Aegina Island sits just 45 minutes from Athens, yet feels worlds away from the capital’s hustle. This Saronic Gulf treasure packs more authentic Greek experiences per square kilometer than many other Greek islands – and without the Mykonos prices or Santorini crowds.
Picture this: You’re standing beside 20 ancient Doric columns at the Temple of Aphaea, better preserved than most mainland sites. By lunch, you’re cracking open sea urchins at a Perdika waterfront taverna. Come afternoon, you’re wandering through pistachio groves that produce Greece’s most prized nuts (with Protected Designation of Origin status since 1996). And if you time it right, you can still catch the evening ferry back to Athens.
But here’s what most guides won’t tell you: Aegina rewards those who stay longer. The island transforms after the day-trippers leave – locals reclaim their tavernas, prices drop on weekdays, and you’ll have Byzantine churches and hiking paths virtually to yourself. This comprehensive guide covers both approaches, drawing from my countless visits to Aegina. Whether you’re here for six hours or six days, I’ll show you exactly how to experience this remarkable island.
📍 Distance from Athens: 17 Nautical Miles
⛴️ Ferry time: 30 minutes (fast ferry) – 1hr 25 minutes
✅ Best for: Day trips, weekend escapes
🏅 Famous for: Pistachions, Temple of Aphea
👨👩👦👦 Population: 13,000
🌟 Ancient Temple of Aphaea – Better preserved than many mainland sites, with 20 of 32 original columns still standing. This is one of my favorite Greek temples and the major reason for me to visit Aegina.
🌟 World-famous pistachios – The island produces Greece’s best, with PDO protection since 1997
🌟 Authentic Greek island life – Just 13,000 residents keep traditions alive year-round
🌟 Easy Athens access – Fast ferries run hourly, making spontaneous trips possible
🌟 Year-round destination – Mild winters mean historical sites and tavernas stay open but with reduced hours
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to plan your Aegina Island visit, from current ferry schedules to the best beaches and attractions across the island.
The fastest way to get to Aegina from Athens is to take a flying Dolphin catamaran. They are operated by Aegean
Multiple ferry operators provide daily service from Piraeus to Aegina:
Ferry Operators:
⛴️ Aegean Flying Dolphins – fast, multiple times per day
⛴️ Saronic Ferries – Multiple daily departures from 07:50 to 18:40
⛴️ Aegina Ferries – Daily routes with online booking available
⛴️ Blue Star Ferries – Regular service
⛴️ San Lorenzo Ferries – Fast ferry options
Journey Times:
Ticket Information:
Ferries to Aegina depart from Piraeus Port, managed by the Piraeus Port Authority. The port has multiple gates – confirm your departure gate when booking or purchasing tickets. Agrosaronic ferries leave from Gate E8.
If you’re taking a Flying Dolphin catamaran, there is a dedicated waiting area close to the Catamaran. Enter through Gate E8.
Aegina Port operates under the jurisdiction of the Hellenic Coast Guard and local port authorities. The port is located in Aegina Town, with bus, taxi, and pony carts immediately in front of the port.
For current information:
⛴️ Ferry schedules: Check operator websites directly
🏛️ Archaeological sites: Consult the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (culture.gov.gr)
⛅ Weather forecasts: Hellenic National Meteorological Service (hnms.gr)
⛪ Monastery visits: Contact directly for current hours
🚌 Local Bus Service (KTEL Aegina)
🔹Main bus station: Located on Ethnegersias Square, 200m from the port (turn left after exiting ferry)
🔹Small ticket office with English-speaking staff
🔹Routes connect Aegina Town with major beaches and villages
🔹Popular routes:
▫️Aegina Town → Agia Marina (via Temple of Aphaea): 30-45 minutes, hourly service in summer
▫️Aegina Town → Souvala: 20 minutes
▫️Aegina Town → Perdika: 25 minutes
🔹Fares: €2-3 per journey
🔹Summer schedule: More frequent (at least hourly)
🔹Winter schedule: Reduced frequency
🚕 Taxi Services
🔹Available at the ferry port and throughout town
🔹Can be hailed on-street or pre-booked via apps
🔹Sample fares (2024):
▫️Port to Temple of Aphaea (wait 1 hour + return): €40
▫️Port to Agia Marina: €15-20
▫️Port to Perdika: €20-25
🔹Tip: Negotiate waiting time for temple visits
🛵 Scooter & Bicycle Rentals
🔹Multiple rental shops near the harbor
🔹Scooters recommended due to hilly terrain (and they’re a lot of fun)
🔹Daily rates: €15-30 (scooters), €8-15 (bicycles)
🔹Single main road around the island with light traffic
🔹Motorbike license required
🔹Available at the ferry port and throughout town
🚗 Car Rentals
🔹Several agencies near Aegina Town harbor
🔹Daily rates: €25-45 depending on season
🔹Most vehicles manual transmission (specify automatic if needed)
🔹Required: International driver’s license, ID, insurance proof
🔹Ideal for: Remote beaches, multiple site visits, families
⛵ Water Taxis
🔹Service to different parts of the island and nearby islets
🔹Popular route: Perdika to Moni Island
🔹Booking: aegina.com.gr
🔹Alternative to road transport for coastal destinations
☀️ Summer (June-September)
☀️ Spring (March-May) & Fall (September-November)
🌧️ Winter (December-February)
After countless visits to Aegina, I’ve learned that the best experiences often come from slowing down and exploring beyond the obvious attractions. However, especially if it’s your first visit to Aegina, and it’s a day trip from Athens, you can squeeze most of these sights into a day trip and still have a leisurely seafood lunch!
