#1 top pick

Apollo Temple Pillar on Aegina

Organic Pistachio Orchard Tour (with snacks!)

  • Learn the harvesting process of pistachios from the orchard’s supervisors
  • Explore the organic pistachio orchard; learn the origin of the trees there
  • Enjoy tasty local and homemade pistachio snacks picked from the orchard
  • Spot the differences between male and female orchard trees
  • Duration: 1.5 hours
  • ⭐️Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (8 reviews)

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#1 top pick

aegina town solar clock

Aegina Ceramics Class – learn the magic of this art, be inspired & create!

  • Enjoy this hands-on class and bring out your creativity!
  • Enjoy a brief and fascinating history of pottery, which developed from a Mycenaean tradition.
  • Using the pottery technique, pinching, you will create a beautiful object like a mug or a bowl, then decorate it with special ceramic colours.
  • The class is hosted by Maria, who has over 30 years experience!
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • ⭐️Rating: new activity on Viator

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#2nd pick

Apollo Temple Pillar on Aegina

Aegina walking tour at Paliachora

  • Private round-trip transportation from Aegina Town or Agia Marina to Paliachora
  • Private guide to Palaiochora, the Medieval capital of Aegina
  • Bottled water is included
  • Flexible itinerary to suit your preferences
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • ⭐️Rating: NA

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This article takes a look into the best things to do in Aegina. This Greek island is well-known for its pistachios and for the monastery of St. Nektarios. I consider it as being one of the best Greek islands for old couples or solo travelers.

Aegina belongs to the Saronic (or Argo-Saronic) group of islands, together with Poros, Hydra, Salamina and Agistri Island. The capital is Aegina Town, which is also the main starting point for boat trips to surrounding islands such as Moni, Agistri and Dorousa. Here’s more information on all Greek island groups for your convenience.

This is a guide to Aegina to help you plan your vacation on this island. You’ll read about ferries and speed boats, about the best things to do on Aegina, about the best hotels, the foods to try and the day trips to take.

Aphaia Temple Aegina Island

The Temple of Aphaia on the island of Aegina

Is Aegina Close to Athens?

Yes. Located in the Saronic Gulf, at 27 km from Athens, Aegina is one of the fastest islands to reach from Piraeus. There are multiple ferries and speed boats going back and forth everyday.

The main ferry and speed boat operators that provide services from Piraeus to Aegina include Saronic Ferries, Blue Star Ferries, Anes Ferries, Nova Ferries, Aegean Flying Dolphins and Hellenic Seaways. Depending on the type of craft and service operator, the journey can take between 40 minutes and one hour and 15 minutes.

Even though speed boats such as Aegean Flying Dolphins and Hellenic Seaways are faster, I prefer traditional ferries. The main reason is that on speed boats you have to sit inside for the whole journey. I find it much nicer to be able to step onto the deck, to enjoy the fresh air, the seagulls and the magnificent scenery of the Greek islands. The other reason is that I don’t like the gasoline smell inside the speed boats.

You can find more details about getting to Aegina from Athens by reading this article on Aegina ferries.

Greece Ferries in Piraeus

Ferries to Aegina depart from Piraeus

Is Aegina a Big Island?

Covering an area of less than 100 sq km, Aegina is a rather small island. It counts about 15 km from east to west and about 10 km from north to south. You can easily visit everything on Aegina in one or two days.

Most part of Aegina island is a rocky formation, an ancient volcano which is currently extinct. Mount Oros, the highest point of the island, is nothing but a hill covered in rocks and small bushes. Nonetheless, those who climb to its top are rewarded with magnificent views of Aegina and of the neighboring islands.

Is Aegina Expensive?

You can find accommodation on Aegina for as little as $50 – $60 US per night for a double room. If this looks too cheap for you, you can book a room in the fanciest resort on the island, Lalibay Resort & Spa in Perdika. Spending one night here in June will set you back $500 US for a double room (click here to see the details).

A nice two-persons meal at a restaurant can cost anywhere between $30 – $60. The wine of the house is nice, so you don’t need to buy expensive bottled wines.

Where to Stay on Aegina

There are several options such as Aegina Town, Marathonas, Perdika, Agia Marina, Souvala and Vathi.

The best place to stay on the island depends on how much time you have and on your preferred vacation style.

