🪪 The island at a glance
📍 Where it is
Aegina lies in the middle of the Saronic Gulf, opposite Piraeus. Ferries and fast boats leave Piraeus many times a day, all year round, and in less than an hour you are in its harbour. That is why many Athenians have a holiday home here, and many visitors come just for a day.
📍 Where Aegina is
Aegina is in the middle of the Saronic Gulf, a few miles from Piraeus. The island is in red, and in green is Piraeus, where the ferries leave from.
🗺️ The map of the island
The town is on the west coast, with the harbour and Kolona. The road east passes Agios Nektarios and Palaiochora and reaches the Temple of Aphaia and Agia Marina. The road south follows the coast to Perdika. The island is small: distances are a few minutes, and buses leave from the harbour.
🗺️ Map of Aegina
The town and Kolona are on the west coast. Agios Nektarios and Palaiochora are in the middle, and the Temple of Aphaia is in the east, above Agia Marina. Perdika and Moni are at the southern tip. Tap each number to see what it is.
Map: Jacob Peeters (Public domain) · Wikimedia Commons
⚖️ Is it worth it? The pros and cons
Aegina is not an island for deserted beaches. It is an island for history, food and an easy escape from Athens. Here is an honest picture.
📊 At a glance, from 1 to 5
👍 The pros
- Very close to Athens, even for a day.
- The Temple of Aphaia and plenty of history.
- A lively town all year round.
- Pistachios, fish and tavernas by the sea.
- An easy island without a car, with buses.
👎 The cons
- Full of Athenians at weekends.
- The beaches are simple, not Cycladic.
- A less “island” look, with many houses.
- Ferries fill up on summer mornings.
- Little nature compared to other islands.
⚓ The town and the harbour
Aegina town was the first capital of modern Greece, in the time of Kapodistrias, and from that period come the neoclassical buildings on the waterfront and in the lanes behind it. In the harbour you will see fishing boats, the fish market and the white chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the entrance. In the town stands the pink Markellos Tower.
At the northern end of town is Kolona, a hill by the sea with a single standing column from the Temple of Apollo and the ruins of a settlement inhabited for thousands of years. A small museum explains the finds.
Neoclassical houses on the waterfront.
Fish straight from the boat on the waterfront.
Agios Nikolaos welcomes the ships.
A quiet harbour after the last ferry.
A tower house in the middle of town.
An ancient settlement next to the town.
The harbour from the ancient hill.
Photos: Jebulon (CC0), C messier (CC BY-SA 4.0), George E. Koronaios (CC BY-SA 4.0), George Fournaris (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
The coastal road from the town to Perdika is flat and has views all the way. By bike it takes about half an hour.
🏛️ Aphaia, Agios Nektarios and Palaiochora
On the east side, on a hill with pine trees, stands the Temple of Aphaia, a Doric temple from the 5th century BC and one of the best preserved in Greece. The statues from its pediments, with scenes from the Trojan War, are today in the Glyptothek in Munich. From the temple the view reaches across the Saronic Gulf to Attica.
On the way there is the monastery of Agios Nektarios, one of the largest pilgrimage sites in Greece, with a huge church next to it. Opposite, Palaiochora was the island's capital in the Middle Ages, hidden on the hill from pirates. Today dozens of chapels remain, many with frescoes, scattered on the slope.
A Doric temple from the 5th century BC.
One of the best-preserved temples.
Warriors of the Trojan War.
One of the great pilgrimage sites of Greece.
The medieval capital.
Dozens of chapels on the hill.
Photos: Pawel Szubert (CC BY-SA 3.0), Jebulon (CC0), Flocci Nivis (CC BY 4.0), Salwa Farwaneh Dameh (CC0), George E. Koronaios (CC BY-SA 2.0, CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
🐟 Perdika and the beaches
At the southern tip, Perdika is a fishing village with tavernas on the water, ideal for fish and sunset. From its little harbour, boats take a few minutes to Moni, an islet with pine trees, clear water and deer.
The beaches of Aegina are simple but convenient. Agia Marina in the east has the largest sandy beach and many hotels. On the west coast, Marathonas and Aiginitissa have sand and shallow water. On the north coast, Souvala and Vagia are quieter.
A fishing village with tavernas on the water.
The islet opposite Perdika.
Pine trees, deer and clear water.
The largest sandy beach on the island.
A seaside village on the north coast.
Photos: C messier (CC BY-SA 4.0), George E. Koronaios (CC BY-SA 4.0), ITHOMI (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons
- Agia Marina: a long sandy beach with hotels and cafés.
- Marathonas: a sandy beach with shallow water and tavernas.
- Aiginitissa: a sandy beach with tamarisks, near Perdika.
- Moni: clear water on the islet opposite Perdika.
- Souvala and Vagia: quiet beaches on the north coast.
- Kolona: a swim right next to town.
The Aegina pistachio is a PDO product. Buy it from the shops on the harbour, roasted, salted or in sweets, and if you go in September you will see the pistachio festival.
🍽️ What to eat
Try pistachios in every form, from roasted to ice cream and cakes, and fresh fish in Perdika or at the ouzeris next to the fish market in town. In the tavernas you will find octopus, meze and salads with local produce.
📅 When to go
Aegina is good almost all year round, because the town lives in winter too. For swimming, the best time is from May to October. Spring and autumn are ideal for antiquities and walks. In July and August, and every weekend, it fills up with Athenians, so choose weekdays.
⛴️ How to get there from Athens
| How | Duration | From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast boat | About 40 minutes | Piraeus | Faster, no cars. |
| Ferry | About 1 hour 15 minutes | Piraeus | Cheaper, also carries cars. |
From Ioulianou 50, take Line 1 straight to the port of Piraeus. Ferries to Aegina leave from the gates near the metro station. For the ports and ferries, see our guide to the ferries.
🗓️ Three days on Aegina
The town and Kolona
A walk along the waterfront, fish at the fish market and the Markellos Tower. In the afternoon Kolona and sunset at the harbour.
Aphaia and Agios Nektarios
Morning at Agios Nektarios and Palaiochora. Then the Temple of Aphaia and a swim at Agia Marina.
Perdika and Moni
By bike or bus to Perdika, a boat to Moni and fish in the evening at Perdika.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Aegina for a day?
Yes. With a morning fast boat from Piraeus and a return in the evening, you have time for the town, the Temple of Aphaia and a swim. Many people do exactly that.
Do I need a car?
No. Buses go from the harbour to Aphaia, Agia Marina and Perdika, and there are taxis, bicycles and scooters.
Can I combine Aegina with other islands?
Yes. Ferries go from Aegina to Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses. See our guide to the Saronic islands.
Is Aegina good for children?
Yes. Agia Marina and Marathonas have shallow water, and the boat trip is short.
— Kathy
