Aegina: Discover Ancient History and Trails

On Aegina, archaeological remains from different periods meet marked trails on Mount Ellanio and the city’s daily market life. You can therefore choose different focuses for your trip: explore temples and museums, plan a hike, or get to know local produce and the fish market.

Temples, Collections and Harbour Remains

The Archaeological Collection of Aphaia displays finds from the sanctuary of the local goddess Aphaia. These include architectural elements from two temples: the older dates from 570–560 BC, and the newer from 500–490 BC. Plaster casts of figures from the pediments are also on display. The admission ticket to the collection also includes a visit to the archaeological site of Aphaia. This allows you to consider the museum finds and the site as part of your exploration of the sanctuary.

The Archaeological Museum of Kolona offers a different span of time. It was founded in 1829 by Ioannis Kapodistrias and was Greece’s first National Archaeological Museum. Its finds range from prehistoric times to Late Antiquity and come mostly from excavations on Kolona Hill. The admission ticket to this museum also includes a visit to the archaeological site of Kolona. The hill preserves evidence of a prehistoric settlement, a sanctuary from the historical period, the acropolis of the ancient city and a Byzantine settlement. The site is particularly well known for the Temple of Apollo, dating from the 6th century BC.

The harbour facilities also tell of different uses. In the bay at Avra Beach, the ancient harbour complex included a fortified naval harbour with ship sheds. By contrast, remains of the ancient commercial harbour have been preserved in today’s tourist harbour of Aegina. If you are interested in this history, you can also explore the Municipality of Aegina’s digital application, which presents the island’s ancient harbour facilities using modern digital media.

Hiking Trails on Mount Ellanio

At 532 metres, Mount Ellanio is the highest mountain on Aegina, and it has specially marked hiking trails. The listed routes vary in length and time required: the Mount Ellanio Circuit cultural trail is 8.8 kilometres long and takes approximately six hours. The Forest cultural trail is 5.2 kilometres long. The round trip is expected to take about four and a half hours on foot or one hour by bicycle. The Paliachora cultural trail is 1.2 kilometres long and takes approximately 40 minutes. These details can help you choose routes based on the time available and the distance you want to cover, while keeping the different options distinct.

The “Cultural Trails” programme connects nature, history and local production on Aegina. Its routes follow unpaved roads and stone-paved paths. The programme supports the protection of cultural heritage and highlights the island as a destination for exploration. On Mount Ellanio, the Church of the Taxiarchs dates from the 13th century—another historical point of interest for visitors interested in the island’s heritage.

Market Life and More Things to Experience

In the centre of Aegina town, busy daily markets offer fresh fish and local agricultural produce. The Monastery of Saint Nektarios attracts thousands of pilgrims from Greece and abroad throughout the year. Facilities and infrastructure for recreation and sports activities for people with mobility disabilities or reduced mobility have been installed at four municipal beaches—in Agia Marina, Vagia, A΄ Marathonas and Avra.

When choosing your holiday rental, you can first consider what you want your trip to focus on: archaeological sites and collections, trails on Mount Ellanio, market life in the town centre or other experiences on the island. Ferry services connect Piraeus with Aegina; the journey takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

More places to discover: Hydra, Selinia, Fratsia, Agia Pelagia, Avlemonas, Methana, Vathi, Poros.

Go to the main travel overview: Islands.