Off to Greece to visit the Saronic Islands? Here’s our guide to getting to the island of Aegina from Athens by ferry!
Instead of going to Mykonos, Santorini or Paros, why not visit the island of Aegina from Athens by ferry? Situated in the center of the Saronic Gulf, the island of Aegina is a must-see for its heritage and ancient history (Greek archaeology and mythology). The island is famous for its traditional fishing villages, rural landscapes and ancient ruins. Aegina is home to the Temple of Aphaia, one of the three holiest temples in Greece, along with the Parthenon and Sounion.
Want to take a ferry from Athens to the island of Aegina? Here’s our advice on how to prepare for your trip.
Ferry companies linking Aegina to Athens
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Aerial-motion
To get to the island of Aegina from Athens by ferry, you can choose between several shipping companies. Departures are from the port of Piraeus, quay E8. Parking is available directly opposite the pier (cost: €25 for two days).
The main ferry companies
A total of five ferry companies provide access to ports on the island of Aegina. These are the following carriers:
- Aegan Flying Dolphins
- Blue Star Ferries by Hellenic Seaways
- Anes Lines
- Saronic Ferries
- Alko Ferries
The main ferry companies, however, are Aegan Flying Dolphins and Blue Star Ferries. These are the ones offering hydrofoil crossings, which are faster than ferries.
What type of boat do you travel on?
We’ve already answered part of the question: the main means of getting to the island of Aegina from Athens by ferry are hydrofoils and ferries.
- The ferry crossing takes between 1h and 1h15.
- The hydrofoil, on the other hand, is a pedestrian crossing only. The journey is faster, taking around 40min to 50min, but more expensive than by ferry.
⛴️ See ferries between Athens and Aegina Island
Plan a ferry trip to Aegina with Direct Ferries
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Leszek Glasner
Why choose Direct Ferries?
Direct Ferries is a worldwide shipping comparison service. The platform enables you to book over 3,000 ferry routes worldwide, mainly in Europe, America and Asia. If you’d like to travel by ferry from Athens to the island of Aegina, this is the tool to access the best fares according to your availability.
We recommend using Direct Ferries, mainly because the platform consolidates searches for crossings into a single comparator. This means you don’t have to search for the most competitive fares across all ferry operators. Just a few clicks and you’ll be able to see which company is offering the trip. Better still, you can compare fares in a single search. It’s that simple. After entering your desired dates and times, you specify whether you are traveling with or without a motorized vehicle, and with or without pets. The algorithm then searches for ferry deals to Aegina Island from Athens.
Secondly, the advantage of Direct Ferries is that you can be sure of a secure transaction on a French-language site. The official websites of companies operating in the Greek islands are sometimes written in Greek. So beware if you don’t know the Greek alphabet! What’s more, access to the comparator is free. You’ll benefit from a wide range of free crossings, in a very short time. Ultimately, it’s a flexible solution. So, if you’re flexible about your dates, you can choose less expensive trips for periods other than your initial dates.
Athens-Egine timetable
Schedules may vary depending on the day and the shipping company operating the crossing. Here are some examples of time slots:
- Anes Ferries: departure 8.20am – arrival 9.35am, departure 12.15pm – arrival 1.30pm
- Blue Star Ferries: departure at 7 a.m. – arrival in Aegina at 7.40 a.m., departure at 8.50 a.m. – arrival in Aegina at 9.30 a.m.
Journey times
- Anes Ferries: journey time 1h15.
- Blue Star Ferries: journey takes just 40min.
Fares from Athens to the island of Aegina
Fares logically vary according to the type of boat chosen (ferry or hydrofoil), the number of passengers and the number of animals. Boarding with or without a vehicle also has an impact on price.
Here are the ferry fares from Athens to the island of Aegina:
- Anes Ferries: departures start at €28 for two people.
- Blue Star Ferries: Blue Star ferries offer much higher fares: €55 for the crossing. This is an express journey, completed in 40 minutes, i.e. 35 minutes less than with Anes Ferries.
How do I book a ferry to Aegina from Athens?
Photo credit: Flickr / Manu
Booking your ferry to Aegina from Athens online couldn’t be easier.
- First, you choose your fare and your crossing offer.
- Next, the Direct Ferries platform requires civil status information for all passengers. Enter your telephone number and e-mail address. For an additional €1.99, you can opt to receive the departure conditions by SMS the day before departure.
- Finally, confirmation of your booking is sent by e-mail after online payment. You will need to present it at the port to obtain your boarding pass.
Enjoy your stay on the island of Aegina!
⛴️ See ferries between Athens and Aegina Island