Aegina to Athens (Piraeus) ferry

Aegina Guide

Part of the Saronic group of Islands in Greece, the island of Aegina is located around 17 miles from Athens. It is triangular in shape and around two thirds of the island is formed out of an extinct volcano. The island is around 6 miles from north to south and 9 miles east to west and has a great deal of fertile land where visitors can see grain, cotton, vines, almonds, olives and figs growing.

Popular with tourists are the island's beaches which are only around 40 minutes from the port of Piraeus by Hydrofoil. For travelling around the island there is a bus service from Aegina Town to destinations around the island, including Agia Marina and the fishing village of Portes on the east coast. Also of interest to visitors are the Temple of Aphaea, dedicated to its namesake who was a goddess later associated with Athena. The temple was part of a triangle of temples including the temple of Poseidon at Sounion and the Athenian Parthenon. Also on the island is the Monastery of Agios Nectarios which was dedicated to Saint Nectarios, a recent saint of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Athens (Piraeus) Guide

The Greek city and port of Piraeus is one of the largest ports in the whole of the Mediterranean, and the third largest in the world, and has become a major hub for the ferry network that spans the Aegean Sea. Piraeus is an important city in its own right despite the fact that it is frequently considered to be a suburb of Athens, the Greek capital, which is only a very short distance away. Despite its proximity to Athens, Piraeus' waterfront has its own distinct appearance and visitors will see that the most appealing parts of the city are located around its eastern quarter, alongside both Mikrolimano Harbour and Zea Marina. A popular event in Piraeus is the Ecocinema International Film Festival which is held annually in late February and is where a number of films are screened at the Atticon Cinema and the Cineac Cinema, which are both located in the city's Town Hall Square.

Full of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, the waterfront district was greatly redeveloped in time for the Athens Olympics and as a result a new harbour front promenade was created that is lined with trees and passes the medieval city walls. The walls serve as a reminder and as an insight into the city's rich past.