SeaTV · Saronic Gulf & Eastern Peloponnese · Aegina
Aegina Port (Egina) — Sailing & Mooring Guide
Working Greek port and the gateway to one of the Saronic’s most-loved islands — Temple of Aphaia, pistachios, ferry traffic. Get the timing right or expect to anchor outside.
Aegina Port sits on the north-west side of Aegina Island — the main town, the working ferry quay, and the central berth for visiting yachts. It’s a busy port: Aegina is one of the most-loved Saronic islands and its proximity to Athens makes it a daily-tourist destination as well as a charter stop. The waterfront mixes neoclassical architecture, the pistachio shops Aegina is famous for, and a steady rhythm of ferry arrivals.
For sailors, this is a stop with strict size limits (max draft 2.4 m, max LOA 40 m), a reef on approach, and the kind of timing pressure familiar from Hydra: arrive early or anchor outside. The port itself works well in calm weather; the anchorage south of the harbour offers excellent holding but takes ferry wash through the day.
⚠ Reality check — three things to know:
→ A reef stretches in front of the entrance from NW to SE — red buoy marks the SE end
→ Approach depth 5–6 m — shallow by Saronic standards
→ Visiting yachts NOT permitted at Aigina Marina — go to the town quay
→ Expect no slot if you arrive mid-afternoon
⚓ Quick Facts for Sailors
Coordinates
37°44’38.7″N · 23°25’38.8″E
Position
NW side of Aegina Island
Max Draft
2.4 m
Max LOA
40 m
Approach Depth
5–6 m · shallow
Aigina Marina
Not for visiting yachts
Approach & Navigation
Visual landmark
The town of Aegina stands out clearly as you approach from any direction. The neoclassical waterfront, the curve of the bay, and the working ferry quay are all visible from a long way off.
The reef in the entrance
A reef stretches in front of the entrance to the port from NW to SE, with a red buoy at the SE end. Plot it carefully on the chartplotter, identify the buoy on approach, and don’t try to cut a corner.
Shallow approach
The approach is 5–6 m deep — shallow by Saronic standards. Combined with the 2.4 m max draft of the harbour itself, this means deeper-keel yachts need to confirm clearance before committing.
⚓ Mooring Options
Town Quay · Stern-To · Busy
Stern-to the Town Quay
The main option for visiting yachts. Mediterranean-style stern-to along the town quay, direct access to the waterfront, restaurants, shops, the famous pistachio stalls.
Bottom: Sand, rocks, and weed — confirm anchor is holding before settling in.
Best for: Town access, evening at the waterfront, day-trip to the Temple of Aphaia.
⚠ Watch: Very busy in season — arrive early. Mid-afternoon arrivals expect no slot.
Anchor South of Port · 3–6 m
Anchor South of the Port
A practical alternative when the town quay is full. Anchor in 3–6 m on mud, sand, and weed — good holding.
Best for: Quieter overnight, peak-season overflow, crews not needing immediate town access.
⚠ Watch: Ferry traffic generates significant wash through the day — set a snubber and brace for it.
Anchorage Outside the Harbour · Settled Weather
Outside the Harbour
There is also an anchorage just outside the harbour — workable in settled weather as additional overflow. Less protected than the southern anchorage; weather-dependent.
Ferry Dock · Night Use Only · 19:00–06:00
Ferry Dock — After 7 pm Only
If bad weather necessitates getting inside at night, the ferry dock on the left as you enter the harbour is available after about 7 pm.
⚠ Critical: You must leave by 6 am — this is a working ferry dock and the early services need it.
Facilities & Services
Fuel: No station in the port. For service call +30 6932 625 501. Fuel by mini-tanker available at +30 22970 22708.
Water & electricity: Available with a prepayment chip card. Recommended: get your chip from the harbour-master rather than from a taverna — terms and price are better directly from the harbour authority.
Provisioning: Multiple supermarkets, bakeries, fresh produce in the town. Aegina is especially famous for its pistachios — buy them here, not from the airport on the way home.
Banks, ATMs, pharmacy: All present in the town centre.
Ferries: Frequent services to/from Athens (Piraeus) — Aegina is one of the most-connected Saronic islands. Useful for crew rotations.
