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Are you wondering how to go from Athens to Santorini? If you want to combine your vacation in Athens with a few days on the renowned volcanic island or you come by aeroplane to Athens and then you travel directly to Santorini, there are several options. 

>>>> Best way to get from Athens to Santorini <<<<

Aegina is a lovely Saronic island, ideal for a weekend away from Athens. Fresh air, crystal clear sea, nice beaches and the atmosphere of an island are the essentials to forget everything and travel back in time, where everything is relaxing and charming. These are some of the reasons you should visit Aegina and guarantee you wonderful vacations.

In a close distance to Athens

Aegina is one of the islands close to Athens that are ideal for a day trip or a couple of days from Athens. Located only 45 minutes by ferry and 1,5 hour by boat from Athens, Aegina is a heaven on earth, an authentic island that is typically an Athens island, a part of a large city, which however can offer to its visitors everything that an island of the Aegean Sea has to offer.

Ancient temple of Aphaea

The ancient temple of Aphaea is built in a stunning location on the top of a hill, inside a forest of pine trees, having a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea. The well-preserved temple of Aphaea is located within a sanctuary complex dedicated to the goddess Aphaea. This great Doric temple was built in the sixth century B.C. over the remains of an earlier temple. It is one of the best-preserved temples in Greece, and you will be impressed by the beauty of the landscape and the history of the place. The temple of Aphaea is located in the same distance from Acropolis and the temple of Poseidon in Sounio, creating thus an equilateral triangle.

Monastery of Saint Nektarios

Visit the monastery, where Saint Nektarios lived and died in the 20th century. Saint Nektarios is the patron saint of Aegina, and was a priest, who was sanctified only 50 years ago, being one of the Greek saints of the modern time. Near the monastery, there is a wide area on the mountain with the name Pachiorachi with numerous small, stone-built Byzantine churches from the 12th century. If the weather is not hot, you can hike on the mountain and explore the hidden churches everywhere.

Cycladic beaches

The best beaches of Aegina are situated in the southern side of the island. Near the lovely fishing village Perdika, you can find 2 beaches (Klima and Kleidi) with soft sand and turquoise waters that will remind you of Cyclades, while in the district of Agia Marina, there is also a long beach with shallow waters, which is family-friendly.

Traditional port

The first picture of Aegina is its town, a lovely harbour with neoclassical buildings, cafés and taverns by the sea. The best time to enjoy Aegina Town is on evenings, when the sunset colours the harbour with pink and orange hues, and the small white church at the edge of the jetty is in perfect contrast to the whole scenery. Have a stroll in front of the town, by the sea, and then, you can drink coffee or a cocktail in one of the numerous cafés and bars or eat in a traditional seafood tavern, overlooking the Saronic Gulf.

Pistachio Festival

Don't miss out, if you visit Aegina in September, the Fistiki (=pistachio) Fest, a major festive event, which wants to promote the cultivation of this unique product on Aegina. The pistachio of Aegina entered the list of products with Protected Designation of Origin thanks to its fame with the name of the island and its unique flavour that is different from other places. The Fistiki Fest is the largest commercial and economic event in the area with more than 20,000 visitors. The visitors will find there sweet and salty gastronomic delicacies from pistachio as well as creations of pottery, jewellery, craft and arts in green and fuchsia colours, the colours of the pistachio.

Meteora, "Stairway to Heaven"

If someone hasn't visited Meteora it is hard to understand their beauty. It is a heavenly, unique landscape, the visitor doesn't only admire it but he can also "feel" it, it is a mysterious geological phenomenon.

According to the dominant theories of geologists, the huge stones of Meteora were created from river and limestone rocks which had been amassed for millions of years, to form an undivided cone into the sea, which used to cover the space which is occupied today by Thessaly.

The wild and unapproachable scenery of Meteora, became the "shelter" for Christian monks who settled here around 1100 A.C. The monastic life in Meteora decayed after the decline of the Byzantine empire and the Ottoman occupation of Thessaly in 1393. However, in the end of the 15th century and especially in the 16th century Meteora met their golden era since new monasteries were establishedδ, with Catholics and monastic buildings decorated with marvellous hagiography, an art of high aesthetics. The "monastic town" reached its peak around the 17th century but in the 18th cent. Began its downfall.

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Today, from the 24 monasteries, only 6 still operate. In 1988 they were included in the list of UNESCO monuments of world heritage.

Kalambaka is the city, lying under the shadow of the rocks. Here someone will find many hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. In the old, well-preserved town of Kalabaka you can visit the only wood carving school of Greece. Also above Kalabaka, is a picturesque village, Kastraki, with beautiful houses, mansions and narrow alleys. It is nice to have a walk there and admire Meteora.

Last but not least Meteora is an ideal destination for climbing lovers of course due to their huge stones.

Meteora is 360 km far from Athens and 230 km from Thessaloniki. The fastest route is Domokos-Karditsa -Trikala