16 Best Sights in The Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

One of the great glories of ancient Greek art, the Temple of Aphaia is among the best-preserved examples of Classical Doric architecture. Once adorned with exquisite pedimental sculptures of Trojan-war scenes—the originals are now in Munich’s Glyptothek—the temple still proudly bears 25 of its original 32 columns, either standing or carefully re-erected. Perched on a pine-clad promontory, it commands superb views across the Saronic Gulf: with binoculars you can pick out both the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion.

Legend has it that the Temple of Aphaia, the Parthenon in Athens, and Poseidon’s temple at Sounion mark the points of an almost perfect equilateral triangle—“Antiquity’s Sacred Triangle.” The site has held sanctuaries to Aphaia for centuries; the ruins you see today date from about 500–490 BC. Aphaia was probably a pre-Hellenic fertility goddess whose cult later merged with that of Athena.

A small on-site museum (no extra fee) displays plaster casts of the pediments, color fragments from the interior, and a 560 BC votive tablet recording the dedication to Aphaia. From Aegina Town, catch the KTEL bus for Agia Marina at Ethnegersias Square (the main station); buses run roughly hourly between 7 am and 6:30 pm in summer—ask the driver to stop at the temple. A gift-and-snack bar opposite is a handy spot for a drink while you wait for the return bus to town or the onward bus to Agia Marina’s beach.

Housed in an impressive mansion, this collection of historical artifacts and paintings has exhibits that date back to the 18th century. Heirlooms from the Balkan wars as well as from World War I and II are exhibited in the lobby. A small upstairs room contains figureheads from ships that fought in the 1821 War of Independence. There are old pistols and navigation aids, as well as portraits of the island's heroes and a section devoted to traditional local costume, including the dark karamani pantaloons worn by Hydriot men. Temporary art exhibits are also showcased from time to time.

In summer, caïques make frequent 10-minute trips from the fishing port of Perdika to the little island of Moni, a real heaven on earth inhabited only by peacocks, wild deer, relocated kri-kri (Cretan goats), and some remains of a 1960s campground. Shadowed by pine trees, hiking trails wind their way through the island's pristine landscape. Once the property of the Monastery of Chrysoleontissa, it is now a nature preserve. After your hike, take a most refreshing swim off the little sandy beach in the marvelously clear green waters by the quay. Note that the boatmen come back every hour, allowing you to leave whenever you wish (the round-trip ticket costs €10). A small beach bar operates in summer, offering cool drinks and toasted sandwiches, but if you plan to spend the day here, you would be better off bringing a full picnic lunch. In crowded peak season, Moni is a lovely way to escape the madding crowds. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: swimming; walking.

Set inside a handsome 1828 Neoclassical town house, bequeathed to the municipality by the Iriotis family, the museum re-creates island life in three vividly staged rooms. Upstairs you’ll find a parlor decked with period furniture, naïf paintings, lace curtaining, and wedding costumes that once graced local homes. Downstairs, a Fisherman’s Room features wooden floats, nets, and sponge-diving knives, while a Village Room displays hand-forged farm tools and an olive press from the interior hamlets. A small ground-floor gallery hosts temporary exhibitions.

Just beyond Marathonas, this mostly sandy bay with crystalline green water is fringed by eucalyptus and pine trees. Shallow depths suit young swimmers; the beach bar rents loungers, runs a volleyball court and hosts low-key DJ sets on summer weekends. KTEL buses to Perdika stop about 200 meters (656 feet) above the beach. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming.

