Aegina, Greece: Everything you need to know

Aegina is a Greek island in the Saronic Gulf, just 28km (15 nautical miles) from Piraeus port in Athens. It is the closest inhabited island to the capital, reachable in as little as 40 minutes by fast ferry, making it the perfect weekend escape or day trip from Athens.

Aegina, Greece, is famous for three things above all: the Temple of Aphaia, one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples, its world-renowned pistachios, and some of the cleanest beaches in the Saronic Gulf. Despite being just an hour from one of Europe’s great cities, Aegina retains a genuinely authentic Greek island atmosphere

In our full article below, you will find all the information you need before your first visit to the island.

General Information

• Aegina is the second-largest island in the Saronic Gulf
• According to Greek mythology, the island was named Aegina after the daughter of the God Asopos, whom Zeus fell in love with and abducted to Oinoni (later Aegina).
• Aegina was the first capital of modern Greece in 1828, and the capital was then transferred to Nafplio in 1829.
• Every September, the Pistachio Festival is organized, the largest event on the island. In addition to commercial activity and elegant kiosks selling pistachio products, various art exhibitions, concerts, and theatrical performances are held. For this festival, visitors from all over Greece and abroad arrive on the island, underscoring the popularity and important role of local products.

How to go to Aegina, Greece

The ferry from Athens to Aegina departs from Piraeus Port, Gate E8 or E9, depending on the ferry company (a 5-min walk from the Piraeus Metro). There are 30+ daily sailings, one of the most frequent ferry routes in Greece.

Ferry options:

There are also open-type ferries that carry only passengers and connect Piraeus with Souvala and Agia Marina. The duration of the trip is approximately 45 minutes to one hour. However, these 2 latter ports serve only during the tourist season.

Ferry tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices at gate E8 or E9, where ferries to Aegina depart. During the summer, due to crowded ships, we advise you to book your ticket in advance, especially if you are traveling by car.

Book Athens to Aegina ferry tickets on Ferryscanner

Transportation

Car or motorbike: The roads of the island are mapped, and the search for the beaches is very easy. You will not face any transportation problems. You will just find more traffic with a car than with a two-wheeled vehicle. The coastal road in front of the port closes during the afternoon and night hours in the summer months, and vehicle traffic is prohibited. If you decide to rent a vehicle on the island, we suggest contacting the rental service before traveling to make arrangements. Phone reservations are usually accepted without prepayment. You will find rental shops as soon as you leave the port. Prices range from €30 to €40 for cars and €20 to €25 for motorbikes, depending on the type of vehicle and the period you book.

Intercity buses: Or otherwise (KTEL). Very economical, with which you can move to the most famous places of the island. The cost of the ticket is €1.80-€2 per route, and you can purchase it from the bus driver. However, itineraries are infrequent and may not run more than 6 per route per day. Below you will find the routes, as well as the distance they cover and the time:

Aegina – Faros – Vroheia – Marathonas – Perdika (9,5 klms – 20 mins)

Aegina – Kypseli – Leondi – Vathy – Souvala – Agioi – Vagia (13 klms – 30 mins)

Aegina – Agioi Asomatoi – Kondos-Agios Nektarios-Mesagros-Agia Marina (14 km-35 mins)

The KTEL phone number is 22970 – 22787, where you can call to confirm itineraries and make any changes.

Taxi: The taxi square is located outside the port. At the point where the ship tickets are issued, you will find the charges per route, ranging from 7€ to 17€. It is also possible to call a taxi driver to pick you up from your room.

Bicycle: Finally, many people choose to ride a bicycle for their travels on the island. There aren’t many difficult roads or steep slopes. Cycling enthusiasts can bring their own bike or rent one.

Looking for your next destination in Greece? Read our ultimate guide for Greece

Best beaches in Aegina

Agia Marina

The blue-flagged beach is the most famous on the island. Most of it is organized, with taverns and beach bars, but it also has many places where you can relax further away. It is ideal for families, with very shallow, clear blue waters perfect for snorkeling. The distance from the city of Aegina is 15 minutes by car, or 25 minutes by bus.

Monastery Island

The neighboring island that you should definitely go to. From the port of Perdika, boats depart every half hour (5 € one-way-return) and within 15 minutes you are in a really special place. Initially, there is an organized beach bar with sunbeds and umbrellas, where you can drink your coffee/cocktail and eat.