Eating in Aegina
Aegina’s restaurant scene is solid and varied — waterfront tavernas with fish, a few back-street places aimed at local crowds rather than yacht crews, and the inevitable pistachio-themed treats (ice cream, pastries, baklava). Walk the waterfront on arrival and pick what looks good. Don’t leave the island without trying a pistachio dessert.
The Temple of Aphaia
Aegina’s cultural draw — the Temple of Aphaia, one of the best-preserved classical Greek temples and a contemporary of the Parthenon. Forms (with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion) the so-called “sacred triangle” of classical Greek temples around the Saronic.
Location: About 30 minutes by car from Aegina Port — taxi or rental from the waterfront. Map: Temple of Apollo (on the SeaTV reference).
Worth visiting: The temple sits on a pine-forested hilltop with views back across the Saronic to Athens. Best at sunset.
Pro Tips for Aegina
Arrive before 14:00. The town quay fills daily through July and August. Mid-afternoon arrivals don’t get slots — the southern anchorage is the fall-back, with ferry wash through the day.
Plot the reef carefully. The NW–SE reef across the entrance is the headline hazard. Find the red buoy at the SE end on the chart, plot it on the chartplotter, and approach with deliberate care.
Chip card from the harbour-master. Don’t get the prepayment chip from a taverna — terms and price are better directly from the harbour-master. A small savings, but the principle matters.
Check your size. Max draft 2.4 m and max LOA 40 m are the hard limits. Larger boats can’t enter — alternative is the southern anchorage or further afield.
Confirm anchor before settling. Bottom is sand, rocks, and weed. Holding varies. Set carefully, reverse hard, confirm bite before opening the wine.
Visit the Temple of Aphaia at sunset. Take a taxi or rent a car, time the visit for late afternoon, walk back through the pine forest as the light goes. The Saronic-side view is one of the best in the region.
Suggested Routes from Aegina
West to Agistri (4 NM): Just across the channel — Agistri Island‘s pine-forested coast and four natural bays.
Other Aegina anchorages: See the SeaTV Best Anchorages of Aegina for the calm-day options around the island coastline.
South to Methana (~10 NM): Down to Methana — volcanic peninsula with sulphur hot springs.
South to Poros (~15 NM): To Poros Island — easy Med-mooring, walkable harbour.
SW to Epidavros (~12 NM): Across to Nea & Palaia Epidavros — gateway to the ancient theatre.
North to Athens (~17 NM): Up to Athens marinas — return to charter base.
✅ Sailor’s Safety Checklist
▢ NW–SE reef & red buoy plotted on chartplotter
▢ Boat draft confirmed within 2.4 m max
▢ Boat LOA confirmed within 40 m max
▢ Aigina Marina ruled out (visiting yachts not permitted)
▢ Arrival timed before 14:00 in season
▢ Anchor set carefully, reverse-tested (mixed bottom)
▢ Ferry-dock 19:00–06:00 rule understood if using as bad-weather refuge
▢ Fuel/water arrangements made (chip card from harbour-master)
Emergency & Service Numbers — Saronic / Aegina
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Coastguard Working (VHF Ch. 12): Per region
Aegina Fuel (service call): +30 6932 625 501
Aegina Fuel (mini-tanker): +30 22970 22708
Olympia Radio (VHF Ch. 03/86): Greek HF/VHF maritime service
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Approach footage past the red buoy and reef, drone passes over the working harbour and the neoclassical waterfront, the manoeuvre stern-to the town quay, the southern anchorage with ferry traffic in view, and the Temple of Aphaia day-trip — Aegina as you’d see it from the cockpit. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
Aegina · Other Anchorages
→ Best Anchorages of Aegina — calm-day options around the island
Saronic · Adjacent Anchorages
→ Agistri Island — 4 NM W, pine-forested neighbour
→ Methana — 10 NM S, volcanic peninsula
→ Poros Island — 15 NM S, walkable harbour
→ Nea & Palaia Epidavros — ancient theatre
→ Hydra Island — car-free island
→ Ermioni
Itineraries
Greece · Other Regions
Continue your Saronic charter
West to Agistri, south to Methana and Poros, or north to Athens.
“Aegina rewards the early arrival. Plot the reef, grab the chip card from the harbour-master, and don’t leave without the pistachios.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Saronic & Eastern Peloponnese Edition
