• Get a quick look at the Corinth Canal - Idyllic sea view!
• The ancient Theater of Epidaurus
• The Venetian Fortress of Palamidi
• The quaint town on Nafplion.

We’ll take you to all the best spots on Aegina Island, starting with the Monastery of St. Nektarios, Greece’s first modern saint of the 20th century, and we’ll continue with the visit of the Doric Temple of Athena Aphaia which stands on an elevation of 160 m peak on the eastern side of the island. After leaving the archaeological site we will get back to Aegina’s old town where you will have free time to stroll around, or if you’re feeling romantic you could take a ride in one of the traditional horse-drawn carriage and be transported instantly back to the 19th century. But before you set off, don’t forget to buy one of those pistachio bags that Aegina is famed off.

Next, we drive to the picturesque little fishing port of Perdika. Whitewashed houses, flower-lined steps, fish taverns, compose scenery just like those you’ve seen in postcards. From there you can do an island hoping to the small islet of Moni, to enjoy its emerald waters and observe the small population of Deer that live on this islet. Locate them and take their pictures in their natural habitat. This iconic last destination is the perfect way to end a fantastic day. Later in the afternoon, we are going to head back to the town of Aegina to catch the ferry that will get us back to the noisy and bustling capital Athens.

Prices include

• Hotel /apartment pickup and drop-off (for downtown Athens)
• Transport by A/C, smoke-free luxury vehicle to Piraeus port
• An English-speaking driver

• Ferry-boat tickets
• Car fuel

• Car parking
• All taxes and VAT

Not included

• Gratuities (optional)
• Licensed expert guide (can be arranged)
• Hotel/apartment pick-up / drop off, around Athens area city center (can be arranged)
• All meals and drinks
• Tickets for the archaeological sites
• Anything not mentioned above

Duration

11 hours

Activity Level

Easy-Moderate

Group type             

Private or Small related member Groups

Notes      

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Please note: We do not carry infants under 2 years old on this tour.
• For safety reasons, this tour is conducted only under excellent weather conditions
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Most travelers can participate

Post Covid 19 Policy:

Vehicles will be sanitized before every pick up. Hand sanitizing done before departure and after every major stop. There can be maximum 6 clients in an 8 seater minivan to secure social distance among participants (for shared small group tours only). Face masks available for clients. Guides will wear face masks. Fresh trash bag will be place in every vehicle and waste will be destroyed at the end of the tours.

The above Covid-19 Protocols are subject to change according to the Greek State guidelines and the course of the pandemic.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Departure details

Traveler pickup is offered.

Pick up and drop off is included from all centrally located Athens hotels and apartments. Just inform us during the booking of the hotel you are staying at, or apartment address. If the hotel /apartment is not accessible (e.g narrowness, pedestrian area) we will appoint a nearby meeting point for picking you up. You will receive an email or text msg from us with the exact pick up time the day before the start of the tour.

Return details

Returns to original departure point

Languages

English

What is the spoken language?

The spoken language is English. More languages are available upon request subjected to availability.

What should I bring with me?

Since your visit includes a fair bit of walking, it is recommended that you

• Wear light hiking shoes or comfortable, rubber sole shoes
• During the summer months, bring along with you a hat, sun glasses, sunscreen and wear light-colored clothing
• Waterproof jacket/membrane (for the rainy days)
• Your own personal water bottle. As part of our environmental policy and actions, we are committed to eliminating the use of plastic water bottles.
• Prepare yourself for an exciting experience & bring along your camera so you can capture the best moments of the activity and take some impressive panoramic photos of Nafplio from atop the Palamidi fortress.

Can you pick us up from our hotel?

We offer a pick-up, free of charge, for hotels or apartments that are located in downtown Athens.

For hotels or apartments outside Athens center we offer pick-ups at additional cost with a 10% discount.

Please send us an inquiry!

Is it difficult for older people to follow the group?

Not at all! The tour is private and totally customized to your needs. Should you chose so, you will be assigned an excellent, flexible guide and the walk will follow a moderate pace, in order to be a pleasant experience for everyone. We will also make several stops to admire and discuss the fascinating monuments and sites along our way.

What are the acceptable payment methods?

Via Athens Quality Tours and Transfers accepts the following payment methods:

1. Bank to Bank Wire / Transfer to a bank account
2. Payment via PayPal

for all services booked through the website of viaathenstours.gr,  please read our Terms of Service, under the Modes of Payment section for detail information.

What happens in case of bad weather?

Fortunately, the weather in Greece is mild and warm during the most time of the year. However, for safety reasons, this tour is conducted only under excellent weather conditions and you will be timely notified about any changes in your scheduled experience.

Aphaia (Greek Ἀφαία) was a Greek goddess who was worshipped exclusively at this sanctuary.

The temple of Aphaia is actually the last temple in Doric order of the archaic times. It has been known since ancient times for its pediments, which adorned both narrow sides of the temple. The sculptures of the pediments were colorful and were made of Parian marble, with themes taken from the Trojan War in which local warriors and descendants of the king of the island Aeacus (Ajax the Telamon, Teukros,) participated.

When visiting the Aphaia temple, on a day with a clear atmosphere, you can see the Acropolis of Athens and the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion to the south. The three temples were built in such a way, so that they could form a triangle thus providing visual contact in case of an emergency or enemy attack.

During the Archaic period (734 - 459 BC) the people of Aegina were the first to mint silver coins in Greece, a few decades after the invention of the coin by the Lydians in Asia Minor.

The naval preeminence of Aegina and the consolidation of the oligarchic party in power was an obstacle to the pursuit of Athens, resulting in tension in the relationship between them, already by the end of the 6th century BC.

Today, Aegina is the leading producer of pistachio nuts in Greece.

The pistachio of Aegina is a product with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

In 1827, Aegina was officially designated as the -provisional- first capital of the newly formed Greek state, a status that was maintained until 1829, with the transfer of the capital to Nafplion in Peloponnese.