After arriving in Aegina at 15:20, collect your bags and meet a pre-booked taxi—this is the easiest way to fit the island’s inland sights into the afternoon. Ask the driver to take you first to the Temple of Aphaia, roughly 25–30 minutes from the port and about 10 minutes from Vagia Traditional. Allow 15:45–17:00 for the hilltop sanctuary: the Doric temple is beautifully preserved, and the views across the Saronic Gulf are especially good in the late light. Entry is typically around €10, though seasonal hours and prices can change; bring water, as there is little shade. Continue by taxi to the Monastery of Agios Nektarios, another 25–30 minutes away, arriving around 17:30. Dress modestly—shoulders and knees covered—and keep voices low inside the church and courtyards. The complex is generally open into the early evening, but confirm locally if arriving near closing time.
Have the taxi drop you near Aegina Town around 18:45, then explore the Kolona Archaeological Site beside the waterfront until about 19:30. The surviving column is easy to see on foot, and the sea-facing ruins make a lovely first glimpse of the town; entry is usually a few euros, with opening hours sometimes shortened outside peak season. Afterwards, wander along the harbor for a relaxed Aegina pistachio tasting. Look for local pistachios, brittle, spoon sweets, and pistachio gelato in the small waterfront shops—buy a packet for tomorrow’s ferry, but sample before choosing since quality and prices vary. For dinner, settle at a busy Aegina Town waterfront taverna around 20:15; order grilled fish or prawns to share, plus Greek salad, fava, and octopus, budgeting €20–35 each with drinks. Arrange your return taxi to Vagia Traditional in advance for about 22:00–22:30—the drive takes roughly 15–20 minutes, and late-night taxis can be limited in the quieter east-coast villages.
Once you arrive in Poros, collect your luggage and take a short taxi ride or pre-arranged hotel transfer to Kalimera Hotel—walking with bags is possible but unnecessarily steep in places. Drop your things, then head straight down to the waterfront. Wander the harbor promenade around Poros Town, where fishing boats, water taxis, neoclassical houses, and little swimming ladders make the shoreline especially pleasant in the early afternoon. Climb the narrow lanes toward the Poros Clock Tower for the classic view across the channel toward Galatas; allow about 20 minutes uphill, and wear proper shoes rather than sandals. Keep some cash handy for taxis and small cafés.
For lunch, choose a shaded harbor table at Taverna Gia Mas or Apagio Taverna, both convenient for seafood, Greek salad, grilled vegetables, or souvlaki; expect roughly €15–25 per person, depending on fish and drinks. Afterward, pre-book a taxi for the drive to the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, around 15–20 minutes east of town. The monastery is generally open in the afternoon, though hours can vary, so dress modestly—shoulders and knees covered—and bring water for the warm uphill approach. Continue by taxi to the Russian Naval Base, where the quiet coastal ruins and views over the water make a brief, atmospheric stop; there is little shade, so 30 minutes is plenty.
Arrange for the same taxi to take you across toward the Lemon Forest on the mainland-facing side, or confirm a return pickup before leaving the Russian Naval Base—taxis are not reliably waiting at either site. Follow the simple paths through the citrus groves for an easy walk of about an hour, pausing at the viewpoints toward Poros and Galatas as the light softens. In September, sunset is around 19:30, but bring mosquito repellent and comfortable shoes; the paths can be uneven and the area is quiet after dusk. Return to Poros Town for dinner near the hotel, perhaps with a final waterfront drink at Poseidon Taverna or Karavolos, and keep the evening relaxed after the ferry and inland excursion.
After arriving at Aegina Town at 16:30, keep your luggage at a harbor luggage facility or a nearby café that offers storage, then walk along the waterfront to Kolona Archaeological Site. The entrance area is only a few minutes from the port, and you’ll see the single standing column of the ancient Temple of Apollo, plus the small archaeological museum grounds. Allow about 45 minutes; admission is usually inexpensive, around €4–€6, though September opening hours can change, so check the official schedule before traveling. This is a lovely first stop because the late-afternoon light makes the ruins and sea especially photogenic.
From Kolona, take a pre-booked taxi to Agia Marina, roughly 20–25 minutes depending on traffic. Go straight to Agia Marina Beach, where you can swim, rent a sunbed if operators are still open, or simply spread out on the sand. The beach is much quieter in September than in midsummer, but bring towels and a light cover-up because facilities may begin closing before sunset. A taxi should wait for you or return at an arranged time—do not rely on finding one immediately after your swim.
Continue by taxi from Agia Marina to Perdika, allowing roughly 25–30 minutes. Take a relaxed walk around the small fishing harbor and the waterfront lanes before settling into one of the traditional tavernas along the quay, such as Miltos or Nontas, for grilled fish, calamari, Greek salad, and meze. Plan on about €25–40 per person, more if you order a whole fish or bottled wine. Leave Perdika by 19:30–19:45 at the latest for the taxi ride back to Aegina Town; you’ll want to be at the ferry terminal by about 20:10 for the scheduled 20:30 sailing to Piraeus. Keep your tickets and identification handy, and confirm the evening ferry’s berth on the port display before boarding.
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