Here’s what I recommend prioritizing during your time on the island.
If you’re tired of seeing Greek temples and sanctuaries that have been destroyed many times over, the Temple of Aphaea is a joy. The temple sits on a pine-covered hill overlooking the Saronic Gulf, about 13km from Aegina Town. Built around 500 BCE, it’s remarkably intact with 20 of its original 32 Doric columns still standing.
What many visitors don’t realize is that this temple (perhaps) forms part of an ancient “Sacred Triangle” with the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion.
Practical details:
The small archaeological museum beside the temple houses finds from the site. The basement frescoes are worth seeing.
One of Greece’s largest monasteries, Agios Nektarios, draws pilgrims year-round but welcomes all visitors. Saint Nektarios lived here until he died in 1920, and his original cell has been preserved.
The Byzantine-style church with its distinctive red domes is relatively modern, completed in the 1960s.
Visiting information:
Aegina’s beaches vary from organized sandy stretches to quiet pebbly coves. While not as famous as other Greek islands’ beaches, they offer clean water and good facilities without the crowds.
The island’s capital rewards those who wander beyond the waterfront. The neoclassical buildings date from Aegina’s brief stint as Greece’s first capital (1827-1829). Look for:
The narrow streets behind the harbor hide traditional bakeries, local shops, and family tavernas away from the tourist track.
Paleachora served as Aegina’s medieval capital from the 9th century, built inland to escape pirate raids. Today, it’s an atmospheric ghost town with ruins of houses and numerous small churches scattered across the hillside.
Local tradition claims there were 365 churches, one for each day of the year, though about 30 survive in various states.
Practical notes:
Getting there:
Just a 5-minute walk from the ferry port, Kolona takes its name from the single standing column – all that remains of a 6th-century BCE Temple of Apollo. The site includes ruins from prehistoric through Byzantine times, though they’re not as impressive as the Temple of Aphaea.
Worth knowing:
Most visitors treat Aegina as a day trip from Athens, which works well for seeing the Temple of Aphaea and having lunch by the harbor. But staying overnight lets you experience the island’s quieter rhythms – morning coffee with locals, sunset from less crowded spots, and tavernas after the day-trippers leave.
⛴️ Morning ferry from Piraeus (departs from Gate 8)
🏛️ Visit Temple of Aphaea first (before tour groups)
🍴 Lunch in Agia Marina or return to Aegina Town
🏘️ Explore the town and the waterfront
⛴️ Late afternoon ferry back to Athens
⛪ Add Agios Nektarios Monastery
🏖️ Beach time at Marathonas or Perdika
🏛️ Paleachora for history enthusiasts
🏝️ Moni Island for swimming and nature
🔸Enhanced ferry schedules with additional fast ferry services planned for summer 2026
🔸Digital ticketing now standard across all ferry operators
🔸New electric bus fleet being introduced on island routes
🔸Harbor renovation project completion improving passenger facilities
🔸Expanded pedestrian zones in Aegina Town center
🔸Improved signage at archaeological sites in multiple languages
🔸New sustainable tourism initiatives protecting pistachio groves
🔸Enhanced hiking trail markers and digital maps available
🔸Expanded bicycle lane network connecting major beaches
🔸Cashless payments now widely accepted (wasn’t always the case)
🔸Tourist information kiosks with QR codes at major sites
🔸Mobile apps for real-time bus schedules and taxi booking
Choosing where to stay on Aegina depends on what you want from your visit. Most accommodation clusters around Aegina Town for convenience, but beach hotels and village guesthouses offer different experiences.
