Aegina is an island of Saronic bay. Its an island near to Athens capital almost 40 minutes with speed boat. Aegina was the fisrt capital of Greece. Agia Marina is the most popular seaside resort of the island. Its a colourful little town, where you can find variety of cafes, traditional taverns, shops.. You can visit Aegina all year as you can visit some of the most popular ancient monuments like: the Temple of Athena Aphaia, Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Ellanios Zeus.

Aegina has a number of beaches you can reach by car or public bus and several that you can walk to from Aegina town on either side of the ancient Temple of Apollo. On the north and west side of town you are in what is almost a suburban neighborhood and these small rocky coves with stretches of sand and pebbles where the locals swim are great for snorkeling, probably the best you will find this close to Athens. Agia Marina has a long sandy beach where most people swim though the best spots are on the platforms built on the rocks at the edge of town.

The most important archaeological site on the island of Aegina, and in fact one of the most important in all of Greece, is the Temple of Aphaea which sits on top of a mountain above the resort town of Agia Marina, with a view of the Aegean Sea and all of Athens and Attika. It was originally thought to have been dedicated to the Goddess Athena but German excavations in 1901 found an inscription that the Temple was actually dedicated to Aphaea, a local Goddess from Aegina. In Greek mythology Aphaea was the daughter of Zeus and Karme who escaped to the island because she was hiding from King Minos of Crete, who was in love with her. The cave where she hid is in the north-east corner of the site. The temple is in the Doric style and is actually the last of three temples that were built on this site. It dates from around 500 BC though the site has been a sanctuary associated with a female fertility goddess from prehistoric times. The pediment, which showed the battles at Troy being watched over by Athena, was destroyed during the Persian Wars, recreated soon after, and purchased in 1813 by King Ludwig I of Bavaria. Since then they have been in the Glyptotek, Munich’s oldest public museum and the only museum in the world that is solely dedicated to ancient sculpture. There remain a handful of sculptures and artifacts on display in the museum and also as very interesting furniture in the small cafe at the site. If you like these photos please share them with your friends on Facebook or whatever social media you are addicted to.

Pistachios are one of those things you wouldn’t expect to find in Greece; however, the ones harvested on the island of Aegina are often described as among the tastiest pistachios in the whole world!

This quite different variety of pistachio you will find on the island is incredibly tasty! You can buy them virtually everywhere on the island, making them a great souvenir to take home from your trip!

And not everything is just about getting a bag of pistachios! You can taste delicacies such as pistachio butter or spreads, lemon-scented pistachios, and much more! Head to any shop in the market area or in the center of town and enjoy a pleasant tasting session before you buy.

Orthodox Monasteries flourish all over Greece, so why should it be otherwise on Aegina? If you’re interested in religious art and architecture, spend an afternoon exploring the spectacular Monastery of Agios Nektarios.

The place, surrounded by beautiful gardens, hosts the largest building in Aegina, the Cathedral of Saint Nektarios. The monastery is very close to the small town of Paleahora, the old capital of Aegina.

It’s a great idea to rent a car, a scooter, or even a bike to move around on the island. The north and south coast have excellent beaches to sunbathe, swim, and relax. Aegina is a Greek island, after all, so you’ll find numerous gorgeous beaches. These are some of the nicest beaches you can check on the island:

The wide sandy beach is quite close to the main town of Aegina, reasonably close to another gem you can visit on the island, the Temple of Apollo. The beach has impressively clear waters, and it’s pretty safe if you’re staying with children. Since it’s quite a popular spot and enjoys a relatively central position, you’ll quickly find several tavernas and beach bars for snacks, drinks, and even a meal in full Greek style.

Marathonas is probably the most popular beach in Aegina, it’s well-known among tourists, and you will usually find it quite crowded. For those who are into adrenaline and fun, on Marathonas, it’s possible to practice different water sports and dive or explore the magnificent sunbed by doing some snorkeling.

Not many tourists know about this remote place, so the beach is usually empty. The area is home to a magnificent landscape, fantastic island views, and sea views.

If you’ve decided to try this little fishing village, don’t leave without first visiting its romantic seaside area. The beach is quiet and gorgeous; there are some scenic coves to explore and areas with sand, which is safer if you visit with children.