Patroklos

Patroklos

Patroklos is a small uninhabited islet off the west coast of Attica at Cape Sounion, just 2.8 square kilometres, opposite the village of Palaia Fokaia. Also called Gaidouronisi, meaning Donkey Island, it is low, rocky and covered in scrub and olives, with a few small coves and shallow reefs around it.

Its main historical note is that it was fortified during the Chremonidean War by Patroclus, admiral of Ptolemy II, after whom it is named, who built a fortress here around 266 BC to control the sea routes to Athens. Now privately owned, it has no residents or facilities, just occasional visits by fishermen and yachts anchoring in its clear waters near the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion.

The private donkey island off Cape Sounion

Patroklos, Greek Πάτροκλος or Gaidouronisi donkey island, is a small, private island located in the Saronic Gulf off the southeast coast of Attica, about 850 meters off the coast, 3 kilometres north of Sounion and 65 kilometres south of Athens, at coordinates 37°39’02.50N 23°57’01.50E, four nautical miles past Arsida and opposite Legrena settlement. It belongs to the municipality of Lavreotiki in East Attica.

It has an area listed as 2.8 square kilometres and also as 1.08 square miles, with surface reported as 2,800 acres and 4,200 acres total area, covered with 1,014 acres of olive trees and bushes. The island has been declared archaeological site and Natura 2000. In ancient times known as Patroklou Charax or Patroklou Nesos after Ptolemaic admiral Patroclus who established fortified base during Chremonidean War, not Homeric Patroclus. History includes Battle of Patroklos 1717 Venetians vs Ottomans, near capture of Byzantine emperor John VIII Palaiologos by Catalan pirates in 1437, sinking of SS Oria on 12 February 1944 on southeast rocks with 4,074 killed mostly Italian internees, and heart of Israeli Greek island affair scandal. Owned previously by Aristotle Onassis and now operated under Greek administration but owned by Prince Obolensky Arnaud Henry Salas-Perez and also linked to Dmitry Rybolovlev in some reports.

This is for you if you want absolutely deserted beaches with crystal clear waters reachable only by your own boat, in sight of Sounion temple. It is not for staying, ferries or development — it is private and protected.

How to get there & around

There is no public ferry — Patroklos is private. You reach it only by private boat, sailing charter or rent-a-boat from Lagonisi, Lavrio or Sounion. It sits on the way to Sounio, with several beaches with crystal clear waters, most popular each side of the lighthouse across from mainland, and several creeks catering all tastes from beach to rocky coast. You must not land inland as it is private, Natura and archaeological protected, but you can swim from boat and anchor offshore. For those who own boat it offers deserted beaches.

Sources

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Last Updated on August 31, 2026 by admin