Saronic
Aegina
Ancient temples, famous pistachios, and just one hour from Athens.
Getting around
Scooter friendly
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Busy in peak
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
1h ferry
In pictures
Aegina
Aegina is the easiest Greek island escape from Athens — fast ferries leave Piraeus every hour or so and cross in just under an hour, making it genuinely viable as a long day trip. The Temple of Aphaia is one of the best-preserved ancient temples in all of Greece: a complete Doric structure with standing columns in a hillside pine grove, built around 500 BC with views over both the Saronic and Aegean gulfs. The island is famous for its pistachios — genuinely exceptional, sold at roadside stalls across the island in their shells, and worth bringing home in quantity. The fishing village of Perdika on the southern tip has good seafood tavernas directly on the water. For anything more than a day trip, come midweek; summer weekend crowds from Athens can make the island feel less like an escape than a continuation of the city.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Being so close to Athens means weekend crowds can be overwhelming. Better suited to a 2-night trip than a full holiday.
Hidden gem
Eat fresh pistachios at the harbour kiosks — but the best ones are sold from farm stands on the back roads to Perdika.
Where it sits
Saronic, Greece
Aegina — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Aegina? +
- The best months to visit Aegina are April to October. Avoid late July and August if you can — the island is crowded in July and August.
- How do you get to Aegina from Athens? +
- Aegina has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, which takes about 1 hours. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Aegina good for couples? +
- Aegina is more about scenery than swoon — better for active or family trips than honeymoons.
- Is Aegina good for families with kids? +
- Aegina is a great choice for families — calm swims, walkable towns, and short transfers.
- Is Aegina expensive? +
- Aegina is one of the cheaper Greek islands — and it's one of the better-value picks in its tier.
- Do you need a car on Aegina? +
- A scooter or ATV is the easiest way to get around Aegina. Buses cover the main routes but a scooter unlocks the quiet beaches.
- What's the catch with Aegina? +
- Being so close to Athens means weekend crowds can be overwhelming. Better suited to a 2-night trip than a full holiday.