Aegina Town

I prefer to stay in Aegina Town for a few good reasons.

The beachfront promenade, with its bars and restaurants, is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of ouzo or wine and to watch the sunset before dinner.

There’s only one taxi station on the island and this is in Aegina Town, nearby the harbor. Should you want to get anywhere else on the island, you’ll get a car right away. When you want to order a cab outside Aegina Town, you need to wait for at least 20-30 minutes for it to get to you. Besides, you’ll be charged more than the regular fare, as the driver has to come to you without passengers. The driver will inform you on how much you should expect to pay beforehand.

My favorite accommodation in Aegina Town is Danae Hotel.

Danae hotel Aegina Greece

Danae Hotel: perfect location, excellent services, great value for money

Located at 10-15 minutes’ walking from the harbor, Danae is a comfortable place to stay. It has a swimming pool and a pool bar where they serve beers, cocktails, juices and Greek frappe. The coastline opposite to the hotel is where I took all sunset photos below. There’s also a narrow beach, pebbly and wild, perfect for those who want to avoid crowds. If you bring your own water and snacks, you’ll love it here. Make sure you wear water shoes, though, as the entry to the water is a bit rough. As you advance a little, the sea bottom is sandy and smooth. The water is shallow.

Marathonas

Marathonas is another great place to stay on Aegina. It has two sandy beaches and lots of beachfront restaurants. You can have your lunch with the feet in the sand and looking at the sea.

Just book a table with your sunbeds and you’re all set for an awesome day at the beach. If you need a restaurant recommendation, I encourage you to try Ammos Marathonas. The food is perfect, the view is amazing and the service is impeccable.

Perdika

Perdika is a charming fishermen village and also a small port.

The beach area in Perdika is small. There’s no point to travel from another part of the island to spend a day at the beach in Perdika.

However, the biggest gain of staying at a hotel or villa in Perdika is that you can take a water taxi from the port to the magnificent Moni Island which I described here.

I liked very much the service and the food at Alkionis, one of the waterfront restaurants in the port.

Agia Marina

This is a good place to stay on Aegina if you enjoy organized beaches. There are sunbeds, umbrellas, tavernas, mini markets and a huge crowd of people.

I’ve been to Agia Marina in August 2020 and I found it way too busy for my taste. The beach is nice, though. Families with children would probably love it here.

Souvala

Souvala has everything you need for a great beach vacation. Here are some of the hotels and villas available in this area. If you hire a car, you won’t have problems with moving around to visit the island. If you rely on public transport, check out the bus schedules to see how well they suit your itineraries.

Here’s a deal finder engine you can use to find the best accommodation on Aegina:


Booking.com


Just check out these deals and see how they suit you.

Top 20 Things To Do in Aegina

These are my favorite 20 things to do in Aegina. I could find more, but I let you discover some of your own.

If you want to visit Aegina without spending the night on the island, check out this guided trip from Athens to Aegina. You’ll meet your archeologist guide at Piraeus Metro Station (here’s the meeting point) and you’ll spend a wonderful day.

1. Watch the Sunset

The high coastline between Aegina Town and Souvala is one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Aegina. There are several trails going down from the main road to the water.

If you want to take some scenic photos, take the first dirt path after you pass the Archeology Museum. There are cacti and other succulents you can use as props for your photo session. You can get creative and find different views with or without sailing boats, with or without people swimming, with or without pine trees as frames.

Here are some of the photos I took from that spot.

aegina sunset cliffs

aegina sunset boat

aegina pines sunset

aegina pines-plants sunset

aegina sunset people sea

aegina sunset pine cones

Other great spots to watch the sunset are: the restaurants on the Aegina Town harbor promenade, Marathonas Beach, the harbor of Perdika, and any hilltop you can reach.

2. Eat Fish and Seafood at the Aegina Town Fish Market

The fish market is the very heart of Aegina Town. The taverna by the market is one of the best places to eat in Aegina, as it always offers a wide selection of fresh fish and sea food.

