Day Trips
Aegina Day Trip: The Closest Greek Island to Athens
Ancient temple ruins, pistachio groves and a genuine local weekend island — all under an hour from central Athens.
Of the Saronic islands, Aegina is the one Athenians themselves actually treat as a weekend escape rather than a tourist stop — close enough for a spontaneous day trip, with enough going on to fill one properly without ever feeling rushed.
The Temple of Aphaia
Aegina's standout sight is one of the best-preserved ancient Greek temples anywhere, predating the Parthenon by several decades and dedicated to a local goddess unique to the island. It sits on a pine-covered hill on Aegina's east side, with sea views in multiple directions — genuinely worth the short taxi or bus ride out from the port town.
Aegina Town
The port town itself is easy, low-key and walkable — a waterfront lined with fishing boats and seafood tavernas, and a compact grid of streets behind it worth an unhurried wander. Look out for pistachio stalls and shops; the island's pistachios are considered among Greece's best, and you'll see them sold everywhere from waterfront kiosks to proper delis.
Getting there
High-speed ferries from Piraeus (see our Piraeus guide for finding your gate) take around 45 minutes, making Aegina comfortably reachable as a half-day trip if you're tight on time, or a full, unrushed day if you want to add the temple and a proper seafood lunch.
If you want more than a day
Aegina has enough going on — quieter beaches, smaller villages, the temple — to reward an overnight stay if your schedule allows it, without the higher price tag of Hydra. For a comparison against the other Saronic options, see our full islands guide.