Where to Stay in Aegina: The Best Areas and Hotels
We have to be honest, Aegina is not as gorgeous as Santorini, Sifnos or Serifos. However, the island has lovely beaches, delicious food, archaeological remains, monasteries, superb architecture, and an authentic vibe.
Since the island is close to Athens, it’s very popular amongst us locals. Athenians have their houses there. For those of us who don’t have a house, there are fantastic hotels all around Aegina.
Aegina is quite diverse and caters to all tastes and fancies. The following is our list of the best places on the island. We are sure you will find the right spot for you.
Aegina Town
Aegina Town is the island’s capital. It’s famous around Greece for cute neoclassical buildings and vibe. The town is full of great coffee houses, restaurants, and bars. Everything happens here!
If you are in Aegina, you have to eat seafood at the agora, market. It’s next to the port, everything is fresh, and the atmosphere is unique. From the market, it’s a short walk to Markellos Tower, a crumbling early 17th Century Venetian Tower.
The Temple of Apollo and the Archaeological Museum are to the north. Our favorite beach is just north of the remains. Kolona has blue waters, sand, trees and epic views over the temple.
We Recommend These Hotels in Aegina Town:
Hotel Aegina
Hotel Aegina is a traditional Greek property 2 minutes from the port. You can walk everywhere in no time. The rooms are super comfy and have balconies with views.
Nikolaou Art Residence
Nikolaou Art Residence is fancier. The property is a 20-minute walk north of the center. It faces the beach, has a garden, and a sun terrace. The rooms are huge and elegant. There’s onsite parking.
Agia Marina
Agia Marina is another great place to stay. The nicest urban beach on the island is here. Agia Marina beach is a sandy beach with calm blue waters perfect for swimming.
The town itself is quiet and relaxed. No big buildings and hardly any cars. We liked it because we were able to walk to the Temple of Aphaia in 20 minutes! The temple is in great condition and offers epic views that go all the way to Athens.
The Saint Minas Holy Convent is even closer to Agia Marina. It’s a real monastery full of art. The onsite shop sells soap, jams, and cheese made by the nuns!
We Recommend These Hotels in Agia Marina:
Golden Star Praxitelous
We had a great time at the Golden Star. The hotel is on a slope 2 minutes from the beach. The best rooms have jaw dropping sea views. The complimentary breakfast is homemade and delicious!
Apollo Resort
If you have the money to splurge, do so at the Apollo Resort. The resort has a pool with memorable views. The rooms are big and extra comfy. Onsite parking and superb complimentary breakfast.
Perdika
Stay in Perdika if you like beautiful isolated beaches. Marathonas A and Marathonas B are two of the most famous beaches in Aegina. There are a couple of bars, and umbrellas are not pricey.
Perdika itself is not that interesting. It’s a peninsula with rocks and cliffs and Moni Island in front. Though the views are cool, the beaches are small and a bit rocky.
There are deer and peacocks in Moni Island, a short boat ride from Perdika. The beach is stunning with a tiny bar and not much more. We took our own food and water. Loved it!
We Recommend These Hotels in Perdika:
LaLiBay Resort & Spa
LaLiBay Resort is worth every penny. The 5-star property has it all: a private beach, 2 pools, a bar, a restaurant, a hot tub, and luxurious rooms.
Angelina Boutique Escape
The Angelina Boutique Escape is great value for money. The hotel is in Perdika and features a pool and lots of character. They offer suites with hot tubs, and villas perfect for families.
Vathi (Souvala and Therma)
To be fully honest: Vathi disappointed us a bit. The area is famous for its mineral waters. However, the baches are tiny and rocky. Athenians have their houses in Vathi, so you get to experience real Greek culture.
Palaeochora is less than 2 miles (3 km) from Vathi. Note that the information on Google Maps is wrong. Palaeochora is an abandoned medieval town. It’s a great place to trek around old churches.
The massive Church of Saint Nectarios is south of Palaeochora. It’s a very popular temple with the relics of a venerated saint. We loved watching people pray.
We Recommend These Hotels in Vathi:
Hotel Mistral
We like the Hotel Mistral because it has a pool. The property sits on a cliff overlooking the sea. You can walk everywhere. The rooms are simple but come with a balcony. Onsite parking!
Cruise on Land
Cruise on Land is a beautiful 2-bedroom 2-baths house perfect for friends and family. Since it faces the beach, the views from the terrace are breathtaking. It has everything you need.
How Long to Stay in Aegina
Evidently, stay as long as you want! Aegina is lovely island and has a lot to offer so you can spend weeks without getting bored.
That said, we all have time constraints. Besides, there tones of incredible places in Greece waiting to be discovered. Therefore, we believe you should spend at least 2 nights. You will have enough time to see it all.
If you have only the 1 day off from Athens, go to Aegina on a day trip. You will have to rush a bit, but you will get to explore a traditional Greek island. You can also combine it with Poros.
