A Greek island which, quite miraculously given its proximity to the capital, has retained a cosy authenticity.
The Temple of Aphaia is one of the most complete temples in the whole of Greece. It is famous for making up a geographical isosceles triangle together with the Parthenon in Athens and the temple of Poseidon at Sounio (both of which can be seen from the hilltop on a clear day), and it looks amazing considering it is 2500 years old! Ancient myths say that is was dedicated to Vritomartis, the daughter of Zeus and Karmis who, in order to escape from king Minoas and a fisherman who had fallen in love with her, hid in a forest on the island protected by Artemis and with help from the goddess became invisible (aphanti in Greek – hence the name Aphaia).
Aegina is a wonderful getaway from Athens. Just 45 minutes by hydrofoil from the port of Piraeus, Aegina is a Greek island which, quite miraculously given its proximity to the capital, has retained a cosy authenticity.
There are tourists here but it is mainly Greek people who have come from Athens for the weekend. Join them to enjoy the ancient temple of Aphaia and the charming horse-drawn carts that amble along the port next to the traditional fishing boats.
Aegina Town is a lovely little town, with beautiful neoclassical buildings of different bright colours, quaint, narrow streets, picturesque cafes, and a lovely port where tiny coloured fishing boats are mooring. The whole town is an explosion of colours, accentuated by the colourful pistachio nuts sold everywhere.
The ancient Greek Temple of Aphaia is a special place. It stands in a beautiful spot above the pine forests in the hills of Aegina, with fabulous views across the Saronic Gulf. You can wander among the bleached sandstones, and imagine yourself there 2500 years ago when the surviving temple was built, or among the first known worshippers another thousand years before that.
This pristine little beach is located in the small picturesque fishing village of Perdika, south of Aegina Town, which enjoys a magnificent view over the islet of Moni and the Peloponnese and has a romantic and magical atmosphere. The lovely beach is a mixture of rocks and sand and offers clean crystalline and freshwaters.
Most of Aegina’s bars and cafes are concentrated around the port which makes bar-hopping a piece of cake. For a cheeky cocktail, pay a quick visit to Bartan, which is a cosy and unique stone-built bar. For a destination bar to spend your evening, Perdikiotika is housed in an amazing old building which used to be a bank but now has a hidden garden and bangin’ DJs.
In the island’s southernmost village, Sfentouri, Giannis Cherouvim and Evangelia Tzitzi run their farm and dairy, Oreini Aegina. They keep 180 sheep and goats and if you want a glimpse into a working Greek farm, you can organise an early morning visit to see their production of piquant graviera and halloumi cheeses and sample rich yoghurt, rice pudding, fresh ice cream and other sweet treats.
In Marathonas on the western coast of the island, there is a wonderful restaurant called Ammos. The tables are located on the beach and you sit underneath trees instead of umbrellas. This is our top tip for your trip to Greece for friendly service and excellent food in a peaceful location.
Moni Island is a truly special spot that’s not to be missed on your trip to Greece! A miniature paradise if you will. For just 5 euros per person you can grab a 10 minute water taxi to visit this stunning spot for the day. It has beautiful clear waters with a beach bar vibe with cocktails and a DJ playing tunes while you chill out on sun loungers. If you want to explore more you can wander through the trees and find wild peacocks and deer. You can also wander to the opposite side of the island and jump off the rocks for a swim or snorkel (but wear shoes because there can be pesky sea urchins lurking underfoot!)
Mount Ellanio often locally just referred to as Oros, meaning the mountain, is the island’s highest peak and the view is INCREDIBLE. Despite the site having been used by Hermes for a fashion campaign, it remains off most visitors’ radars and you can enjoy it almost entirely for yourself. Legend has it that Aikos, King of Aegina and son of Zeus came up here to ask his father for help during a severe drought. To this day, whenever clouds are spotted around the peak of the mountain, rain is said to be on its way.
The Temple of Aphaia is one of the most complete temples in the whole of Greece. It is famous for making up a geographical isosceles triangle together with the Parthenon in Athens and the temple of Poseidon at Sounio (both of which can be seen from the hilltop on a clear day), and it looks amazing considering it is 2500 years old! Ancient myths say that is was dedicated to Vritomartis, the daughter of Zeus and Karmis who, in order to escape from king Minoas and a fisherman who had fallen in love with her, hid in a forest on the island protected by Artemis and with help from the goddess became invisible (aphanti in Greek – hence the name Aphaia).
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