Aegina Island (Greece)

Aegina Island (Aigina/Egina) is in the Saronic Gulf and part of Greece's Saronic Islands group. The isle is approx 27 km / 17 mi to the southwest of Piraeus-Athens. The island has total population around 13,000, and its largest settlements are the towns Aegina (west), Kypseli (northwest), Vathy/Souvala (north), Mesagros (northeast), and Perdika (south).

As cruise port, Aegina is visited exclusively by smaller-sized ships and superyachts from the fleets of ultra-luxury travel company brands like Azamara, Silversea, Windstar, SeaDream.

Regularly scheduled ferries connect Piraeus with the island's principal port (Aegina) as well as Souvala (the island's second-largest port, on the northern coast). The ferry service (daily crossings the whole year round) includes between 40-70 min of sea travel (depending on vessels) and is perfect for day-trippers from Greece's capital city. The Piraeus-Aegina ferry route is currently operated by four companies - two with conventional/large-capacity Ro-Pax ships (Blue Star Ferries, and ANES Ferries) and two with smaller-sized highspeed boats (Saronic Ferries, and Aegean Flying Dolphins/hydrofoil ships).

The Athens-Aegina ferry route is operated by both direct crossings as well as with longer itineraries also visiting Methana (resort town on the Peloponnese peninsula/mainland Greece) and the islands Agistri and Poros. Saronic Ferries connect Piraeus with the island's both ports (Aegina Town and Souvala). Egina is also popular as a vacation destination visited via luxury boats and yachts.

By land area (~87 km2 / 34 mi2) Aegina is the largest in the Saronic Islands. Besides summer tourism, the island's economy is also based on agriculture (mainly the production of pistachios, as well as grain, cotton, vines, olives, figs, almonds) and sponge fishing.

Aegina Island's main tourist attractions are its beaches, but it is also popular as a cultural destination housing the Temple of Aphaea/Afea (dedicated to the goddess Aphaia who was worshipped only on this island and later associated with Athena/Athene), the Zeus Hellanios Temple (13th-century church, built over an ancient greek temple), and the Agios Nectarios Monastery (dedicated to Saint Nectarios of Aegina).