Hydra, Poros and Aegina Day Cruise from Athens vs Hydra only

I am aware of the 3 island day cruise but have never taken it. It appears you'll spend more time on a boat than actual time on each island. I believe the cost is around 109 euros for a ticket.

A better and less expensive option is pick either Aegina or Hydra for a day trip. Much less expensive for a ticket and you'll spend more time on the island.

I've been to Hydra and it's lovely. I haven't been to Aegina but from all accounts has everyone one would want in a Greek Island and is larger than Hydra with lots more to do.

I highly recommend a day cruise to Aegina .... which will allow for beach time, a charming port town, and a stunning ruin in mid-island. Here is a Step-by-step video of just such a trip! https://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/

BTW, part of the fun is the 1-hour ferry voyage, --- you cansee all the vessels as you leave te harbor, huge cruise liners, ferries, freighters, speedboats, yachts .. and seaguils, even a dolphin? -- that's only when you take a CONVENTIONAl (open deck) ferry where you sit out on deck... the (more frequent) hydrofoils lock you inside, with salt-frosted windows, little view. The conventional ferries (marked CN on the schedules) go at 8:40 most mornings, back around 18:15 (6:15pm) You take a GREEN LINE Metro (bout 30 minutes from central athens) to Pireaus ... don't carry stuff in pockets, there is a pickpocket ring that works that line for newbies like you. Here's the ferry timetable: https://www.gtp.gr/RoutesForm.asp When u get to the port, there are ticket offices in every block lining the gates... OR you can buy a ticket beforehand in an office near your hotel.

I think it depends a lot on what you want to get out of the day trip. Do you want some beach time on one of the islands, time to take a tour of the island, or do you just want to get a little taste of some different islands? What others have said is true that you don't get to spend a lot of time on each of the islands. When we did it we were going to Hydra to spend 2 nights and instead of just going directly to Hydra we opted for the 3 island ferry to get a taste of Aegina and Poros on the way. I think we had a little over an hour (give or take) on each of Aegina and Poros. It was enough to explore the harbor area, maybe visit a church, wander around a little for photos and maybe a quick drink at a sidewalk cafe.

Unfortunately the scenic back of the boats are where the smokers are allowed to smoke so consider where you sit. Frustrating for non smokers

Re: smokers . . . yes it was non-stop smoking and made the time sitting on the open deck not really enjoyable even with the beautiful views.

I had to get up and walk around and eventually stayed below decks and looked out the window.

Thank you for all the responses. As some of you mentioned, the three stops in one day are too much, not leaving much time to see the islands. I think I will take a day trip to Aegina. After my initial posting, I found an excellent Aegina documentary on Amazon Prime Video. While on Aegina, I will attempt to visit the Monastery of Chrysoleontissa, the holy Panagia Chrysoleontissa rocks, the Monastery of Agios Nektarios and some of the surroundings villages.