A Day Trip to Aegina – Our Last-Minute Island Escape from Piraeus

For the final leg of our Greece trip, we based ourselves in Piraeus. It made sense for a few reasons—proximity to the airport, easy transportation, and the chance to squeeze in one last mini-adventure before heading home.

Since Piraeus is a major port, we thought, why not hop over to an island for the day? After looking into a few options, we landed on Aegina. The ferry ride is just about 40 minutes, and the island offered a mix of easy beach access, walkable town vibes, and plenty of restaurants—perfect for a relaxed day.

That said, the ferry itself wasn’t the most pleasant part. Both rides were filled with heavy diesel fumes, which made the experience a bit uncomfortable—and definitely not eco-friendly.

Once we arrived in Aegina, we started walking toward the Church of the Virgin Mary (Ekklisia Isodia Theotokou), and continued on in hopes of finding a quiet, peaceful corner of the town. We wandered for a while before looping back. Honestly, what stood out most from that walk were the charming pistachio shops—fresh, local, and everywhere! Definitely a highlight.

We also visited the Kolona archaeological site, which sadly didn’t wow us. It might be because we’d already seen so many incredible ancient sites throughout Greece, but Kolona—a lone column surrounded by scattered stones—just didn’t hold up to the rest.

For beach time, we first spotted Avra Beach, right near the port, with chairs and umbrellas ready to go. There’s also a more natural (and rocky) beach on the other side of Kolona Hill, but when we got closer, it felt less inviting—so we returned to the easier, serviced beach instead.

In the end, I’m still glad we gave Aegina a try. Travel is all about discovery, and sometimes the unexpected adds something valuable to your journey. Would I recommend it? Honestly, probably not. I think there are other islands with more to offer, depending on your expectations and where you are in your trip.

But hey—if you don’t go, you’ll never know.