The most special particularity about this island, however, is that peacocks wander around the beach and the sunbeds looking for food from the tourists. On occasion, you might even come across a wild goat. Beyond the organized beach, we suggest you wander further inward and around this little island. There are many beautiful beaches to be discovered, especially around the back.

Marathonas A & B

The beach of Marathonas A is unorganized and very quiet. It has very few sunbeds, and in some places there are fine pebbles, while the rest have sand. Within 500 meters, in Marathonas B, is the beach bar BoCampo, which attracts a large crowd and offers sunbeds, umbrellas, and tables. These beaches are 5 minutes from the city of Aegina in your own vehicle, but are also connected to the island’s transport network.

Aeginitissa

An organized beach at a distance of 8 km from Aegina. In Aeginitissa is Fyki beach bar-restaurant, located in a very beautiful cove, amongst green trees that reach all the way to the sea. It is an organized beach with umbrellas and sunbeds, and a specially designed area for beach rackets and beach volleyball in the sand.

Aegina Maris Beach Bar

It is located in Aiginitissa in a small bay, and it is an organized beach with colorful sunbeds as its special feature. The beach is sandy. The only aesthetic disadvantage in the image of the beach is the abandoned studios that exist in the surrounding area.

Perdika

Perdika is the beautiful fishing village of the island. Its beach is relatively secluded with 3-4 umbrellas on the rocks. There is a view of Monastery Island right opposite. It is ideal for those who seek tranquility, as it is not very crowded, and its waters are crystal clear.

Klima

In a very beautiful cove, you will find Klima. Sand and pebbles, but also emerald waters, make one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It is an organized beach with a bar, umbrellas, and sunbeds. We suggest you stay until sunset to enjoy the colors of the sun shimmering on the sea. Within walking distance of the beach, you will see some yachts that have been moored there and people enjoying their dives.

Portes

This is a free, unorganized beach with pebbles. Ideal for those who want a tranquil swim in its blue waters. There are two taverns on this beach nearby. Thanasis and Akrogiali.

Souvala

In the area of ​​Souvala lies Therma beach, its name deriving from the old name of Loutra of Aegina. This beach is known for its thermal waters. Loutra has little sand, but it is ideal for swimming despite its rocky areas. Next to the port, there is the homonymous beach of Souvala, which is organized, with many cafes, taverns, and summer shops. Souvala is also connected by buses that start from the city of Aegina. The journey takes about 30 minutes.

Kolona

A free, unorganized beach at a very short distance from the port, with pine trees reaching all the way down into the sea. It is quite deep in some places and unsuitable for families. It is located next to the archaeological site of Kolona. One of the most important buildings in the area was the temple of Apollo, of which only one pillar, which characterizes the entire monument, survives today.

What to do on Aegina Island

Temple of Aphaia

It is located on the highest point of the island and is surrounded by pine trees. According to mythology, Aphaia is identified with the Cretan goddess Vritomartis, daughter of Zeus. Minos, the king of Crete, who had fallen in love with her, was pursuing her, and she, to hide, fell into the sea, where she was caught in the nets of fishermen who put her on their own boat.

There, a sailor fell in love with her, and in order to escape, she fell into the sea again and ended up on the island of Aegina, which the boat happened to be passing. Vritomartis continued searching for a hiding place and finally ended up on this remote hill of Artemis. When they went to look for her, they found in her place a statue which they named Aphaia (Aphaia = silent). In this place, the Aeginians founded a sanctuary in her honor and built the famous temple of Aphaia.

It is one of the best-preserved temples of antiquity, built in the 5th century BC. It offers a unique view of the Saronic Gulf, and when the atmosphere is clear, it is said that you can see the Parthenon and the temple of Poseidon in Sounio from there, which form an imaginary isosceles triangle. The temple is open daily to visitors from 10.00-17.30, and the ticket per person costs 6 €. We suggest that after your tour, you sit in a quiet place and enjoy the space’s energy, harmony, and the scent of the pines.

Saint Nektarios

One of the largest Orthodox monasteries in the Balkans, Saint Nektarios is an imposing nunnery that houses 14 nuns. Many vows and tributes are made by the thousands of pilgrims who arrive in groups every year on November 9th, the day of the celebration in memory of the Saint.

Diving

With the certified diving center Aegina Divers, you will have the opportunity to discover the beautiful waters of the island, diving in various places around the island. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, you will enjoy this experience, discovering the seabed.

