Aegina on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Aegina works well on a budget, and it is one of the cheapest island trips from Athens. Plan on about €65 per person per day (bed €30, food €20, sights €10, transport €5), plus the ferry.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €30 | €60 | €130 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €75 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €20 | €40 |
| Local transport | €5 | €20 | €40 |
| Per person, per day | €65 | €140 | €285 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Aegina day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the harbour front to the white chapel of Agios Nikolaos
- See the Markellos tower and the neoclassical buildings of Aegina town from outside
- Swim at Avra, the small town beach near Kolona
- Visit the monastery of Agios Nektarios (modest dress)
- Walk among the chapels of Paleochora, the abandoned medieval capital
- Swim at Marathonas and Aiginitissa beaches on the west coast
Cheap eats
- Grilled octopus at the fish market ouzeris: part of a €15–25 meal
- Marides (small fried fish) and sardines: among the cheapest dishes on the menu
- Pistachio sweets and ice cream from the town pastry shops
- Bakery pies and koulouri for breakfast: a few euros
- Picnic of pistachios, bread and fruit from town shops
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Aegina town, where rooms cost about €50–90 for a double and the port, buses and tavernas are on the doorstep. Agia Marina has beach rooms at similar prices outside August.
Getting around cheaply
The cheapest way to arrive is the conventional ferry from Piraeus (about 1h15). On the island, buses from the harbour reach Agios Nektarios, Aphaia, Agia Marina and Perdika for about €2 a ride. A scooter (from about €25 a day) is the cheapest way to see everything in one day.
A sample budget day
- Morning: bus to Agios Nektarios (about €2) and walk up to Paleochora (free)
- Lunch: bus on to Agia Marina and a simple taverna lunch (about €10)
- Afternoon: Temple of Aphaia (about €10–12) and a swim
- Evening: octopus and sardines at the fish market (about €15)
- Total: about €35–40 plus your bed (about €30), so roughly €65–70
More ways to save
- Take the early boat from Piraeus and the last one back if you only have one day.
- Buy a return ferry ticket on summer weekends to avoid being stuck.
- Pick a room with a kitchenette and shop at the town supermarkets.
- Share a scooter or small car for the day you visit the interior.
- Combine Aphaia with Agia Marina on one bus route.
- Ask the price of fish by the kilo before ordering.
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Common questions
Can I visit Aegina on a budget?
Yes, at about €65 a day with a room in town, buses and fish-market ouzeris.
Do I need a car in Aegina?
No; buses from the harbour reach the main sights and beaches. A scooter or car gives more freedom.
What is free in Aegina?
The harbour, Agios Nektarios, Paleochora and the public beaches.