**** NOTE: this review concerns only Aegina and not the other Saronic Gulf islands and would be of more interest to day trippers than resort-dwellers****

We have visited Aegina on a Sunday which is perhaps not the best day to choose, though it was mitigated by the fact that it was only May. We didn't come from Athens but from Methana (on the other side of the gulf), on an almost empty morning ferry, accompanied only by a few families dressed in their Sunday best, obviously going visiting.

The town of Aegina is rather pretty, with busy fishing/yachting harbour, couple of old caique boats serving as fruit stalls and the seafront lined with pastel-painted houses with dark shutters and often a canopied cafe on the street level. There is even a small, very white and Cycladic looking chapel near the end of the ferry pier.

We spend some time wandering about the town and then get the bus to visit the main historical attraction which is the Doric temple of Aphea, located about 45 minutes trip away. The bus ride itself is interesting enough, climbing up surprisingly green, lush hills covered in pistachio orchards. Pistachios are everywhere in Aegina and in all kinds of formats (roasted, nougats, bars, preserved in syrup, even what looked like pickled). The roasted ones we tried were flavoursome and addictive and seemed less sickly than the supermarket article in Britain, but then we were eating them in a more appropriate environment!

The temple site is almost empty when we arrive, though several visitors come soon and then they are followed by a tour bus. The entrance fee is a very reasonable and the site is modest which is all rather surprising as the 5th century B.C. Aphea temple is the most important archaeological site in the Saronic Gulf.

It's not an excessively huge site and anything from 15 minutes (quick run round) to an hour or so ( to see it from every angle, admire the views three ways across the Saronic Gulf and visit the small museum which houses some finds from the site as well as info on Aegina's and the temple's ancient history ) would be sufficient.

We go back town and after a stroll round the back alleys have a lunch in one of the numerous fish tavernas. This one has no sea view, but an air of authenticity provided by its location directly to the back of the fish market. It's run by a Greek-Russian couple and I spend a very pleasant 20 minutes talking to the Russian half in a pathetic but efficient mixture of Russian, Polish and English.

***Verdict***

I cannot comment on resort villages here (though there are positive opinions regarding Agia Marina). I would guess that the Aegina town would be difficult to cope with in the high season, especially on summer weekends, when all the Greek as well as foreign tourists arrive here. I wouldn't pick Aegina for a longer stay, but I would suggest a day trip if you are in the vicinity, ideally in the middle of the week. Apart from Aphea, I would try to factor in a visit to Paleohora, Aegina's ruined Byzantine capital and/or possibly a hop to Angistri.