The first impression comes from the neoclassical buildings, located along the beach of the island, with their colors, in earth tones, beautifying at sunset. The buildings in Aegina are samples of Neoclassical architecture with a strong folk element, built in the 19th century, they stay there to remind that Aegina was for 2 years the capital of Greece. Many of these buildings house on the ground floor traditional cafes, patisseries, taverns, shops and bank branches.
Inside the colorful houses with small courtyards, with trees and flowers, other blue, green, red and white, are located in narrow alleys, between picturesque shops and taverns. All the economic and social life of Aegina is concentrated on the coastal road and the parallel inland roads. Ride horses and carriages, walk the narrow cobbled alleys, between the mansions, the Churches with blue domes and see the folk art shops.
Do not miss the fish market with its traditional ouzo taverns, where you will taste fresh seafood with ouzo or tsipouro. Shop from the grocery boats and do not forget to buy the famous peanuts, from the unique peanuts of Aegina. Enjoy the fresh fish and the traditional Aeginian food and snacks in the fish taverns and leave yourself in the patisseries, in front of the port and relax enjoying the sea breeze.
Take a tour of the picturesque alleys, where you will find beautiful cafes with shady courtyards, galleries, shops with ceramics, accessories, clothes and whatever else you want and at night in the seductive atmosphere of the night, have fun and dance in the music venues of the city.
Aegina, a breath away from Athens, is a popular choice for day trips or short getaways to the blue waters of the Saronic Gulf. Holidays in Aegina promise rest, beautiful beaches, good food and many options for fun, nature trails and activities.
From the port of Perdika you will take a boat to the Monastery, a small uninhabited island with impressive natural landscape and crystal clear waters. During your visit to the Monastery you can meet deer or peacocks, which are the permanent residents of the island.
The colored neoclassics of the waterfront. The cobbled streets of the city. The white houses of Perdika, the most island corner of the island. One of the best preserved temples of antiquity, that of Aphaia. The most turquoise waters of the Saronic Gulf, on the uninhabited island of the Monastery. A breath away from the port of Piraeus, Aegina is the island next door and has something for everyone.
Activities
Aegina as an island offers an endless list of options in terms of activities and experiences that every visitor can taste but of course in nearby excursions. Aegina always has to offer you – depending on the season and your mood – a special experience to remember and come back here soon! So if you are a fan of action, in Aegina you can enjoy walking tourism, religious tourism in its monasteries, yoga or horseback riding lessons, kayak or diving, performances in its summer cinemas and so much more …
But beyond all that, Aegina is offered and for short excursions, thanks to its proximity to many beautiful seaside destinations such as the island of Moni, Agistri, Methana, Poros, Epidaurus
Sights
You can start by visiting the Temple of Aphaia, One of the best preserved ancient temples in all of Greece, the Temple of Aphaia is located very close to Agia Marina, dating from the 5th century BC. and is one of the three vertices of the famous isosceles triangle that forms with the Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio.
Paleochora: The medieval capital of the island is today a green hill, very close to Agios Nektarios – which claims the title of the largest orthodox church in the Balkans, and is considered a miracle worker.
The Column, is the only Doric pillar, which remained standing when the Temple of Apollo, built here in the 6th century BC, fell in an earthquake. You see it from the port, on a verdant hill on the left, as you look out to sea. The small archeological site that hosts it also includes the ruins of a prehistoric city that flourished here around 2500 BC, parts of the late Roman wall of the city, as well as a medieval reservoir.
Gastronomy
The most famous product is, of course, the pistachio of Aegina, which in recent years – thanks to the Pistachio Festival, which takes place every autumn – have begun to be used creatively by the chefs, bakers and confectioners of the island. Try katsoula, the local fish that you will usually find it fried, with butter.
