All about Porto Heli ...
Location, location, location ...
Porto Heli is situated on a beautiful, natural harbour in the prefecture of Argolis, located in the Peloponnese, the southern region of mainland Greece. Porto Heli is about 190km from Athens by road or 55 Nautical miles from Pireaus Port. With the help of Biff and his GPS we have determined that the Latitude and Longitude at the centre of the Porto Heli bay are: N 37° 19.18, E 23° 09.03. I have no idea what these things mean and how they are calculated so if anyone has issues, talk to the hand-held GPS! Porto Heli is also known as: Porto Kheli, Porto Cheli, Portoheli, Portohelion etc. so bear that in mind when referencing other sources of information. Here are a few maps: Map of Argolis, a Local area map and the Village map.
Are we there yet? ...
A sea breeze ...
From Athens International Airport/Eleftherios Venizelos Airport the E96 Bus leaves (from just outside the Arrivals area) for Pireaus Port every 20 or 30 minutes. It's about 3 Euros per person and the journey time is between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on the trafic.
Hellenic Seaways Flying Dolphins and Catamarans operate on a daily basis from Pireaus Port. You can make your booking online or call their main bookings office in Athens on: 210 4199000. Another option is the Euroseas Eurofast-1 catamaran service and Saronic Dolphins also provide a daily hydrofoil service from Pireaus Port.
There are daily Ferry boats from Pireaus Port to Porto Heli, at least during the summer season, but different services run at different times so please contact the Pireaus Port Authorities for details at: 210 4226000.
If you are driving to Greece, Via Michelin has an excellent site with routenotes and routemaps for the overland part of the journey. As there are a number of Ferry services operating between European ports, the Greek Ferries website has what you need to plan the sea leg of your trip.
If you have a boat of your own (or have hired one) you can sail or motor down to Porto Heli. The Porto Heli harbor is one of the safest natural harbors in Greece and there are also plenty of secluded bays for you to moor in. Porto Heli Marine Service (27540 52388 or 6976837320), who deal mostly with motorboats and Franks Yacht Station (27540 52380), who handle yachts in the main, can help you out with service, spares, moorings and so on.
Highway to Heli ...
Travelling by road from Athens to Porto Heli you also have several options. To arrive in style, you can pre-book a taxi and be met at the airport. It is easier and cheaper to pre-arrange it from our end rather than try to negotiate prices at 3am in Athens!
Hire cars are available from Avis Hire Cars, Hertz Hire Cars and other rental car companies at the airport so that you can drive down here. Please click here for a route map.
The Greek Bus Service (KTEL) has a daily service available from central Athens. Telephone their central booking office on: 210 5134588 or please click here for that timetable.
Train spotters ...
If you have friends who don't want to go all the way to Athens to meet you, come down to Corinth on the Proastiakos Railway Line train and they can collect you from there. It doesn't really save any travel time but you get to see the countryside, it's efficient, regular and pretty cheap.
A certain air ...
There were facilities for air travel to Porto Heli, but sadly no more although we do have some microlights and helicopters buzzing overhead sometimes. I am working on details of the next closest airport.
There is more information and some transport timetables on my Transport page.
Before my time ...
The ruins of the ancient city of Halieis are on the south side of the bay, opposite the modern day village of Porto Heli. Some of the ruins (both on land and in the sea) are still visible.
The city of Halieis was enclosed by a wall with at least 5 gates and was large enough to have independent territorial rights and mint their own coins. The streets were laid out in a well organized grid, each house with their own courtyard and well and there were communal baths (visible in the shallows on a calm day). The inhabitants were fishermen and farmers in the main and the reasons for the decline/abandonment of the city are still not known today. Findings include decorated pottery, coins, remains of roof tiles, terracotta figurines and metal objects.
Most of the excavation work was done during the 1960's and 1970's for the American School of Classical Studies in Athens by the Department of Classical Studies and the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania and by the Department of Classics of Indiana University.
As interest in the area grew and the diggings tailed off, more independent travelers began to discover Porto Heli. Hotels were built in the area, more bars, tavernas and shops and the boom was on. During the 1980's Porto Heli became a very popular package holiday destination which, in turn, led to people falling in love with the place (as I did) and buying summer homes in the area but it still retains much of its small fishing village charm. This is why Porto Heli is ideal for both quiet breaks, simply relaxing and enjoying the area or activity holidays packed with biking, exploring and watersports by day and sampling the local brew by night.
The modern name of 'Porto Heli' translates (roughly) to 'The Bay of Eels' which was the mainstay of the fishing industry here some years ago. The fishermen here continue to go about their business and farming is the other main industry in the area. Argolis is well known for the quality of the wine grapes and the exceptionally low acidity of the olives (therefore olive oil) produced in the region. Don't forget to partake of both during your stay here.
The remains of the day ...
The remains of the communal baths of Halieis visible in the shallows.
Part of a ruined house in Halieis.
Dr. Ken Citron has contributed an article on the history of Ancient Halieis, with more detail which is well worth reading and the former assistant director and architect of the Halieis excavations has an excellent website with lots of photos & info so please visit his site. The Greek Ministry of Culture, has a great site with more about the ancient acropolis of Halieis and other sites of archaeological interest in Greece.