Salamina
Salamina — or Salamis — is the largest island in the Saronic Gulf, 95 square kilometres, and the closest island to Athens, just 1 km off the coast of Perama and separated by a shallow strait. Densely populated with about 39,000 residents, it functions more like a suburb of Athens than a typical Greek island, with regular ferries from Perama and a naval base at Paloukia.
It is most famous for the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC, when Themistocles lured the Persian fleet into the narrow strait and destroyed it, saving Greece. Today you get industrial shipyards in the north, pine-covered hills in the south, beaches like Kanakia and Selenia, and the monastery of Faneromeni, but the main draw is its history and proximity — many Athenians have second homes there.
The largest Saronic island — 16km west of Athens, the baker’s crescent
Salamis or Salamina, Greek Σαλαμίνα, also called Koulouri or Koulouris meaning baker’s crescent, is the largest of the Saronic Islands in Saronic Gulf near Athens. An island of Greece in Saronic Gulf of Aegean Sea extending along coasts Attica and Megaris enclosing Bay of Eleusis between two narrow straits on west and south. The area of island is 91.503 square kilometers, also listed as 36 sq m, 37 sq mi or 95 sq km, 95 square kilometers small island, land area municipal unit 80.992 km2. Its extremely irregular shape gives rise to modern popular name Koulouri.
Located in small bay opposite Piraeus Elefsina Megara less than one mile from Perama, about two kilometres from coast Athens port Piraeus and about 10 mi 16 km west of Athens centre, 16 km west of Athens center. Chief city Salamina lies west-facing core of crescent on Salamis Bay which opens into Saronic Gulf, on eastern side main port Paloukia connects island with Perama western part Athens urban area through frequent ferry line and is second largest port Greece in terms of. Population 39,283 according to 2011 census, nearly 30,000, city Salamina pop 25,730 in 2001 municipal unit 30,962, districts Alonia Agios Minas Agios Dimitrios Agios Nikolaos Boskos Nea Salamina Tsami Vourkari. Rocky crescent-shaped supports little agriculture most residents work shipping industry or businesses Athens.
FYI — why it matters, who it’s for, and what people get wrong
This is for you if you want quickest island escape from Athens — summer favourite because short distance from capital, rolling hills rugged coastline beautiful sea views. It is not for Cycladic postcards — it is working island with frequent ferries from Piraeus, Perama to west of Piraeus, and Megara on road to Corinth. People get size wrong — listed sometimes as 91,503 km2 which is typo, actually about 95 km2. Famous for Battle of Salamis 480 BC fought at sea Persians and Athenians Themistocles led. Second largest port in Greece Paloukia. Of all Saronic Gulf islands Salamina Aegina Poros Hydra Spetses this is closest to Athens.
Sources
- https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/salamis-island-greece | largest Saronic Islands Saronic Gulf Greece near Athens area 91503 square kilometers typo Population 39283 2011 census Included community same name peripheral unit Island periphery Attica
- https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/bri/s/salamis-greece.html | island Greece Saronic Gulf Aegean Sea extending along coasts Attica Megaris enclosing Bay Eleusis between two narrow straits west south area 36 sq m greatest length io m extremely irregular shape modern popular name baker’s crescent
- https://www.jrank.org/history/pages/8306/Salamis.html | Koulouri baker’s crescent Greek island Saronic Gulf arm Aegean Sea between Attica Peloponnisos about 10 mi 16 km west Athens rocky crescent-shaped island 37 sq mi 95 sq km area supports little agriculture most residents work shipping industry businesses Athens Battle Salamis 480 BC Persians Athenians Themistocles led
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamina,_Attica | municipal unit land area 80.992 km2 2001 census population 30962 chief centre city Salamina also called Salamis City Koulouris pop 25730 districts Alonia Agios Minas Agios Dimitrios Agios Nikolaos Boskos Nea Salamina Tsami Vourkari
- https://explorerides.com/salamis-island/ | largest island Saronic Gulf covering about 95 square kilometers rolling hills rugged coastline beautiful sea views
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Last Updated on September 1, 2026 by admin