Galatas - It only takes a few minutes to clear the ferry Galatas - Next group of visitors and residents arriving at Poros Galatas - View of Poros from one of many waterfront cafes Galatas - A children's play-area along the Galatas waterfront Galatas - The 320m sea crossing from Galatas to Poros Galatas - Sea-view from Galatas of Poros town  Galatas - The bourtzi fortress on a small islet close to Galatas