I will have an "extra" day in Athens. Not enough time to overnight somewhere. Is a day trip to Aegina a good option or would it be better to explore more of Athens? or is there another "day-trip" island to check out…..not including Hydra? Thanks.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3397 posts
Aegina is IDEAL. (So much more to experience than Hydra). Take the GREEN LINE metro to Piraeus (easiest if you walk to Monastiraki station, then it's direct, no changes). Be AWARE of pickpockets; they are not nearly as common as in other European cities but they DO target that Metro line.... because of a lot of gullible N. Americans coming from Cruises (in our car-mad society many have never taken public transit!! they look around and say this is so nice! George why don't we have Metros in Houston?). And also people (mainly men) keep stuff in their pockets (Grace, I'd KNOW when someone touched MY pocket!!). Happens every day. Just take the money you'll need for the day, leave your passport, plane tix, credit cards locked in your suitcase in hotel).
At port, just buy a ticket at ANY of many agencies on the port street... for a CONVENTIONAL ferry, NOT a hydrofoil (the former have open decks where u can sit , latter are totally enclosed, spray-coated windows, NO view). Reg. ferries go about every hour, & take less than hour -- enjoy "passing parade" of watercraft .... huge cruise ships, ferries large & small, motorboats, day-sailers. Onboard coffee is cheapest in Greece! (citizens insist on coffee price-controls, yay!).
On landing, check out the interesting port town... there's a temple ruin (ONE column left! I got a photo right up against column, framing a sea view... it's on my wall). Also a TINY museum next to it with AMAZING "Ali Baba-worthy" man-size jars. Check bus stop timetable, take bus to center-island Temple of Aphaia... most complete temple in all the Greek Isles (would be totallly complete if 2 Oxford-Cambridge Victorian THIEVES had not stolen all the artworks). It's on hill with 360° view of whole Saronic bay -- breathtaking. Busses are infrequent, so just take road downhill and look for a tree-mounted sign "short-cut"... scramble down and presto! you're on a quick path into seaside village, Ag Marina. Narrow sandy beach (wear swimgear under clothes, change in a taverna restroom). Then enjoy a lovely lunch al fresco, take bus or taxi back to Port town. There's a famous monastery on the way, but I didn't bother with it.
Much to explore in port town, VERY greek, have a late-day drink at portside cafe... sail back at sunset. NOTE: On warm-season weekends, Aegina crowds up with Athenians, but M-F in June, it's very low-key. Here's a wonderful photo album of day-trip, all details INCLUDING reminder to "validate" metro card at entrance to platform! https://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/
Posted by
NH (USA)
1222 posts
How many days could one stay on Aegina before running out of things to do? I know, how could one run out of things to do on a Greek Island?! . . . but some islands have more or less to offer to keep one occupied.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3397 posts
Tommy I am confused, John did not say that he was worried about running out of things to do on Aegina. He asked about a daytrip. Am I missing something here?>?
Posted by
NH (USA)
1222 posts
Janet:
Not missing a thing. Many people do day trips to Aegina, but others spend a few days there. Just curious about whether it's worth a stay of several days.
Posted by
2 posts
I saw a web site that listed beaches in Aegina. One that struck my fancy was Sotos Beach Bar, Agia Marina next to Apollo Hotel Aegina. It looked like a big slab of rock with chairs and a bar that you could jump off of into the water and climb a ladder back up. My kids are older and it seemed like a nice place, kids can swim, mom and dad can drink.
I can't find any recent info on this place, does anyone know if it still exists? I hate to take a ferry from Athens to Aegina and then find a way across the island only to find that it is now closed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE9iW05Hb10
http://www.aeginagreece.com/aegina-island/greece/agia-marina-sotos-beach-bar/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sotos/209616612430774
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3397 posts
Ans to Caiteng -- Did you google Sotos Beach Bar??? http://www.aeginagreece.com/aegina-island/greece/agia-marina-sotos-beach-bar/ here is a photo of just what you described, with the date March 11, 2015. It also apparently has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sotos/209616612430774 where the most recent entry Feb 27 shows a greek couple -- all the comments are in Greek but he apparently chose that venue for a marriage proposal, so it doesn't sound closed-down to me!!
You may not have found comments in English on Forums, not too surprising, Aegina is definitely an isle for Athenian Greeks, so perhaps not as many English-speakers starting threads on internet forums.