I am taking a day trip from Athens to either Aegina or Hydra. Can someone tell me the difference between the two islands and if I only had to choose one, which one would you choose and why. We are six adults.
Posted by
Chicago
1136 posts
Can't speak to Hydra, other than to say the ferry is ~1 hour longer each way and
2-3 times more expensive.
Aegina has a nice town for wandering, etc, and a very nice temple that is uncrowded
and easily reached by the public bus. You can walk from the temple down into the
town of Agia Marina on the other side of the island, have a leisurely meal, and either
take the bus back to Aegina town or catch a ferry from there back to Piraeus.
You don't say when you are planning to go, but I would check the ferry schedules to
make sure you have the amount of time you want to spend on either.
Posted by
NH (USA)
1364 posts
I've been to both. 4 days on Aegina and two day trips to Hydra.
Aegina is closer to the mainland, a larger island and more to do. Has everything one would want in a Greek Island.
One of the best preserved ancient temples, abandoned Byzantine Village in the hills (The Mystras of the Aegean), nice beaches and lots of options for services. Depending on how long of a day trip you could explore more of the island if you had a car.
Hydra is lovely with one of the prettiest waterfront in Greece and the village cascading down the hillside toward the harbor.
Hydra is very high end, expensive and better more as a day trip.
Mostly good for hanging out on the harbor's tavernas and people watching. Nice walk along the coast to a small village with fewer people with the best part and character being uphill away from the harbor. Very pretty homes, narrow lanes and away from the hubbub along the waterfront.
For a day trip Aegina would be my choice but nothing wrong with Hydra either.
It's best to go during the week as weekends tend to get very crowded.