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Day itinerary · 37.75° N · 23.43° E

Day trip to Aegina from Athens: an hour by boat, a temple among pines and fish in the harbour.

The morning ferry from Piraeus, the Temple of Aphaia among pines, Agios Nektarios and the chapels of Paleochora, fish in Perdika and pistachios before the boat.

Leaving from
Direct flight to Atenas fromBarcelona 3 h 15Bilbao 3 h 45Madrid 3 h 45Málaga 4 hFlight times are approximate.
See the planChoose a restaurant

Part of Aegina

The temple of Aphaia, with its Doric columns among pinesPaweł 'pbm' Szubert (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Total time12 h
By car1 h 45 each way
From AthensMetro to Piraeus and a 1 h 10 ferry
BoatFrom €12 each way
TicketAphaia €10
Getting aroundTaxi on the island
Best timeApril – June · September – October

The plan

The day at a glance

Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.

  1. Leave Athens 1 h 15 by boat

    Metro to Piraeus and Saronic Ferries ferry around 8:00 · from €12

  2. 1
    Temple of Aphaia, among pines above the gulf

    Taxi from the harbour, about 17 min · €10

  3. 15 min by taxi9 km
  4. 2
    Saint Nektarios Monastery and the churches of Palaiochora

    The monastery and the climb between chapels

  5. 15 min by taxi13 km
  6. 3
    Antonis, fish taverna in Perdika

    Fish by weight in the harbour

    Playa de Perdika, 18010 Perdika, Egina · +30 693 292 3749

    Restaurant €€€
    Book
  7. Carry on on foot
  8. 4
    Perdika and the boat to Moni island

    Boat to Moni and a swim, from May to October

  9. 15 min by taxi10 km
  10. 5
    Kolona, the column of the temple of Apollo by the sea

    The column of Apollo at sunset

  11. 12 min on foot
  12. 6
    Aiakeion, the pistachio pastry shop

    Sweets and pistachio cream to take away

    Leoforos Dimokratias, 18-20, 18010 Egina · +30 22970 27235

    Bakery €
    Book
  13. Back home 1 h 15 by boat

    Ferry to Piraeus; in central Athens around 21:15

Approximate cost About €45–80 per person

Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.

The route

Temple of Aphaia, among pines above the gulf

Aegina is the closest island to Athens and can be done in a day without a car: metro to Piraeus, an hour and ten minutes by ferry and taxis on the island. This plan brings together the three places that define it, the Temple of Aphaia, the monastery of Agios Nektarios with the abandoned capital of Paleochora and the fishing harbour of Perdika, and gets you back to Athens for dinner.

The day, hour by hour

7:30 · To Piraeus. Metro line 1 to Piraeus and the first Saronic Ferries ferry: 1 h 10, from €12. Buy the outward and return tickets online.

9:45 · Temple of Aphaia. Taxi from the quay, about 17 minutes. The Doric temple from about 500 BC among pines, with 24 columns standing. €10.

11:30 · Agios Nektarios and Paleochora. The great pilgrimage monastery and, on the hill opposite, the chapels of the abandoned medieval capital. Shoulders and knees covered.

13:45 · Lunch in Perdika. At Antonis, Saronic fish by weight in the harbour. Ask the price first.

15:30 · Boat to Moni. From May to October, short boat trips from the quay to the islet of pines and clear water. Out of season, a stroll round the harbour.

18:00 · Colona. The column of the Temple of Apollo by the sea, ten minutes' walk from the quay.

18:45 · Pistachios. Sweets and cream at Aiakeion, on the promenade.

19:30 · Return ferry. In central Athens around 21:15.

Time1 h 30
The temple of Aphaia, with its Doric columns among pinesPaweł 'pbm' Szubert (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Change the route

With young children, if it rains or if you fancy something else: another stop that fits the same day.

A sack of pistachios with jars of pistachio cream on a table
If you are short of time: the pistachio stalls on the quay: Tasting Aegina pistachioFood · 30 min · The island's pistachio as a cream, in sweets and loose, at the harbour stalls and the Aiakeion pastry shop, open since 1958
A balcony with two chairs and a table facing the blue sea
If you stay the night: 20 m from the sea at Perdika: Perdika Mare GuesthouseA 14-room guesthouse on the Perdika shore, 20 m from the sea and a 5-minute walk from the harbour tavernas, with free sunbeds and contactless entry.

Where to eat

Where to eat?

Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.

A table beside the harbour with lobster, plates and white wine, and boats beyond© Antonis Perdika

Antonis, fish taverna in Perdika

Restaurant · Perdika · €€€€

What to order: the grilled fish of the day, octopus and a salad with island pistachios

Takeaway and markets

Map

The stops, in order

With where to park at each one.

What to do Eat 88 €Stay Services

Getting there

By car or without one?

Without a car

It is the natural way: metro line 1 to Piraeus, a ferry or hydrofoil and taxis or the local bus on the island.

By car

The ferry carries cars, from €29: worthwhile if there are several of you and you want to get around without waiting for taxis.

When to go

When to go to Aegina

All year: boats run daily. From May to October add the boat to Moni and a swim; in winter the boat does not run and Aphaia opens from 10:00 to 17:30, so start with Agios Nektarios.

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Best timeGood timeLow season

Tips

Worth knowing first

  1. 1
    Ferry if it is windy

    The hydrofoil rocks a lot.

  2. 2
    Pre-arranged taxi

    Ask the Aphaia taxi driver to pick you up for Agios Nektarios.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get to Aegina?

1 h 10 by ferry from Piraeus, plus about 25 minutes of metro from the centre.

How much does the boat cost?

From €12 each way.

Do you need a car on the island?

No: taxis and local buses leave from the harbour.

Can you swim?

Yes, at Moni or in Perdika, from May to October.

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A museum room with a full-size chip stand and giant cones
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geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/itineraries/aphaia-pistachios-and-fish-in-perdika
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.

12 h plan · €70–110 pp
From Athens · 1 h 45
See the plan

Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/greece/attica/aegina/itineraries/aphaia-pistachios-and-fish-in-perdika