Day trips / tours from Athens?

Aegina is the best answer! Here's a splendid photo-sequence of a daytrip there in June - http://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/

Just be sure to choose (as shown) a Conventional ferry sailing, NOT a hydrofoil... the latter has you pent up in a cabin with no view, whereas conventional (and large)ferry has open-deck for the 1-hr "mini-cruise" where u can sit & enjoy the seascape -- huge freighters & cruise ships, 3-mast schooners, tiny sloops. The evening before you can stop at any ticket agency by your hotel, find out the sailing schedule, & buy ticket for minimal €1 fee ... if the big ferry sailing is too early for u, you can get a hydrofoil outbound and just make sure to get the big ferry back... I think last 1 is about 6:15, so u can have a sundowner on deck, & get back for dinner in Athens. When u arrive @Aegina, check sailings & buy ticket as u leave pier. BTW, Aegina is a favorite weekend getaway for Athenians, so you're best off going M- F if possible... fewer visitors then.

SIGHTSEEING -- You can now rent e-bikes, as well as renting a car for a day or half-day... options for exploring
• Before leaving port town - quick stop rilght by pier for v. small ruins area (only 1 column - great foto op w sea backdrop!) and small cute museum - my fave exhibit items = huge mansize amphora jugs!
• Monastery ? Mainly for flowers
• Aphaia = best preserved ancient temple on any isle; fab 360° view of Saronic bay
• Beaches -- video shows Ag Marina... nice but narrow sand... also look at Marathona - bring suits for midday dip! lots of taverna lunch options.
• Late afternoon -- back in port town, fun to stroll back streets, mainly for locals, I love browsing lttle groceries & housewares stores for Greece brands/items. When u have an icecream or a glass in seafront cafe, most around u will be Greek-speakers.

METRO -- You can now train to Piraeus from TWO Central Ath stations - Monastiraki AND Syntagma... takes about 30 mins. Only caution - be aware that pickpockets target this run... Keep your ID, phone, wallet, cc's etc SAFE -- i.e. not in pockets or backpacks. I use neck-pouch under a shirt, or my day-bag crosswise in front with hand covering zip. (NOTE: I read a few yrs back that most who get "picked" are men who insist on keeping stuff in pockets "I'd KNOW if someone got in my pocket!" No u won't).

THANK You so much!!!

I agree wholeheartedly with Janet.

I'm heading there for 4 days mid-October.

It's large enough to keep one occupied but small enough to get around easily plus it has everything one would want in a Greek Island.

It's recommended to go during the week as weekends tend to get lots Greeks from the mainland but I guess that's not a bad thing!

Here's a great website for Aegina for those who want a more spiritual and alternative experience. Definitely check out the videos.

https://www.aeginagreece.com/aegina-island/

But you only have two days in Athens, no time for a day trip!

We actually have 2.5 days but I was only planning stuff for the full days! On the other full day we are doing a 6 hour tour to the big sites.

I’ve heard the ferries can be really chaotic and I’m trying to make this one day as logistics free as possible. Is that something I should consider? Somebody told me about a boat tour to a few of the local islands (both Hydra and Aegina as well as a 3rd), is that worth considering?

Thanks!

Thank you!!

STOp listening to "I've heard" -- has this authority visited greece 13 times; stayed in Athens 22+ times? Actually taken ferry to/from Aegina? Please listen to those that have. As I said in first post, you can go to agency by your hotel and pick exact ferry sailing, & buy ticket ahead. You can get metro from either Monastiraki or Syntagma station to Metro terminus... an escalator & pedestrian bridge takes you across the busy seafront street to the Gate side. OR have your hotel get a reiable taxi (for about €20+ in rush hour, less otherwise), which will take you right INSIDE the Gate-fence and almost up to the ferry ramp. You stroll up to entrance show ticket, are waved onward to deck. Sit down. Done!

Please do NOT take that 3-island tour! Everybody thinks they'll get MORE... instead they get far less.... most of the time will be spent gettting TO each island, with bare minimum spent ON each island... mainly walking up/down the port area, buying souvenirs, then you are asked to line up to board once more. In july such excursions will be packed, rows of deck benches, or seats inside w no view, they will try to entertain you with pop music for long stretches of sea, nothing to see. Do yourself a favor, read a a few review, then follow previous advice. -- Sorry to sound judgmental, but I really wanted to stop you from trying this & being disappointed.

Again, I will completely agree with Janet.

The three-island day cruise sounds great but as stated most of your time you'll be on a boat going from one island to the other.

Plus it's pricey.

Most of the people on this forum have been long time travelers to Greece and volunteer their time and try to give the best advice they can for first-time visitors to Greece.

It's up to people to either accept their solid advice or go by what "you heard" from who knows where.

Thank you all I truly appreciate it and am definitely looking at your guidance as my lead option!

I agree with everyone else re: the 3 island tour. I did it a few years ago and there was very little actual island time