The island of Aegina is one of the most popular tourist destinations, as it is the closest island to Athens (just 16.5 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus). According to myths, the island got its name from a nymph – the daughter of the river god Asopos – whom Zeus fell in love with.
In this article, we will present the main attractions of the island. And since Aegina is just “a step” from Athens, we will also analyze the ways in which you can easily and economically travel to the island.
Discovering the Island Although the island is small in size, it has a large number of attractions and natural beauties. The top spot of the island is the famous Temple of Aphaia. In fact, it forms an equilateral triangle with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio, the so-called “sacred triangle” of antiquity. The city of Aegina, the capital of the island, stands out for its well-preserved buildings. In the suburbs, you can find charming villages with a distinct traditional character, such as Agia Marina, Perdika, Souvala, Kypseli, Agii, and Vagia. Aegina is also surrounded by many smaller islands, such as Moni, Metopi, Diaporia, Lagouses, Kyra, Dorousa, Spalathonisi, Anonyma, which you can visit by boat from the port of Aegina.
During your stay, do not miss to visit the following in the city of Aegina:
- Archaeological Museum of Kolona
- Markellos Tower built by Markellos, a hero of 1821 in the Struggle for Independence and later Governor of the island
- Kapodistrias Orphanage – the first public building during the administration of Kapodistrias,
- Eynardeio, a building from 1829 in Doric rhythm
- Cathedral of Aegina – the first Cathedral of the modern Greek state, which housed the Kapodistrias government and the first parliament of the modern Greek state. Explore Ancient Monuments and Old Monasteries:
- Near Agia Marina is the Doric temple of Aphaia Athena from 500 BC, the most important monument of the island. The temple was founded there and formed an equilateral triangle with the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio, the so-called “sacred triangle” of antiquity. The most impressive part of the temple is the wonderful pediments, a large part of which is exhibited in the Glyptothek of Munich. The findings of the excavation are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Kolona in Aegina.
- Temple of Delphinian Apollo: Located a short distance from the port of Aegina and named after a standing column (Doric type), the only one that has remained from the temple of the 6th century BC. The archaeological research revealed the presence of more than ten historical buildings in the area dating from the most recent Neolithic era (5th millennium BC) to the Mycenaean period (1600-1200 BC). Discover the findings of the excavations exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Kolona in Aegina.
- Paleochora, Agia Marina: This location represents Aegina during Byzantine times. The site is known as the “island of Mystras” because it once had 565 churches, 28 of which (with exceptional frescoes) have withstood the test of time.
- Monastery of Saint Nectarios: Near Paleochora, on the road to Souvala, is the impressive monastery of Saint Nectarios, one of the largest monasteries in the Balkans. It was built in the 20th century (between 1904 and 1910) on the site of a small Byzantine monastery.
Aegina is one of the most popular destinations for day trips among Athenians, as it is relatively close to Athens.
Your 1st option is by ferry. More specifically, there is a regular ferry connection between Athens and Aegina. The ships depart from the port of Piraeus daily, almost every hour. The journey lasts from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on whether your ship is regular or high-speed.
Aegina is also connected by ferry to Agistri and the coastal town of Methana in the Peloponnese.
Your 2nd option if you are a traveler from abroad is by air. There is no airport in Aegina. The nearest one is Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, which receives domestic and international flights all year round. Upon your arrival at Athens airport, you must reach the port of Piraeus and then board the ship that will transport you to Aegina.
