Only one free day? · Day trip from Athens
Aegina or Hydra?
| Field | Aegina | Hydra |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 40 min by hydrofoil; 1 h 10 on the € 12 car ferry | 1 h 10 fastest boat; others take up to 1 h 30 |
| Transport | Ferry | High-speed ferry |
| Self-guided | € 34 | € 70–84 |
| Tour | € 135 | € 99 |
| Time needed | 5–7 h | 5–8 h |
| Closed | None | None |
| Best time | May-Oct; temple opens 10:00-17:30 Nov-Mar | May-Jun, Sep; far fewer sailings Oct-May |
| Verdict | Worth a full day | Worth a full day |
Our verdict
Aegina for the price, Hydra for the walk.
For a first island day, pick Aegina. The car ferry takes 1 h 10 and costs € 12 each way, against 1 h 10 to 1 h 30 and € 35-42 for Hydra, so the day comes to € 34 with the Temple of Aphaia included instead of € 70-84 for the boat alone. Aegina also keeps daily sailings all year, from 06:00 to 20:45 out of Piraeus. Choose Hydra if you want a harbour with no cars and a coast path to walk, and you have booked both legs ahead.
Last checked: · Bus times from KTEL Fokidas, KTEL Argolida and KTEL Korinthias; opening days and ticket prices from Hellenic Heritage (hh.gr), the Greek culture ministry's ticket service.