Grab a place of red mullet (barbounia) or ask for the capture of the day. Sit, enjoy your meal and watch the fish sellers doing their job and the town cats seeking for opportunities to feed themselves some fresh fish.

aegina town psarotaverna

aegina town red mullet barbounia

Fried red mullet (barbounia)

aegina town baby tuna

Baby tuna at the fish restaurant in the market of Aegina Town

 

3. Roam Around Aegina Town to Find the Tower of Markellos and the Solar Clock

The narrow back streets of Aegina Town are perfect for an early morning or late afternoon stroll. There are barely any people but you’ll encounter some lazy cats sleeping in the shadow of colorful trees.

While here, seek for the Tower of Markellos. Even though there’s no written evidence of the construction year, specialists believe it was built during the Venetian occupation of the island (late 1600s – early 1700s) to serve as watchtower. After the Turks returned, the tower was abandoned. Later on, during the 1800s, a revolutionary leader named Spiridon Markellos bought the tower to renovate it and use it as his residence. nowadays the Markellos Tower (also known as Pink Tower) belongs to the Municipality of Aegina.

aegina markellos tower

The Tower of Markellos in Aegina Town

One of the churches in Aegina Town has a tower with a perfectly functional sundial. I discovered this solar clock at 11 am (daylight saving time = real time + 1 hour). It shows 10 am sharp.

aegina town solar clock

The solar clock showing 10 am sharp

The Tower of Markellos was closed when I visited Aegina. Apparently, you can only get inside it on special occasions or events.

4. Have Dinner on Marathonas Beach

Marathonas is considered one of the best beaches on Aegina. However, don’t go there expecting to find the wide and long sandy beaches of Crete, as this is not at all the case.

The best thing about Marathonas is that the tavernas have their own sunbeds you can rent for the day. They also have lots of tables set directly on the sand, under a pergola. You can enjoy a day at the beach and have breakfast, lunch and dinner directly on the sand. Sunsets in Marathonas are fabulous, too. So is the food. You’ll never want to leave.

5. Have Dinner in Perdika Harbor

Perdika is a cute fishing village with a pretty harbor and lots of lovely cats. The harbor is the perfect place for a dinner with friends.

My favorite taverna is Alkyoni – I can’t get enough of their fresh fish, seafood, tzatziki and other Greek specialties.

Furthermore, Perdika is another excellent spot to watch the sunset on Aegina.

6. Rent a Car and Drive Around the Island

Renting a car on Aegina is as easy as handing the car rental manager the money and your driving license. There’s no need for credit cards or anything other than this.

The catch is that there’s no full insurance, so you’ll have to pay for any damage you’ll cause to the car. I surely scratched it, and that set me back 90 Euro. I’ll be more careful next time.

If you can drive a motorbike, choose this rather than a car, as it will allow you to feel more at ease on the narrower streets of Aegina.

aegina map

Driving is the easiest and also the cheapest way to explore the island. There are also taxis and buses on Aegina, but they are less convenient than renting your own motorized vehicle. Buses run on a schedule that restricts your freedom of movement.

Getting a taxi requires you to wait even longer than 30 minutes, as the only taxi station on the island is in Aegina Town.

7. Visit the Temple of Aphaia

The temple of Aphaia is one of the top attractions on Aegina. You can get there by bus from Aegina Town. Taxi drivers would also take you to Aphaia Temple, but this is a very bad idea. By the time you’ll want to return, you’ll need to call a taxi to come all the way from Aegina Town to pick you (they will charge you double the fare, as well).

If you decide to hire a car or a bike to visit the island, make sure you add Aphaia on your list of things to see.

The bus station is nearby the ferry docks. You need to take the bus to Agia Marina and make sure you don’t miss your stop. Also, check out the bus timetables, to ensure that you’re going to catch a bus back to Aegina Town.

aphaia temple Aegina

If you drive, you’ll find the temple with ease, as there are road signs along the way. Any GPS app you may have would also do just fine.

8. Visit the Agios Nektarios Church & Monastery

The church of Agios Nektarios is on the same bus route from Aegina Town to Agia Marina. The bus stop is right in front of the church. The church is huge, so you can’t miss it.

You can reach it also by car or by taxi. Keep in mind, though, what I’ve told you about ordering a taxi to get back home (long waiting time and double the fare, as the car has to come from Aegina Town to pick you up).

st nektarios aegina tower

agios nektarios monastery

This is the Agios Nektarios Monastery – you need to climb the stairs to get there- don’t miss it, it is beautiful

9. Visit the Archeology Museum & the Archeological Site of Kolona

If you choose to stay in Aegina Town, you won’t need anything but your feet to get to the Archeology Museum. The archeological site of Kolona is part of the same complex. You can’t miss it, as the last pillar of the Doric Temple of Apollo on the hill is visible from a distance.

