Aegina Island - a complete travel guide

AEGINA ISLAND, GREECE - TOP PLACES TO VISIT AND ACTIVITIES

The island of Aegina is located in the Saronic Gulf, at a short distance from Athens. Although it is a very popular island, which many tourists choose, most often as a day trip, it is very quiet and has a very relaxed rural atmosphere, where time seems to stand still. It is also one of the few places in Europe where you can enjoy pistachio plantations at every turn.

In this article I will tell you about the most important places to visit, tourist attractions and activities not to be missed on Aegina Island. Here you will also find useful information related to planning a visit here, whether it is a day trip from Athens or a multi-day vacation.

HOW TO GET TO AEGINA AND TRANSPORTATION ON THE ISLAND

The island is not served by its own airport, so the closest flight option is to Athens airport. The most frequently used route to reach Aegina and also the shortest is by ferry from the port of Piraeus.

Ferry tickets can be purchased both online and at the port. Both the companies operating the trips have their own ticket counters, as well as agencies that sell for several companies. The price of the ticket can vary between €11 and €18/person/way, depending on the company, the time slot, or the type of ferry. If you want to purchase the tickets directly at the port, I recommend checking the cost of the trip with several companies, as there can be very large price differences.

Aegina can also be reached as part of an organized tour, which includes stops on several islands. I found a few options online:

• trip by boat from Athens, with several stops, including Aegina, details here;

• boat trip from Athens, with stops in Agistri, Metopi and Aegina, details here;

• boat trip from Athens, with stops in Agistri, Moni and Aegina, details here;

To travel around the island, depending on the places you want to check off, you can opt for:

• public transport, which is quite well established, with direct connections between locations such as Aegina Town/Port with the Monastery of Saint Nectarios, Agia Marina, Perdika, or Marathonas. There are 3 bus lines, and the station is opposite the port. The cost of a trip costs approximately 2 euros;

• renting a car, scooter, or ATV can be a hassle-free transportation option, without waiting in the sun for buses. It is not the cheapest option, but it is the easiest, if you have a driver's license. Personally, I opted to rent a car from Giakas Rental, located right next to the port. We paid cash, without leaving a deposit, and we checked the car properly before picking it up;

• taxis can be an option for getting around the island, but they are a bit more expensive and less flexible;

WHERE TO STAY IN AEGINA?

Among the options available on the most important booking websites, the ones that caught my attention are:

• The Beachhouse Apartments - apartment-type accommodation unit, with one or even two bedrooms. It is located near Vagia Beach and has its own parking lot;

• Hotel Venetia - 3-star accommodation unit, which has double, triple or family rooms, which can accommodate up to 5 people. It is equipped with an outdoor swimming pool and parking. This hotel is also listed on Booking and on Agoda, so you can compare prices.

• Apollo Resort - 4-star accommodation unit, which has standard double/twin, triple or single rooms. It is equipped with an outdoor swimming pool and parking. This hotel is also listed on both Booking and Agoda, so you can compare prices.

  
  

PLACES TO VISIT IN AEGINA

The town of Aegina is the first location that comes our way when we leave the ferry, so we start exploring the island with a walk through the streets, or with a coffee at one of the terraces overlooking the harbor. The appearance of the place and the architecture do not fit into the pattern of Greek towns and villages that we see on social media, that of white buildings with blue trim, but rather bear an influence inherited from the Venetians. Even so, the streets are very nice, clean, well-kept and most importantly, carry the holiday vibe.

Don't miss the Markellos Tower, the Folklore Museum, the Christos Kapralos Museum and the house of the Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis.

The Monastery of Saint Nectarios is the largest of the over 30 churches and monasteries on the island. As its name suggests, it is dedicated to Saint Nectarios, one of the "newest" saints in Orthodoxy, considered the patron saint of cancer patients.

There is no entrance fee for visiting, but a certain attire is required, specific to places of this kind, i.e. knees and shoulders covered. To reach this location, there is a bus from Aegina.

Perdika is a fishing village, which I recommend not to miss, especially if you would like to eat fresh fish or seafood. As for exploration time, for the streets you do not need more than 20 minutes, but there are areas for swimming, so you can even spend a whole day in this location. Although it is a port area, with many boats, there is also a place to swim safely, and the water is very clean. The area that is worth considering for swimming, is at the end of the port and is not a proper beach, but rather a concrete area with a ladder that facilitates entry into the water.

The pistachio plantations are definitely the stars of this location. Such orchards are very common on the islands, so it won't be hard to see them. You can admire them right from the roadside, or you can opt for a tour, which includes a visit to such a plantation and a factory, details here.

Agia Marina Beach is a blue flag beach and is also the most popular on the island. It has fine sand, a gentle entrance to the water and there are both towel areas and areas with sun loungers and umbrellas. There are also a few tavernas in the area. It is an ideal beach for families with children.

Marathonas Beach is a beach with fine sand and a gentle entrance into the water. There are areas with sun loungers, umbrellas and taverns, as well as areas for towels. The price for a set of sun loungers is around 10 euros.

CONCLUSIONS ABOUT AEGINA ISLAND

Aegina is not one of the most popular Greek islands and we understand why. The competition is quite strong and hard to beat, especially when it is called Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete. However, if the roads take you to this location, do not hesitate to give it a chance, especially if you arrive in Athens and have more time at your disposal. We spent only one day here, but if we had more time, we would have stayed for more days, for sure.

Read about other locations in Greece: Athens, Hydra Island, Zakynthos Island, Meteora or Thassos Island.

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