The Saronic Gulf is the sea that washes the coast of Athens and Piraeus. There are several islands in it, with Aegina being one of them. There are several low cost runs between Aegina and Piraeus every day. It takes about one hour by ordinary boat and half as much by flying dolphin.

Upon the arrival at the island, visitors can see the really nice old houses of Aegina, some of which are refurbished and in perfect condition. Close to them there are some sores-drawn carriages, a nice way to visit the town. If you choose to go on foot, try to enter the small, narrow roads of the town of Aegina; they are totally worth it!

Worth seeing are the main church close to the harbour, the small church at the entrance of the port, the Tower of Markelos and the old Prisons that used to be the First Orphanage School of modern Greece. Aegina once was the first unofficial capital city of modern Greece. One can see many nice cottages all around the island, with stone walls beautifully adorned by nice flowers, especially bougainvilleas.

If you want to go around the island you should better rent a car or a motorcycle. There are some nice beaches within walking distance from the town of Aegina, but still you may need to explore the rest of the island. Busses can also be an option. There are plenty of hotels and rooms to let all around the island. Prices for accommodation, food and drinks are much better than Athens or the Cyclades.

Close to the city there are the ancient ruins of the first inhabitants of Aegina, in the area called Kolona (which means “column”). Pay a visit to the monuments and have a swim at the nearby beach.

On the island there is located one of the most famous temples in ancient Greece, the Temple of Afea (it means “unseen” in Greek). Its unique location at the top of the mountain offers terrific view to the Saronic Gulf. If the weather is good and the atmosphere clear, you can even see cape Sounio, the island of Kea, Athens and Piraeus, as well as some parts of the Peloponnese. The temple is in a really good condition. The area is covered with pine trees, so most likely you can find a shadow to relax. The Temple of Afea is located about 20’from the city of Aegina.

If you like hiking, you can climb up the Ellanion Oros (mount Ellanion). There you can find an archaic altar devoted to Ellanios Zeus (the translation is “Zeus of all Greece”). The weather in Aegina is a bit dry and warm, still a lot better than Athens.