Apollo Temple Pillar on Aegina

The pillar is visible from a distance

10. Hike to the Top of Mount Oros

Featuring a maximum height of about 500m, Mount Oros is more a hill than a proper mountain. Nevertheless, you’ll need at least three hours for this hike.

I’ve done only a small portion of the hike, as I wasn’t properly prepared for it. You need to wear long pants, a sun hat and plenty of sun screen. Also, you need to carry water with you. If you want to find out more about hiking Mount Oros, you can check out this article written by someone who did it.

11. Stargaze or Try Your Hand at Astrophotography

It’s a very long time I haven’t seen such a starry sky! Grab your camera and your tripod, get a car and go to the higher areas of the island, where there are barely any lights.

Bonus tip: get there before the sunset to catch the golden hour, the blue hour and then the Milky Way.

12. Explore the Avantis III Shipwreck by Dorousa Island

This shipwreck is close to the shore of Dorousa island. You need to hire a boat or to take a snorkeling trip to get there.

Snorkeling above this huge sunken ship is almost terrifying. It feels as if you’d touch the iron with your feet. There’s nothing to worry about, though, the Avantis III lies deep on the bottom of the sea.

I didn’t take any photos, as I would have needed an underwater camera.

There are diving trips to this spot, as well. I don’t dive, but I’ve found this video of a diver:

13. Find the Oldest Olive Trees on Aegina

Aegina is known for its pine trees and pistachio orchards. Nevertheless, it is home to some of the oldest olive trees ever known. They are in an area called Eleonas, which is located somewhere uphill, between Marathonas and Perdika. The only way you can get there is by foot. The olive grove belongs to a monastery. Apparently, these olive trees are between 1500 and 2000 years old.

14. Eat Fresh Pistachios

Fresh pistachios are different than the raw pistachios you may know from your grocery store. They have a softer shell and they taste differently. You need to keep them in the fridge.

To enjoy fresh pistachios, you need to get to Aegina by the harvesting time, which is between late August and mid-September.

15. Taste Olive Oil (& Buy Some)

Like everywhere in Greece, olive oil is so good that you can eat it on plain bread.

As I travel to Aegina several times per year, I usually buy my olive oil here and have it shipped to my home address. I highly recommend Philippos Hellenic Goods. They ship to Europe and the US. Check out their website to find out more details.

16. Check Out Local Jewelry Shops

Did I tell you how much I love to buy rings and earrings from places I travel to? Greek jewelry is gorgeous, but you need to take time to discover the best artisans.

I do love the silver earrings I bought on Aegina during one of my latest trips to this wonderful and welcoming island.

17. Take a Boat Taxi to Moni Island

Taxi boats to Moni island go every 30 minutes all day long from Perdika and from Aegina Town. The boat ride takes about 10 minutes from Perdika and about 15-20 minutes from Aegina Town.

Moni Island is a great place to spend a full day enjoying the sun, swimming, snorkeling and walking through the pine trees forest.

Greek island pine trees

Wild peafowl, deer and goats roam freely on Moni. The island is uninhabited but there’s a beach bar where you can find food and drinks.

18. Take a Day Trip to Agistri Island

There are several ferries and speed boats going to Agistri from Aegina Town. The journey takes less than 30 minutes. Make sure you check out the ferry schedule in order to be able to return the same day.

Agistri is worth a visit – it will make you want to book a longer stay.

Greek island beach

19. Take a Day Trip to Poros Island

Poros is also a great destination for a day trip from Aegina.

As a matter of fact, you can visit the three islands, Aegina, Agistri and Poros, by booking a day trip from Athens. Click here to see the details and to book your three-islands trip from Athens at the price of today, [todaysdate]

20. Swim, Snorkel, Dive and Repeat

You can easily spend one week on Aegina doing nothing but swimming and snorkeling. The sea is always as calm as a lake.

boat trip aegina island

I didn’t even mention that Aegina is the perfect island to spend a beach vacation on. Even though

Check out this map to see how close Aegina is to Athens and tell me you wouldn’t want to visit it.