I’ve compiled these favorites beginning with 3-5 star properties – the best places to stay on the island, followed by a selection of the best 3-star options in Aegina Town, and then the best 3-star guesthouses and B&Bs in Agia Marina.
This traditional guesthouse/B&B near Aegina Town has average review scores around 9.7/10, and is one of the island’s best‑rated stays.
The most unique part of this wonderfully-named guesthouse is the pistachio‑themed breakfasts (homemade pistachio cakes, jams and butters). I also like the restored stone architecture and views across olive groves that give a “village” experience rather than a port‑town feel.
Check availability, prices & reviews
Seafront B&B/guesthouse in Perdika with mid‑9s scores. Guests describe falling asleep to the sound of the sea and watching fishing boats from bed; several note that the sunset views from the small balconies rival those on much pricier islands, and that cafés and tavernas are literally steps away.
Check availability, prices & reviews
This is a modern 5★ Adults Only resort (near Marathonas/Perdika). It has a private beach, pool complex and spa with average guest review scores of 9.0/10.
The best part of this resort is the overall vibe. It’s the combination of resort‑style facilities (multi‑level pools, serious spa, beach club) with a low‑rise, pine‑forest setting and spacious contemporary rooms and decor. You feel like you’ve found a hidden retreat on a much more remote island than a quick hop from Piraeus. It makes for a brilliant weekend away from Athens.
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This 4★ seaside resort has excellent guest review scores around 9.5–9.6/10. It’s got a fantastic, almost “private peninsula” location, with a ladder straight into the sea from the rocks, a sea‑view pool, and a sunset terrace. It’s so inviting that many guests skip going into Agia Marina in the evenings.
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This luxury villa with a private pool looks like your own private resort and grounds. It has panoramic views and is ranked among the best villas on Aegina. It really comes into its own for extended stays and for groups. It has multiple terraces, a large infinity‑style pool facing the Saronic Gulf, and a fully equipped kitchen that lets you self‑cater on nights you can’t be bothered to drive into town.
Check availability, prices & reviews
Another high‑end villa with pool and sea views, also rated as one of the best villas in Aegina. There’s a lovely sense of privacy here and a quiet aesthetic that comes from its chapel‑inspired architecture.
Generous outdoor dining spaces also combine to make it feel like a private “mini‑estate” rather than a standard holiday rental.
A good value 3★ boutique‑style hotel with garden and sea views; guest score around 9.5/10 from several hundred reviews. The best 3-star properties give you the feeling of staying in a private retreat, and the Rastoni achieves this with spacious, individually decorated rooms and shaded terraces where you can hear only cicadas and church bells rather than port traffic.
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This 3★ small hotel is near Panagitsa Beach and the port, with guest review scores around 9.3/10. There’s a generous, almost “mini‑apartment” feel to the suites – good-sized balconies, modern interiors, and the rare bonus (for Aegina Town) of private hot tubs in some units, making it ideal for couples wanting a short island escape.
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Hotel Aegina is a 3★ town hotel a short walk from the harbour, scoring in the high‑8s to low‑9s. It’s a very practical base: it’s on a quiet street just behind the waterfront and has efficient air‑conditioning and strong Wi‑Fi. If you add in the homely breakfast courtyard, it feels more like a family pension than an anonymous port hotel.
If your priority is swimming and relaxation, consider staying near one of the beaches. Agia Marina has the most options, with hotels ranging from simple to resort-style.
3★ small hotel with pool and strong reviews. The hilltop position above the resort gives better breezes and sea views than many beachfront blocks, which is welcome on hot summer days.
The home‑cooked breakfasts and a genuinely personal welcome make the Katerina feel like an old‑school Greek summer house.
Check availability, prices & reviews
The Panorama is a 3★ seafront hotel with its own small beach, and it gets deservedly high review scores for its location. The tiny private cove and the sun‑lounger deck are definitely the star features – you can swim before breakfast and watch the sunrise from your balcony without ever crossing a road.
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If you want to be close to Agia Marina beach and tavernas, this 3★ hotel is a popular choice. Despite its central position, the rear garden and pool area feel surprisingly tranquil.
I really like how amenable the staff are – they’re more than happy to arrange early breakfasts or late check‑outs for island‑hoppers.
Aegina pistachios hold Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status since 1996, meaning genuine Aegina pistachios must be grown, processed, and packaged on the island.
The limestone soil, dry climate, and sea proximity create pistachios that are smaller but more aromatic than other varieties, with shells that open naturally.
