The back story
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The back story
Aegina: pistachios, temples and Greece’s first capital
The closest island to Athens: a busy harbour town, the Temple of Aphaia, pistachio orchards and fish tavernas at Perdika.
Island guide · Aegina, the Saronic Gulf
Aegina island guide
Aegina is the nearest real island to Athens, under an hour by fast boat, with a lively harbour town, one of the finest temples in Greece, pistachio groves and a working, unpretentious character.
Plan your trip:Ferry timetables Arriving in Athens The Athens Riviera
Towns & villages
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A lived-in harbour
Aegina Town
The island’s capital and port, with a busy waterfront of cafés, fishing boats, pistachio stalls and neoclassical houses.
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The fish-taverna village
Perdika
A fishing village in the south-west, with a waterfront of fish tavernas and boats to the islet of Moni.
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The busiest beach resort
Agia Marina, Aegina
The main beach resort on the east coast, close to the Temple of Aphaia.
Sights & museums
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A Doric masterpiece among the pines
Temple of Aphaia
A well-preserved Doric temple of around 500 BC on a pine-covered ridge, with views over the Saronic Gulf.
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Pilgrims and a ghost village
Monastery of Agios Nektarios & Paleochora
The great modern church of Agios Nektarios, a major pilgrimage site, and the ruined medieval capital of Paleochora on the hill behind.
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Greece’s first capital
Governor’s House (Kapodistrias)
The neoclassical building in Aegina Town that served Ioannis Kapodistrias when Aegina was the first capital of modern Greece in 1828–29.
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The Temple of Apollo hill
Archaeological Museum & Kolona
The archaeological site of Kolona, with the last standing column of the Temple of Apollo, and the island’s archaeological museum beside it.
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A sculptor’s studio
Christos Kapralos Museum
The former home and studio of the sculptor Christos Kapralos, near the town, with his works in stone, wood and bronze.
Beaches & beach clubs
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Clear water by boat
Moni islet
A small wooded islet off Perdika with a pebbly beach and clear water, reached by boat in a few minutes.
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Calmer west-coast sand
Marathonas & Aiginitissa
Sandy, shallow beaches on the west coast between the town and Perdika, with tavernas.
Restaurants & tavernas
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Seafood by the water in Perdika
Nontas
A fish restaurant on the waterfront at Perdika, known for its location by the sea and its seafood.
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Feet almost in the sea
Manitas sto Kyma
A family-run traditional taverna at Marathonas, open for lunch and dinner by the sea.
Cafés & sweet things
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Pistachio sweets since 1958
Aiakeion
A historic patisserie in Aegina Town, making sweets and ice cream since 1958.
Bars & nightlife
Where to stay: luxury, boutique & value
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The island’s five-star
LaLiBay Resort & Spa
A five-star resort and spa by the sea near Perdika, which describes itself as the only five-star hotel on Aegina.
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Elegant and calm
Rastoni
An elegant guest house with a garden on the edge of Aegina Town, near the Temple of Apollo.
Shopping, markets & jewellers
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The island’s famous nut
Aegina pistachios
Aegina’s pistachios, a protected local product, sold roasted, salted, as spreads and in sweets on the quay and in shops.
Getting around
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Bus or a small car
Getting around Aegina
Island buses run from the harbour to Agia Marina, Perdika and the Temple of Aphaia; car and scooter hire is available in town.
Getting there
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Under an hour from Piraeus
Ferries to Aegina
Fast boats from Piraeus reach Aegina in roughly 40 minutes, and conventional ferries in a little over an hour.
Share your Aegina experience
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