How many days in Aegina? 3 days of temples, pistachios and Perdika's harbour
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Aegina is the closest real island to Athens, about 40 minutes by fast boat from Piraeus, and most Athenians know it as a Sunday escape for fish and pistachios. It deserves more. The island was the first capital of modern Greece in 1828, it has one of the best-preserved temples in the country, the Temple of Aphaia, and a hillside ghost town of medieval chapels. Give it three days: one for the town, one for the temples and monasteries in the interior, one for the south coast and Perdika.
Short answer
One day from Athens covers the town and either Aphaia or Perdika. Three days lets you see all of them without rushing, add the islet of Moni or a hop to Angistri, and enjoy the evenings on the harbour after the day boats have gone.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Aegina town, Kolona and the fish market
Morning. Walk the harbour front from the white chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the port entrance, past horse-drawn carriages and pistachio stalls. Walk inland to the Markellos tower, a 17th-century tower house where the first Greek government met, and the neoclassical buildings from the time of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first governor of Greece.
Afternoon. Walk 10 minutes north to Kolona, the hill of the ancient city, named for the single remaining column of the Temple of Apollo. The site and its small museum cost a few euros. Swim from the rocks just below or at the small town beach of Avra.
Evening. Eat at the ouzeris around the fish market (psaragora), a block behind the harbour. Grilled octopus, sardines and a carafe of retsina cost about €15-25 per person.
Buy Aegina pistachios directly from the producers' shops in town. They are a protected product, roasted and salted, and cost about €15-25 per kilo.
Day 2: Agios Nektarios, Paleochora and the Temple of Aphaia
Morning. Take the bus or drive 6 km inland to the monastery of Agios Nektarios, a modern pilgrimage church with a large domed basilica, and the cell where the saint lived until 1920. Cover shoulders and knees. Just opposite, a path climbs to Paleochora, the abandoned medieval capital, where more than 30 small chapels with faded frescoes survive on a bare hill.
Afternoon. Continue 6 km to the Temple of Aphaia, a Doric temple from about 500 BC on a pine-covered hill, with views to Athens on clear days. Entry is about €10-12; there is a small museum on site. Allow 1-1.5 hours.
Evening. Drop down to Agia Marina, 3 km below the temple, for a swim, then return to town for dinner.
Paleochora is unshaded and stony. Go in the morning, and bring water and good shoes; most chapels are open to visitors.
Day 3: Perdika, Moni and the south coast
Morning. Drive or take the bus 9 km south to Perdika, a small fishing village with tavernas on a raised terrace over the harbour. Take the small boat to Moni, an uninhabited islet about 10 minutes away (around €5-8 return), with pine woods, peacocks, deer and very clear water.
Afternoon. Swim at Aiginitissa or Marathonas beaches on the west coast, between Perdika and town, both sandy and shallow, good for children. Visit the Christos Kapralos Museum at Livadi, just north of town, with the sculptor's work in his former studio (a few euros).
Evening. Have dinner in Perdika at sunset on the terrace over the harbour, €20-30 per person, then return to town.
For an extra half-day, small boats run from Aegina town to Angistri, the pine-covered island next door, in about 15-25 minutes; check current timetables.
Only have 1 day?
With 1 day from Athens, take an early boat, see the town and the Temple of Aphaia by bus or taxi, and return in the evening. With 2 days, add Perdika and Moni.
Got extra days?
Extra days fit Angistri, with sandy beaches and pine forests, or onward boats to Poros (about 1 hour) and Hydra on the Saronic line. Walkers can climb Mount Oros, at 532 metres the highest point, to the ruins of the sanctuary of Zeus Hellanios.
Where to stay in Aegina
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Aegina town | Most rooms, the port, buses and all the tavernas. | €50-90 |
| Mid-range | Aegina town harbour | Neoclassical guesthouses on the waterfront, walk to everything. | €90-160 |
| Mid-range | Agia Marina | Beach resort on the east coast, close to the Temple of Aphaia. | €70-130 |
| Comfort | Perdika or villas in the pistachio groves | Quiet fishing village or country houses with pools. | €150-300 |
Getting around
Ferries from Piraeus take about 40 minutes by fast boat and about 1h15 by conventional ferry, many times a day; fares are roughly €10-20. Check current timetables. Some boats also stop at Souvala and Agia Marina. Buses leave from the harbour in Aegina town to Agia Marina via Agios Nektarios and Aphaia, and to Perdika, several times a day (about €2). Taxis wait at the port. A scooter or car (€25-45 a day) makes the interior easier. Distances from town: Agios Nektarios 6 km, Aphaia 12 km, Perdika 9 km.
What to eat in Aegina
Aegina's pride is its pistachio, used in sweets, pesto, ice cream and liqueur. At the fish market ouzeris, order grilled octopus, marides (small fried fish), sardines and kakavia. In Perdika, fish tavernas serve bream and red mullet by weight, often €50-80/kg. Look for pistachio baklava and nougat in the pastry shops. A meal with wine costs €15-25 per person in town, a little more in Perdika. The Aegina Fistiki Fest in September celebrates the pistachio harvest.
Best time to visit
May, June, September and October are best: highs of 24-30°C and warm sea. July and August are hot and the boats are full on weekends with Athenians. Aegina is busy all year at weekends, even in winter, because it is so close. Most tavernas stay open, unlike the Cyclades.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €30 | €60 | €130 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €75 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €20 | €40 |
| Local transport | €5 | €20 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €65 | about €140 | about €285 |
Approximate 2026 prices; ferries from Piraeus are extra. Greece charges a per-room, per-night climate resilience fee, higher from April to October.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Aegina a good day trip from Athens?
Yes, it is the easiest island day trip from Athens: about 40 minutes by fast boat from Piraeus. Take the first boat, around 7:00-8:00, see the town and the Temple of Aphaia, eat fish, and return in the evening. To see Perdika and Paleochora too, stay at least one night.
How do I get around Aegina?
Buses from the harbour reach Agios Nektarios, Aphaia, Agia Marina and Perdika several times a day. Taxis are easy to find at the port. A scooter or small car gives the most freedom; distances are short, the longest about 12-15 km.
What is special about the Temple of Aphaia?
It is one of the best-preserved Doric temples in Greece, from about 500 BC, with many of its columns standing. Its pediment sculptures are in the Glyptothek in Munich. The temple forms, with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, a triangle often noted by visitors.
Can I swim in Aegina town?
Yes, at the small town beach of Avra near Kolona and from the rocks below the ancient site. For sandy beaches, take the bus to Agia Marina in the east or Marathonas and Aiginitissa in the west, 10-20 minutes away.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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