Some days, all you need is a change of scenery. Coffee somewhere different, a walk with no particular destination and a long lunch with good company.
And what a treat it is, to be able to have a nice lunch in the island- just an hour away from the city.
A day trip to Aegina without a car can be just that. Arrive at the island’s main port and you’re already in Aegina Town, with its waterfront, narrow streets, shops and places to eat within easy reach on foot.
Here’s how to plan a relaxed day out from Athens, with time to enjoy each stop.
How do you get to Aegina from Athens?
To reach Aegina from Athens, take a ferry from the port of Piraeus. Saronic ferries connect Piraeus with Aegina’s main port throughout the year, with several routes per day.
Crossings take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
For this walking itinerary, select Aegina’s main port in Aegina Town as your destination. You’ll step off the ferry straight into town, ready to begin exploring.
What can you do in Aegina on foot?
Start with coffee by the waterfront
There’s no need to fill every moment of the day. A coffee near the harbour gives you time to settle in and decide where you’d like to go next.
Start with a stroll along the waterfront or find a table and watch the boats come and go. One of the pleasures of a day like this is having time to linger.
Explore the streets of Aegina Town
From the waterfront, wander into the town’s narrow streets. Small shops, courtyards and glimpses of everyday island life give you plenty of reasons to put your map away for a while.
Leave room for something local, too. Aegina pistachios and pistachio sweets are among the island’s signature treats: try some along the way or take a little of Aegina home with you.
Walk to Kolona
Close to the main port, the archaeological site of Kolona is an opportunity to add a little history to your walk. The surviving column of the Temple of Apollo offers a glimpse into the island’s ancient past.
If you’d like to enter the site, check the current opening hours before your visit. Depending on the schedule, it may make sense to go before lunch rather than leave it until the end of the day.
Make time for a leisurely lunch
For lunch, stay in town and choose a table along the waterfront or in one of the smaller streets.
Rather than trying to see the whole island in a few hours, leave time for the things you came for: a good meal, conversation and one last walk before the ferry home.
Do you need a car for a day trip to Aegina?
You can spend a day exploring Aegina Town and the area around its main port on foot, depending on your mobility needs and preferred pace.
If you’d like to visit places further afield, such as the Temple of Aphaia, the Monastery of Agios Nektarios or the village of Perdika, you’ll need to arrange onward transport. If you’re travelling without your own vehicle, check local bus or taxi options in advance and allow enough time to return to the port.
For a relaxed first visit, keeping your plans centred on the town is a simple option. The rest of the island gives you plenty of reasons to come back.
What should you plan before you go?
Your ferry crossings: choose outbound and return sailings that leave enough time to enjoy the island.
Comfortable shoes: walking will be part of the day.
The weather: check the forecast and bring an extra layer or an umbrella if needed.
Opening hours: confirm these in advance if you plan to visit a museum or archaeological site.
Time for boarding: follow the instructions on your ticket and give yourself enough time to get back to the port.
A day away can be enough
Not every trip needs a packed itinerary. Sometimes, coffee by the harbour, a walk through unfamiliar streets and a little longer at the lunch table are all it takes to make a day feel different.
Explore ferry schedules and tickets to Aegina here and find a sailing that suits your plans.
With Saronic, you’re already there.
