Porto Heli

Porto Heli (also spelled Porto Cheli) is a resort town on the Argolic Gulf coast of the Peloponnese, in the Argolis regional unit, about 7 kilometres south of Kranidi and roughly 40 kilometres southeast of Nafplio. It belongs administratively to the municipality of Ermionida. The island of Spetses lies only 6 kilometres to the south across a narrow strait, and Hydra is a short sail further north.

The town grew from a small fishing settlement into a summer destination favoured by Greek and international visitors; former King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie kept a villa here for decades before selling it in 2022. Nearby, archaeologists have excavated the remains of the ancient city of Halieis, a classical-era port that once stood on the same bay. Census figures trace the town's growth from 904 residents in 1981 to 2,603 in 2021.

Porto Heli's real draw for sailors is its bay: a large, enclosed harbour well sheltered from the open sea, with mud-and-sand holding that makes it a dependable stop on the cruising route linking Spetses, Hydra, Ermioni, Poros and Nafplio. The marina also functions as a popular wintering port for pleasure boats, and ferries connect the town to Spetses, Hydra, Poros, Ermioni and Piraeus. Given its calm, protected waters and central position among the Argolic and Saronic islands, many charter guests exploring Greece anchor here for the afternoon before continuing on toward the surrounding islands.