Aegina
The island has a special place in Greek mythology and history. It was the capital of Greece from 1827 to 1829. Aegina Town is situated on the west side of the island where the main port of the island is located. The town of Aegina is picturesque and lively throughout the year. Agios Nikolaos, the tiny church, welcomes the visitor on approaching Aegina by sea. Numerous neoclassical buildings dominate Aegina Town, reminding the visitor of the glory of the island. The best way to get to know the town is to wander through the narrow streets, where a lot of interesting shops, impressive traditional houses and monuments of the Kapodistrias period are situated. There are also many cafes, tavernas and bars, ideal for relaxation and entertainment.
The best way to get to know the city is to wander along the beach and the narrow streets where you will find very interesting shops, beautiful old houses, monuments of the Kapodistrian era but also many cafés, taverns, bars for relaxation and entertainment.
Walking through the alleys of Aegina, you will find many beautiful shops that exude an air of authenticity and elegance. Every corner and shop window reveals a new world full of wonderful arts, fine fashion shops, inspired jewelry, fine wines, local products like pistachios, etc. See our suggestions below.
Agia Marina
Agia Marina is a busy tourist destination during the summer months. It is located on the east side of the island, half an hour by bus from Aegina town. The little church of Agia Marina, for which the area is named, is in the south part of the bay and is celebrated on 17 July. The wide sandy beach of Agia Marina is surrounded by a huge pine forest. You will find a variety of accommodation, restaurants and bars, as well as shops with locally made pottery and popular art. If you venture a little way out of Agia Marina to the small village of Alones, you will also find some restaurants.
Throughout the island you will discover an abundance of fine restaurants, picturesque taverns and cafés, with a rich menu for all tastes. See our suggestions below.
Marathonas
Halfway on the road from Aegina town to Perdika you will find the village of Marathonas. Most of the houses in Marathonas are built up on the mountain from where you have an amazing view over the sea. Marathonas has two sandy organised beaches. At the first one you’ll find a lot of restaurants directly on the beach. There are a few shops and a church, Agia Varvara.
You will find exceptional accommodations, with refinement and impeccable hospitality, in every corner of the island. See our suggestions below.
Perdika
Τhe small fishing village of Perdika lies on the southern point of the island. This is perhaps one of the most picturesque spots on the island and is still characterised by the Aegean style of square houses and narrow streets. The traditional fish tavernas and cafés are situated on a raised terrace above the small harbour and attract day visitors from both Athens and Aegina Town. It is claimed that this is the best place on the island to enjoy a fish lunch overlooking the peaceful bay and Moni Island beyond. Lots of charter yachts make Perdika their first or last-day destination. Especially on the weekends, Perdika is very lively, mostly with Greek weekend tourists. The biggest festival in the village takes place on September 7 each year in honour of the church of Agios Sozon.
Kipseli
Aegina’s largest village is located on the north side of the island. At the centre of the sprawling settlement is the square with the historic church built in 1880 and dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (Evangelistria). Around the square are also the Community Offices, the kindergarten, primary school and 2nd Middle School of Aegina and the cultural centre, hosting events such as theatre performances, exhibitions, book presentations and lectures. Kypseli was formerly known as “Halasmeni”, meaning “ruined”, after the church was destroyed in a fire. Three streams, mostly dry now, bisect the landscape, while its many picturesque chapels are celebrated by the locals on feast days. Kypseli was renowned for the good wine that flowed from the barrels of the old taverns scattered around. These days, you’ll find ‘Il Posto’ restaurant on the square, and further down, the traditional family taverna, ‘Kokoras’.
Souvala
Souvala can be reached directly by boat from Piraeus or by following the coastal road north and east from Aegina Town for about 10 km. Souvala can serve as your base for a holiday since there are several hotels and apartments to rent. In and around the harbour, you will find a selection of tavernas and cafes which overlook the sea. At night, you can see the lights of Attica, Piraeus and the Athenian coast. Souvala is ideal for a holiday surrounded by nature.
Agioi
Agioi (saints) lies on the coastal road, east of Souvala. The houses here have a panoramic view of the mainland from Athens to Salamina. The coast line is rocky and beautiful and there is a picturesque little harbour. The church of Apostolos Krispos, who was the founder and first bishop of the church of Aegina, is located on a hill and is celebrated 8 December.
Vagia
On the north coast, east of Souvala, lies Vagia. It has a harbour and an organised sandy beach with some tavernas near the water. In the small village, you will find accommodation and tavernas. This area was also inhabited in antiquity, as indicated by archaeological findings.
Mesagros
Mesagros is one of the most important historic settlements of the island. It is situated on the main road, from Agios Nektarios cathedral towards Aphaia Temple and Agia Marina. You’ll have the opportunity to visit some of the few remaining pottery workshops. It is worth visiting Rodakis’ home, as well as Panagia Politissa.
Anitseo
Located high in the mountains, Anitseo can be reached from the road from Portes or from the Aegina-Tzikides-Pachia Rachi road. Anitseo has many old traditional houses, alongside new stone-built ones and an old windmill. There are two tavernas that are very popular on weekends.
Portes
Going down the road from Anitseo to the sea, you will get to Portes. Here you will find peace and quiet. In summertime, is a bit more lively. There are some good traditional restaurants, especially when you want to eat fish in a unique location. Portes has a little harbour and a pebble beach. From this point, you can reach Agia Marina via a pleasant road, past Vlihada, a small bay ideal for swimming.
The Pistachio
Athanasia Chatziperi, Agronomist, Attica Region
The Terebinth (ill. 1) belongs to the same family as the pistachio and is the hardiest and most suitable rootstock upon which the pistachio can be grafted. The leaves start to fall in November (ill.2) and the trees remain bare until the end of March. During this dormant phase, the orchards are fertilized and tilled, and the trees are pruned.
The buds begin to swell around the beginning of April (ill. 3). The female pistachio blooms in the first two weeks of April (ill. 4 – female panicle ready for pollination). For pollination to take place, a male tree is necessary, from which the pollen is carried by the wind (ill. 5 – male pistachio. The pollen has scattered and the flower clusters are beginning to wither). In the last two weeks of April, the pistachios are beginning to set (ill. 6). By the end of July, the nuts are not yet ripe (ill. 7), but the shell has hardened and the kernel which has appeared at the beginning of June continues its development. The outer hulls of the filled nuts when fully mature acquire a rosy-red colour where directly exposed to the sun (ill. 9) When the skin softens and comes away from the shell easily, it is ready for harvest, around the end of August through September. To harvest the nuts, long sticks whose ends are covered with rubber or cloth are used to beat the branches without injuring them. Large collecting tarps are spread beneath the trees (ill. 10) and the nuts are collected and bagged to be transferred as quickly as possible to the hulling machines so that the shell does not turn black and render the nuts commercially unviable.
Keep reading about Sightseeing on Aegina Island