🔸 First saplings arrived from Syria in 1896
🔸 The Agricultural Cooperative of Pistachio Producers, established in 1947, now includes around 350 members managing 120,000 trees
🔸 Harvest happens September-October, with nuts still hand-picked and sun-dried
🔸 Listed as part of Greece’s intangible cultural heritage
🔸 Agricultural Cooperative store on the waterfront – best prices and quality guarantee
🔸 Local shops throughout Aegina Town sell them raw, roasted, salted, or unsalted
🔸 Look for pistachio products: nougat, cookies, pistachio butter, and traditional sweets
🔸 Fistiki Fest (September) – annual festival celebrating the harvest with food stalls, music, and pistachio-based dishes
🔸Fresh Fish – Daily catch at harbor fish market
🔸Fish Soup (Psarosoupa) – Traditional fisherman’s soup
🔸Grilled Octopus – Marinated and char-grilled
🔸Fried Calamari – Local squid, lightly battered
🔸Shrimp Saganaki – Shrimp in tomato sauce with feta
🔸Perdika Village – Multiple waterfront tavernas specializing in fresh catch
🔸Marathonas Beach – Beachfront restaurants with sea-to-table dining
🔸Aegina Harbor – Traditional fish tavernas along the waterfront
🔸Local Wine – Small production vineyards
🔸Honey – Thyme and wildflower varieties
🔸Olive Oil – From island groves
🔸Capers – Wild-harvested
While Aegina is quieter than party islands, it offers pleasant evening options:
Galaxy Night Club (Agia Marina)
🔸Popular summer venue with cocktails and DJs
🔸Peak season: June-September
🔸Live entertainment on weekends
No Name Cocktail Bar (Aegina Town)
🔸Intimate atmosphere in town center
🔸Mix of locals and tourists
🔸Creative cocktail menu
Dolphin Bar (Marathonas Beach)
🔸Beachfront location with sunset views
🔸Casual Greek beach bar vibe
🔸Bamboo terrace overlooking the sea
The Hangout Beach Bar (Klidi Beach)
🔸Water sports center by day, bar by evening
🔸Windsurfing and paddleboard rentals
🔸Beer, cocktails, and snacks
🔸Summer Cinema: Open-air cinema in Aegina Town (June-September)
🔸Cultural festivals: Check local calendar for concerts and exhibitions
🔸Traditional panigiri: Village festivals with music and dancing (summer months)
🔸Emergency Services: 112
🔸Police: 100
🔸Aegina Police Station: +30 22970 22100
🔸Tourist Police: +30 22970 27777
🔸Fire Department: 199
🔸Ambulance: 166
🔸Coast Guard: 108
🔸Aegina Port Authority: +30 22970 22328
Aegina Hospital “Agios Dionysios”
🔸Address: 10 Nosokomiou Street, near the port
🔸Phone: +30 22970 24489
🔸Hours: Monday-Friday 08:00-13:30
🔸Services: Pathology clinic (25 beds), radiodiagnostic department, microbiological lab
🔸Specialists: Orthopedists, surgeons, endocrinologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, ENT
State Medical Centre
🔸Phone: +30 22970 22222
🔸Open: 24 hours (€5 fee)
🔸Staff: 6 general practitioners, a pediatrician, and a dentist
🔸Equipment: Cardiograph, defibrillator, X-ray
Regional Clinics
🔸Ag. Marina Clinic: +30 22970 32175
🔸Mesagros Clinic: +30 22970 71390
🔸Aegina Island Nephrological Center (dialysis services)
Pharmacies in Greece operate on a rotation system. Look for the green cross sign. Most are located:
🔸Along the harbor waterfront in Aegina Town
🔸Near the hospital
🔸In Agia Marina village
🔸Hours: Typically Mon-Fri 08:30-14:00 & 17:30-20:30, Sat 08:30-14:00
🔸Emergency pharmacy schedule posted on all pharmacy doors
🔸Aegina Tourism Office: Located near the harbor
🔸Bank ATMs: Multiple locations along the harbor front and in major villages
🔸Post Office: Ethnegersias Square, Aegina Town
🔸Internet/WiFi: Available at most cafes and hotels
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Monique Skidmore, PhD, is an award-winning travel writer and anthropologist with more than 25 years’ experience leading travelers through Greece and the Mediterranean. As founder of Take Me To Europe Tours, Monique creates expert-led journeys to Greece’s most historic and beautiful regions, sharing cultural insights and practical advice shaped by her academic background and extensive knowledge of the country.
Monique’s writing covers Greek islands large and small, including guides to archaeological treasures, coastal villages, and authentic food traditions. Her expertise is recognized in international media, where she emphasizes sustainable, respectful approaches to discovering local life in Greece.
For additional tips and destination guides across Greece, visit her About page or browse the Greece content library at Take Me To Europe Tours.
