Aegina

Aegina is a great choice for those who want to explore Athens and its surrounding area, but who would prefer to stay somewhere quieter. The neighbouring Saronic Gulf islands of Hydra and Poros are fairly close by and can be visited on day trips.

Aegina Town offers hotel accommodation and the beach resort of Aghia Marina, on the other side of the island, offers hotel and self catering accommodation.

Aegina Town has an impressive harbour. Modern cafes blend easily with traditional tavernas, and many places sell pistachio nuts for which the island is famed (allegedly over 1 million trees on the island). Small boats bob gently in the harbour; close to the fish market family-run tavernas do a roaring trade with local people drawn in by the aroma of the freshly barbecued catch of the day.

Fish lovers should not miss a trip to Perdika, in the south of the island. Its pedestrianised waterfront is crammed with fish tavernas, some of whom have been in the family for generations. The village faces the small island of Moni, a conservation area, which can be reached in about 15 minutes by small boat from Perdika harbour. Many make this short journey to swim in its clear waters.

On the road to Aghia Marina you'll not fail to miss the Monastery of Agios Nektarios. The church here took years to complete and was finally inaugurated in 1994; it is said to be the largest church in Greece. About a kilometre from here is the ghost village of Paleochora. The village was built up the hillside in the 9th century to give protection against pirate raids, however it was all but destroyed in the 16th century and finally abandoned two hundred years later after Greek Independence. In its heyday there were 365 churches but only a handful now remain.

The most famous monument on the island is the Temple of Aphaia, which forms a perfect triangle with the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. This lies above Aghia Marina in a fragrant pine forest and many say that it is one of the most complete ancient buildings in Greece.

The resort of Aghia Marina is mainly geared towards tourism, however still on a relatively small scale compared to many Greek resorts. There is a main street with a good selection of restaurants, cafes and bars, a couple of supermarkets, a butchers and a bakery. There is also a decent selection of shops selling souvenirs and some lovely jewellery shops.

The beach lies just below the main street and is gently shelving so is ideal for children and less confident swimmers.