The best sandy beach on the island, Agia Marina is popular with the parenting set, as the shallow water is ideal for playing children. A rockier stretch just north of the pier offers good diving and snorkeling. Tavernas and cafés line the bay, and the Apollo Resort Hotel is a short walk away. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

A semisecluded sandy beach, Klima (aka Keithi), which is just south of Perdika, has a finely pebbled bay of crystal clear waters that rarely kick up any waves. To reach it, turn left at the intersection toward Sfentouri before entering Perdika, and then go right at the crossroads and continue until you reach Klima. It is also a popular destination for yachts. There's a beach bar that rents sun beds and umbrellas during the summer months. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Aegina Town's beaches, notably the pine-surrounded Kolona, are pleasant enough with their shallow waters—and crowds—for a refreshing dip after a hot day. This largely undeveloped beach is within easy walking distance to a few tavernas and the archaeological site of Kolona, a wonderful backdrop for some great pictures (Hotel Rastoni is also not too far away); you can find some precious shade in the adjacent pine forest. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: swimming.

Impressed by the architecture they saw abroad, shipowners incorporated many of the foreign influences into their archontika, old, gray-stone mansions facing the harbor. The forbidding, fortresslike exteriors are deliberately austere, the combined result of the steeply angled terrain and the need for buildings to blend into the gray landscape. One of the finest examples of this Hydriot architecture is the Lazaros Koundouriotis Mansion, built in 1780 and beautifully restored in the 1990s as a branch of Greece's National Historical Museum. The interior is lavish, with hand-painted ceiling borders, gilt moldings, marquetry, and floors of black-and-white marble tiles. Some rooms have pieces that belonged to the Koundouriotis family, who played an important role in the War of Independence; other rooms have exhibits of costumes, jewelry, wood carvings, and pottery from the National Museum of Folk History. The basement level has three rooms full of paintings by Periklis Vyzantinos and his son, friends of the Koundouriotis family. Temporary exhibitions regularly rotate, showcasing Greek folk history and culture; check ahead for current displays.

One of Hydra’s only sandy stretches, Mandraki sits about 1½ km (¾ mile) east of Hydra Town—an easy 20-minute coastal walk—or you can zip over in a three-minute water taxi from the main port. The Mandraki Beach Resort rents sun beds and umbrellas (€30–€40 per set, depending on row). Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

Sandy Marathonas A beach offers excellent swimming on the island's west side. Beyond the village, Marathonas B provides another beautiful stretch. Both beaches feature rental sun beds and umbrellas but get crowded in summer—arrive early for prime spots. The western location delivers spectacular sunset views, making staying till evening particularly magical. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: sunset; swimming.

Kamini’s small gray-pebble beach, known as Mikro Kamini, lies about 300 meters (1,000 feet) west of the sleepy fishing port, right in front of Castello Bar & Restaurant, which rents sun beds and umbrellas. Kodylenia’s and other tavernas cluster nearby, perfect for watching boats and yachts slide in. The water is calm and shallow, so the beach suits families with young children. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); rentals. Best for: swimming; walking.

The sandy and pebbled beach of Souvala is one the nicest on the island and was once famed for hot and cold sulfur springs, a trickle of which still reaches the sea near Loutra. Close to the village it offers umbrellas, sun beds, and a pair of new beach bars. Elsewhere along the coastline you can sunbathe and swim off the rocks. Stand-up paddleboarding is available near the hotel Irides. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; water sports. Best for: swimming.

This is a sandy beach next to a picturesque harbor. The café/bar Aerides next to the beach rents sun beds and umbrellas, and serves coffee, drinks, and bites all day long. A few pine trees provide much-needed shade, and there's easy parking nearby. The taverna is also open during winter weekends, with lunch and dinner served by a fireplace. Look for an even quieter stretch of beach at the right side of the harbor. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

This scenic little gray-pebble beach west of Kamini is a good dive destination (ask at Enalion taverna) as well as a nice swimming spot for families due to its shallow waters. Sun beds and umbrellas can be rented from the beachfront tavernas. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; walking.

This is, in fact, two beaches split by a verdurous little peninsula. On the right, the larger beach offers a day of relaxation away from the cosmopolitan crowds, with few amenities other than the beautiful water. You can rent sun beds and umbrellas from the local taverna (June–September). On a clear day you can see all the way to Nafplion. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; swimming.