Aegina is one of the
Greek Saronic Gulf islands located just 30 kilometres
south west of the
mainland port of
Piraeus. Its proximity to
mainland Greece means this is one of the most visited of all the
Greek islands - popular with
day-trippers, Athenian weekenders and longer-stay package holidaymakers from
northern
Europe.
Aegina town, on the west coast, has some grand old buildings,
an attractive working harbour and a very "Greek" feel to it. In fact so many
Athenians now live here and commute to the capital each day that the place has
almost become a suburb of
Athens. The east coast resort of Agia Marina is
packed with modern hotels, burnt Brits, fish and chip joints and burger bars.
Package holidaymakers are arriving here in increasing numbers and make Agia
Marina the sole base of their two-week sea, sun and sand holiday. Independent
travellers spend a day or two on Aegina as part of an island-hopping tour
while the Greeks arrive in droves at the weekends to escape the traffic
congestion, pollution and searing summer heat of
Athens. During the summer months there are at least 10 ferries a day to
Aegina island from
Piraeus.
The trip takes an hour and a half but you can cut your journey
time to 35 minutes with a Flying Dolphin which will only cost you about 10%
more. Ferries and Flying Dolphins also go directly to Agia Marina as well as
Souvlava in the north of Aegina island (a popular weekend retreat for Greeks but
generally ignored by foreigners).
