Aegina Holidays – Things to Do in Aegina
Aegina Holidays – this island getaway, a short hop from Athens, is well known escape for Greeks and Athenians. It’s very authentic and not over-run with tourists, so discover this Saronic gem and take the kids too!
Getting There – Aegina Holidays
Arriving by ferry in the sun is part of the fun. You can pay more for a 40 minute sailing from Piraeus port in Athens but why rush? We paid ¢12 for a Saronic ferry that took 1.5 hours. We ate lunch from its well stocked canteen and sat on the top deck sunning ourselves. Seeing the island come into view is lovely. If you wish to visit for a day trip (which is a popular option) either catch a fast ferry and travel independently, or book with a firm such as Alternative Athens who’ll do all the hard work for you.
Aegina Town
Aegina Town is the capital of the island, and it has buzzing cafés and restaurants along the waterfront. In the back streets find a host of independent boutiques – shops selling the island’s famed pistachios and lots of homewares and ceramics. Admire the boats in the harbour, drink Greek coffee, eat ice cream, sip cocktails and dine day and night. If you want to stay in the capital I’d recommend Fistikie’s – self-catering holiday apartments with a glorious little pool.
Temple of Aphaia
This monument is Aegina’s version of the Acropolis, an ancient structure dating back to 500-490BC. A museum holds original artefacts and sculptures that date back centuries. Adult tickets were aroudn €6, and the kids were free. Our boys also liked meeting the cats and kittens that wandered the grounds. Do not miss the informal cafe across the road from the temple. The views out the back are jaw-dropping, absolutely stunning.
Paleochora Abandoned Town
FREE When I heard Aegina had an abandoned town I was intrigued. But yes, you can find a host of houses and churches crumbling on a hillside. Paleochora is free to wander around and you can take as much or as little time as you fancy meandering around the abandoned houses of the former captial of the island. It’s said that the hillside town was established when Aegina experienced repeated pirate raids along the coast in the 9th century- the people naturally moved inland for defensive reasons. It was the capital of Aegina until 1826. When the threat abated the locals moved back to the rich land along the shore.
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Eat Pistachios
The pistachio crop is the pride of Aegina. You’ll see pistachio shops in most towns. In Perdika we bought pistachio cream and honey from Mama’s Shop. In Agia Marina we ate pistachio ice cream at Dimitri’s Fistikoupoli. And in Aegina Town we browsed Mourtzis Pistachio and Traditional Sweets.
Key Beaches – Aegina Holidays
Most visitors to an island wish to hit the beach. We loved the quiet relative solitude of Klima, where the only other visitors had actually moored up, and another couple had cycled to hang out here.
For more of a buzz my favourite beach was in the east coast town of Agia Marina. We relaxed on the long stretch of sandy beach after having a v relaxed lunch with amazing seaviews at Tavern the Sea, followed by pistachio ice cream at Dimitri’s Fistikoupoli. Heavenly.
Perdika – Aegina Holidays
We made the small fishing village of Perdika our base. We were drawn to Angelina’s Boutique Escape where we booked a stone villa with small kitchenette on a B&B basis. The breakfasts were fresh with lots of sweet treats for the kids, and the pool was a huge draw. There is also a bar on site. This was a very relaxed hotel, and a short walk to the harbour.
At the harbour you’ll find about a dozen waterfront restaurants, ranging from traditional Greek cuisine to pizza and seafood. It’s all very low key, informal, local and fresh. Pretty good prices overall as well. We tried a different venue each night, with the kids getting a taste for squid, shrimp and giant prawns. We also stopped at Mama’s pistachio shop, and after several tastings left with our purchases. Delicious.
To summarise, Aegina was one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited. It’s a place to relax, with a spot of sightseeing, and great food too. Ideal for all ages.
OUR STORY – We flew from Edinburgh to Athens with Easyjet. We spent four nights in Athens before catching the ferry to Aegina for five nights. On our return we stayed in the Athens harbour of Piraeus at the Theoxenia Hotel with its rooftop terrace and small plunge pool.
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