Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
harbour, of which various underwater remains are clearly visible. You can swim
south of town, too, but there are more enticing spots further north - immediately
beyond Kolóna there's an attractive bay with a small, sandy
beach
, while other small
coves lie of the road heading further out of town in this direction. Just a couple
have any facilities, with loungers and beach bars;
Kamares Paradise
is among the
more attractive.
ACCOMMODATION
ÉGINA TOWN
Aeginitiko Archontiko
Thomaïdhou and Ayíou
Nikólaou
T
22970 24968,
W
aeginitikoarchontiko.gr.
Brick-red Neoclassical mansion opposite the Markellos
Tower, lovingly restored with period furnishings and a
conscious attempt to preserve traditional island culture.
About as far from a bland business hotel as you can get -
there's lots of lace, old pictures on the walls, creaking,
springy beds and a wonderful breakfast (included) with
home-made preserves, cakes and pastries. The suite has
painted ceilings; other roo
ms c
an be pretty basic, though
all have a/c, TV and fridge.
€70
Brown
Water front
T
22970
22271,
W
hotelbrown
.gr.
Rather dated 3-star hotel, housed in a former sponge
factory dating from 1886, on the southern part of the
harbour. Some rooms have great views of the harbour
activity, though the garden bungalows are quiet
er;
a
galleried family suite sleeps four. Breakfast included.
€65
Elektra
Leonándrou Ladhá 25
T
22970 26715,
W
aegina-electra.gr.
Friendly, quiet establishment, directly
inland from the ferry quay on the street with Piraeus Bank on
the corner, whose compact but c
omfo
rtable rooms come
with small balconies and free wi-fi.
€55
Pavlou
Eyinítou 21
T
22970 22795.
Old-school rooms
establishment set behind Panayítsa church, with very
plain, stone-floored rooms not all of which are en suite;
they do
all
have fans, a/c (extra charge), fridge and TV
though.
€40
Ì
Plaza
Kazantzáki 4
T
22970
25600,
W
plaza
-aegina.gr.
One of a series of small waterfront hotels close
to the town beach. Rooms have been newly refurbished,
with quality bathrooms and elegant dark-wood decor, plus
double-glazing, a/c and TV. There are great sea views from
the marginally more expensive rooms at the
fro
nt, and
little balconies from which to appreciate them.
€55
EATING AND DRINKING
There are plenty of good places to eat and drink in Égina, particularly at the south end of pedestrianized Panayióti Irióti
behind the fish market, and at the far ends of the waterfront - fussy Athenian patronage keeps the standards fairly high.
The cafés near the ferry jetty and in the centre of the waterfront tend to be less good value. Numerous bakeries are in the
backstreets - Papayionis, by Trust motorbike hire up the first alley off the seafront, is excellent, while Melenio, close to the
Markellos Tower, is an exceptional modern
zaharoplastío
, with fine ice cream and beautiful displays of cakes and sweets.
Ì
Agora
(also known as Yeladhakis)
Panayióti Irióti
T
22970
27308.
The best of three rival seafood ouzerís
behind the fish market (the others are very good too). Not
the most attractive location, but serves wonderful,
inexpensive (around €8 per fish plate), authentic Greek
food: accordingly it's usually mobbed and you may have to
wait for a table. Summer seating in the cobbled lane,
winter up in the loft inside.
Daily, evening only.
Avli
Panayióti Irióti
17
T
22970
26438.
Big place in an
alley behind the harbour, popular with expats and open all
day serving coffee, breakfast (€4-8), lunch and dinner
(mains €6-9; spaghetti and pizza as well as Greek dishes
and pricier steaks), while in the early hours it transforms
into a bar with Latin/jazz sounds.
Daily 10am-late.
Elia
Koumoundhoúrou 4
T
22975
00205.
Modern taverna
in an alley that emerges close to the Markellos Tower with a
Mediterranean menu including salads, pasta (carbonara
€7.50) and unusual meze (chicken satay €6.50) as well as
traditional Greek dishes (daily special €8.50); live music many
evenings.
Wed-Sat lunch and dinner, Sun lunch only.
Flisvos
Kazantzáki 8
T
22970
26459.
An excellent spot for
grilled fresh fish and traditional dishes at fair prices
(moussaka or
souvláki
€7.50, swordfish steak €12), towards
the end of a line of similar establishments behind the town
beach. Good-value lunchtime specials.
Daily lunch & dinner.
Posto Grillo
Panayióti Irióti
T
22970 28687.
A modern
kebab place behind the fish market with a wide variety of
grills, from excellent
yíros píta
(€1.70) to chops and
souvláki
; takeaway or eat in.
Daily 11am-midnight.
Skotadis
Harbourfront
T
22970 24014.
The best of a
cluster of taverna-ouzerís just south of the market, popular
with locals. A short menu, predominantly fish and meze at
€6-7 a dish, but what it does it does well.
Daily
10am-1am.
NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Athenian visitors are largely responsible for a surprisingly ample choice of nightlife given a town of about nine thousand
souls. As well as bars and clubs there are three summer open-air cinemas - Anesis on Eákou close to the Pýrgos Markéllou,