Aegina pistachios — The Island’s edible treasure

The Aegina pistachio (Pistacia vera) is considered the finest pistachio in the world and is protected by EU PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status. Grown on the island’s distinctive reddish volcanic soil, they are smaller, drier, and more intensely flavored than other varieties.

Every September, the Aegina Pistachio Festival brings thousands of visitors for a celebration of the local product, with food stalls, concerts, and exhibitions.

You can buy plain salted, honey-roasted, chocolate-covered, pistachio halva, pistachio loukoumades (doughnuts), and, above all, pistachio ice cream from the port shops. A non-negotiable.

One day in Agistri

A neighboring, small island, which you can circle literally in one day. For more information, read our article about Agistri.

Horse and buggy ride

At the port, you will see the beautifully decorated carriages and the imposing horses. Your carriage ride will make you feel the mansion air of the island. Also, this walk is ideal for children. The duration is 20 minutes, and the cost is 15 €.

Summer cinema

At Cine Akrogiali, you will enjoy the ultimate summer afternoon experience, watching a movie under the stars with a gentle breeze and a beer at hand. It is located very close to the port and shows new and old favorite movies daily for both young and old. To be informed about the screening hours and the movies, you can check their official website.

Food and Beverage

Akrogiali: Located on the sandy beach of Agia Marina, this taverna is within walking distance of the sea. The shop is three generations old, and the staff is very helpful.

Skotadis: In the town of Aegina, in a central location. It is one of the oldest and most famous ouzo bars on the island. From its excellent seafood delicacies, we singled out barley with crayfish.

Remvi: One of the most famous shops in the city of Aegina. In Remvi, you can enjoy your breakfast, brunch, and food, as well as your coffee and drinks. It overlooks the harbor and the seafront promenade.

Miralice: A very beautiful place in the city of Aegina, for coffee, cocktails, and food.

Tortuga Artcafe Winebar: In a picturesque strait of Aegina behind the main coastal road, Tortuga offers coffee, a wide selection of wines, and Italian-influenced cuisine.

Inn on the Beach: One of the typical shops of Aegina, Inn on the Beach is located by the sea. For us, it was the best choice to enjoy the sunset with its famous cocktails.

Aiakeion: Traditional patisserie where you can have coffee and try its ice creams.

Accommodation

For our stay on the island, we chose Aegina House in the city of Aegina. It is located 10 minutes from the port, in a quiet and central place. We felt the island’s hospitality, but also enjoyed moments of calm. The house is spacious and ideal for families as well as for 2 couples simultaneously, at 95 m².

The white rooms with blue windows and the garden with colorful flowers offered us the beautiful island images we were looking to experience. George was one of the most helpful hosts, providing us with all the necessary information about the shops, beaches, and the island’s characteristics.

Useful Sites & apps

In the last few years, we have been traveling, and we have singled out some applications that we use on every trip or during it. We have chosen them over others for their validity, ease of use, and the variety of options they offer. We describe below in detail what these are, together with their characteristics.

Booking.com

Booking.com is a popular online booking platform for accommodations worldwide. With a vast selection of hotels, apartments, villas, and more, Booking.com offers travelers the convenience of finding and booking their ideal stay in just a few clicks. The site’s user-friendly interface and extensive filtering options make it easy to narrow down search results based on specific preferences such as price, location, amenities, and more. As a result, Booking.com has become a go-to destination for travelers looking for hassle-free booking options. With competitive pricing and a loyalty program that rewards repeat bookings, Booking.com is a top choice for travelers seeking great deals and a seamless booking experience. Find available rooms on Booking.com.

Hotels.com

Hotels.com is a leading provider of hotel accommodation worldwide, offering booking services through its own network of localized websites. Once you reach 10 nights, you’ll have a free night, which you can apply at checkout. You can earn multiple free nights by continuing to book with Hotels.com, though. The platform gives travelers one of the widest selections of accommodation on the net, including both independent and major chain hotels as well as self-catering in over hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotel pricing, amenities, and availability. Find the best deals on Hotels.com.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor helps hundreds of millions of people each month become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travelers across the globe use the TripAdvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do, and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants, and discover great places nearby. Find available offers and book your accommodation on TripAdvisor.

Ferryscanner

For ferry tickets to all of Greece as well as destinations like Italy, France, Spain, etc. Immediate service and cooperation with the largest services in Greece. Book your tickets on Ferryscanner.

Aegina, Greece FAQ — Everything you need to know