Aegina Island Transportation

The best thing about Aegina is that it’s easy and fast to reach from Piraeus(30min-1h). I remember having paid about 7 euros for a one way trip but I understand prices vary according to the company you use (Hellenic Seaways, Nova Ferries, ferry of Agios Nektarios). You could also use Aegina Flying Dolphins.
Check the sites of the companies before departing but usually, ferries head to Aegina every hour.

2 more images

The ferry from Athens to Aegina runs a on a daily basis and takes about an hour to reach Aegina. Its a reliable, clean, and affordable way to get to Aegina. There are enough ferries coming and going to easily make visiting Aegina a day trip. The ferry leaves from Piraeus which one can easily reach from anywhere in Athens by using the metro as it terminates at Piraeus. The fares range from 9.80 euro to 15.00 euro depending on the time and type of class you choose. The best way to check departure times, prices, and even reserve your seat is through this website:

http://www.greeka.com/saronic/aegina/island/aegina-ferries.htm

A Guided Bus Tour of the island includes a visit to the Temple of Aphaia and then a short visit to the Church of Saint Nectarios. The Temple of Aphaia is situated 13 km east by road from the main port. Bus Tour cost 20 euro with Russian speaking guide (sure English, French and German as well).

The Temple of Aphaia is considered the best preserved temple in Greece and one of the three temples forming the famous “Sacred Triangle” of Greek antiquity.
After that you can enjoy quiet moments contemplation and admiration of its beautiful Byzantine architecture in the Church of Saint Nectarios.

The road between the port and the temple passes through the mountainous interior of the island, dotted with the many pistachio plantations that yield Aegina's most important agricultural product.

The Temple of Aphaia can be also reached by local bus, leaving regularly from Aegina Town.

1 more image

There are several ferries to Aegina from Piraeus (10 times a day: an hour and a half in a way). There are ferries of Hellenic Seaways (used to be Saronic) and the ferry Agios. There are two Hydrofoil companies: Hellenic Seaways and Vasilopoulos (every hour: half of an hour in a way).

Prices of tickets vary depending on the ferry you take. They say that Agios Nektarios is the cheapest (single ticket 4 euro) and Hellenic Seaways is the most expensive (single ticket around 9 euro).
You can find the exact timetables at the ticket offices at the quay, the entrance door of the ferry also displays the time the ferry will leave.

Call: (+30) 210 4147800 for information concerning the ferries in Piraeus (automatic machine)
Call: (+30) 22970 22328 for information concerning the ferries in Aegina (automatic machine)

We got to Aegina by ship Giorgis after visiting Poros and Hydra Islands (one day cruise cost about 80 euro).

1 more image

Ferries leave quite regularly from Pireaus for Aegina - The journey takes about 1.15 hours.

I can't remember how much I paid, but I remember buying my ticket from one of the kiosks lined along the port front. I had about an hour to wait for the next ferry. As it was March, there weren't too many travellers, so only a few kiosks were open.
I'm sure that during the Summer months it's chaotic, with competition to sell tickets.

Drinks and snacks available on board, with seating inside and out.

There are cafes nearby, but for a solo female traveller, the clientele are quite intimidating. (I'm used to travelling by myself, but I was asked 3 times in that hour if I wanted to go to a hotel, 1 man blatantly asked if I wanted sex with him! - I'm glad I wasn't there at night!)

It's also a good idea to keep a close eye on your bags, especially if you've become used to the relaxed atmosphere of the islands and villages.

1 more image

Aegina is one of the easiest Greek islands to reach from Athens. Hydrofoils ply the waters between Piraeus and Aegina Town every hour throughout the day, with a crossing time of just 30 minutes. Ferries are almost as frequent, and cover the journey in 1 hour.

There are also frequent links with other islands in the Argosaronic Gulf (Poros, Spetses and Hydra) as well as ports on the Peloponnese mainland. Fast boats make the 9 minute crossing from Aegina to the tiny neighbouring island of Agistri.

The following information relates to my boat travel experiences in October 2005:

I arrived in Aegina Town on a hydrofoil ("Flying Dolphin X") directly from Piraeus. The journey time was just 30 minutes and the cost was 9.50 Euros. Alternatively, I could have caught a ferry (cost 5 Euros, journey time 1 hour). Hydrofoils leave Piraeus hourly during the day and ferries are only slightly less frequent.

I left Aegina on a ferry ("Artemis") to Poros (via the mainland port of Methana). The journey time was 1 hour and the cost was 5.50 Euros. I could have halved the journey time (and doubled the cost) by catching a Flying Dolphin instead. I purchased the ticket from one of the many kiosks close to the port.

Whilst in Aegina, I caught a boat (the "Agistri Express") to the tiny neighbouring island of Agistri. This is just a 9 minute journey and boats run frequently during the day. Tickets cost 2.50 Euros one way or 4.50 Euros return.

If you need a taxi to take you from Aegina ferry port to your acommodation, remember to take the address written in Greek cyrillic script aswell as in English. Some of the drivers cannot recognise written addresses in English.

Ferries from Piraeus are frequent. The trip takes about 90 minutes. Travel between nearby islands of Poros, Hydra and Spetses is also possible on a ferry.

The hydrofoil from Piraeus is the fastest way to get to Aegina, taking just over a half hour.