Guide to Aegina, Greece

Aegina is a hidden gem within the Greek Islands. It’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway or starting point for your Greek island hopping adventures. The island is 40 minutes by fast ferry from mainland Greece. Book your tickets on Ferry Hopper and save the QR code to your phone for easy access.

Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands and is relatively small so it’s easy to explore the quiet beaches, villages and port town. Within the port town, there are lovely restaurants by the water, local pistachio growers and shops with Greek made clothing and goods. Koralli is a beautiful boutique where I spent a few hours trying on jewel tone silk dresses and sets, embroidered pieces and linen sets. A taxi in any direction was around 10 euro one way.

I traveled here for a relaxing weeklong yoga retreat at LaliBay Resort. I spent most of my days at the private beach sun soaking and dipping in the sea sprinkled with a few excursions, most notably to Moni Island right off the coast.

See below for a visual diary! For more inspiration, follow me on Instagram or you can always start a conversation and send me a message.

LaliBay Resort

LaliBay Resort was completed in 2020 and is a spacious and clean hotel in a central location on the island. The hotel features two on-site restaurants, a private beach, spa, tennis court and saltwater pool. The private beach features complimentary loungers with direct access to the crystal clear sea. You can order simple Greek fare directly to your lounger or eat in the covered open air pavilion with direct view of Moni Island. I had two massages during my stay as part of a special but found the massages to be a little disappointing. I enjoyed a friendly game of tennis and a swim in the saltwater pool on my last night. The pool typically closes in the early evening, but if you speak with the manager George, you may be able to float underneath the stars for a serene conclusion to your stay. Overall, a lovely stay.

Valley of Eleonas

A short hike away from the resort is the Valley of Eleonas, a sacred valley and ancient olive grove with beautiful trees with gnarled trunks and dense roots. Wooden sign posts will lead you towards the winding dirt roads. Keep going until you see the trees grow in size. The trees are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old. Pack water, sunscreen and a hat. There is a path that wraps around the road that is a little easier than the vertical cement driveway; once you see the driveway, keep going then turn left.

Statue of Mana

The brass Statue of Mana (Mother) by Christos Karpalos. It’s said that she represents the Greek mother waiting for her son to return home, safely from sea.

Temple of Aphaia

The Temple of Aphaia, also seen as Temple of Afea is dedicated to the mother goddess Aphaia. It was previously known as the Temple of Jupiter Panhellenius. Aphaia is one of the lesser known goddesses and was exclusively worshipped at this temple on Aegina.

“The legend has it that Aphaea escaped the clutches of sailors near the coast of Aegina and was seen going up till she vanished and hence the name Aphaea meaning vanish. Aphaea is said to be a mountain and a hunting goddess who protects shipping. Aegina was an important shipping area of the region” (Source).

The current temple was built over the ruins of a fire. It is one of the best preserved temples within the islands and has an accompanying museum with replicas of the pedimental sculptures that adorned the temple.

Paleochora

Paleochora was the old capital of the island. The location on the hill was a natural fortress. Due to its location, Aegina played a pivotal role in the wars and naval battles and the location was protected against the pirates. It would be a beautiful hike early in the morning. The structures are extremely well preserved and the view is stunning as you climb higher. Legend has it that there were 365 churches, one for each day of the year. However, only 33 or so remain.

The Monastery of Agios Nektarios in Aegina Greece

The Monastery of Agios Nektarios is one of the most visited sites in Aegina. Agios Nektarios or Saint Nectarios was known as a miracle healer. In order to enter the church and monastery, your shoulders and arms must be covered as a form of respect. There are wrap skirts available at the entryway free of charge. The monastery of the Holy Trinity is located above the stairs. There is a beautiful garden space where many choose to spend time in contemplation.

Pistachios

Aegina island is known for their pistachios. There are many pistachio trees along the road. Surprisingly, the pistachios are pink when harvested. They are delicious and high quality and can be purchased at the port town. There are also many sweet confections made with the pistachios such as pistachio butter, pistachio brittle and more.

Moni Island

Moni Island is a small island off the coast of Aegina. In order to get to Moni Island, take a cab to the village of Perdika on the south of the island. There is a small boat that takes you to the island for around 9 euro roundtrip.

In the village of Perdika, there are restaurants lining the sea that would be great for lunch or dinner. If you wander past the restaurants, there is a staircase down to a rocky but secluded beach.

Moni Island was one of the highlights of the trip. There are wild peacocks and deer that live on the island that roam freely. There are sun loungers to rent and beach service catered by the local restaurant. We ordered a casual lunch to share that consisted of a deconstructed Greek salad. For beach fare, it was well priced and delicious.

The sea around Moni Island is refreshingly cool, calm and clear. I enjoyed spending the day here swimming and floating the day away. Bring snorkel gear if you have it to explore the area further. We even saw an octopus tucked within a rock having a nap. Pack your beach shoes or Tevas if you have them since it can be a bit rocky descending into the water, but it is well worth it.

The peacocks on the island were magnificent. It was my first time seeing a peacock in person. Peacocks symbolize inner strength, vision, confidence, good luck and divinity.

Strawberry Supermoon

Port Town

We enjoyed a final evening in the town. We had dinner at Ouzeri o Skotadis and watched the sun go down as we strolled along the shops.

I continued on my Greek adventure to Milos which was around 3 and a half hours from Athens. I like walking out along the deck as we stop along the islands before the final destination.

In summary, I’d highly recommend a trip to Aegina. It is a low-key Greek island for those who desire a pause from life and wish for a chance to reset, heal and rejuvenate.