Agia Marina is the main sandy resort beach of Aegina and the most popular place to swim on the island. Lying on the east coast about fourteen kilometres from Aegina Town, it boasts the longest stretch of sand on the island. With shallow, crystal-clear water that makes it ideal for families with children. Fully organised, with sun loungers, umbrellas, water sports and a strip of tavernas, cafes and shops right behind the sand, Agia Marina has grown into Aegina’s busiest holiday resort. Reached through pine forest past the island’s great sights, it combines easy, safe swimming with facilities, making it the natural choice for a classic beach day.
This guide covers everything about Agia Marina beach: where it is and how to reach it, why it is so good for families, the sand and water. The amenities and water sports on offer, the resort behind the beach, the sights nearby. The best time to visit this popular corner of Aegina.
Where is Agia Marina beach on Aegina?
Agia Marina beach is on the east coast of Aegina, about fourteen kilometres from Aegina Town.
Agia Marina lies on the eastern side of Aegina, roughly fourteen kilometres by road from the main town and port. The beach curves along a sheltered bay at the foot of the resort village. Facing the Saronic Gulf and catching the morning sun, in one of the greenest parts of the island.
The route across the island to reach it is part of the appeal. Winding through pine forest and passing some of Aegina’s most important sights on the way. The journey doubles as a small tour. This position on the developed east coast, away from the fishing villages of the south, has made Agia Marina the island’s main holiday base.
Why is Agia Marina good for families?
Agia Marina is ideal for families because it has the longest sandy beach on Aegina with shallow, calm, crystal-clear water and a soft, smooth seabed.
The great strength of Agia Marina is its safe, easy swimming. The beach has soft sand rather than pebbles, and the water stays shallow for a long way out, with a smooth, sandy seabed and calm, sheltered conditions. This makes it especially reassuring for families with young children, who can paddle and play in the clear, warm shallows.
Being fully organised adds to the family appeal: parents can rent sun loungers and umbrellas. Find refreshments and facilities just steps from the sand. Settle in for a comfortable day by the sea. The combination of gentle water and easy amenities is exactly why Agia Marina is the beach most recommended for families on Aegina.
What is the sand and water like at Agia Marina?
Agia Marina has the longest sandy beach on Aegina, a stretch of soft golden sand with clean, shallow, crystal-clear water.
Agia Marina is the largest sandy beach on the island, a broad band of soft, golden sand backed by the resort and shaded in places by tamarisk trees. The generous width and length give plenty of room to spread out, and the clean sand is comfortable underfoot, a contrast to the pebble coves found elsewhere on Aegina.
The water is one of the beach’s best features: clear, clean and blue, shallow near the shore and warming quickly in summer. The smooth sandy bottom means no sharp rocks, and the sheltered bay keeps the sea calm on most days, so swimming is easy and pleasant for all ages. The quality of the water here is a large part of why the beach is so popular.
What facilities and water sports are at Agia Marina?
Agia Marina is a fully organised beach with sun loungers and umbrellas for hire, plus tavernas, cafes and bars along the shore.
Agia Marina is well equipped for a full day by the sea. Sun umbrellas and loungers are available to rent along the sand. A line of tavernas. Cafes and bars sits just behind the beach, so food, drinks and shade are always close by. Shops and other holiday facilities are within easy walking distance in the resort.
For active visitors there is more than just sunbathing. The beach offers water sports such as paddle boarding, and the calm, clear water is well suited to snorkelling, with reefs and marine life to spot offshore. Between swimming, water sports and the easy comforts of an organised beach, Agia Marina is set up to keep families and groups happily occupied for the whole day.
What is the resort of Agia Marina like?
Agia Marina is Aegina’s main holiday resort, a small tourist village built up behind the beach. It has hotels, rooms, tavernas, cafes, bars and shops geared to visitors, giving it a lively, convenient holiday atmosphere, busiest in the summer season.
Behind the sand, Agia Marina has grown into the island’s principal tourist resort. The village offers the widest choice of beachside accommodation on Aegina, from hotels to studios and rooms, along with a cluster of tavernas. Cafes, bars and souvenir shops aimed at holidaymakers, making it a convenient, self-contained base for a beach holiday.
The atmosphere is at its liveliest in high summer, when the resort fills with families and visitors from Athens and beyond, and quieter in the shoulder months. For a full picture of the island’s other accommodation options, from Aegina Town to the villages, see our guide on where to stay on Aegina, of which Agia Marina is the main seaside choice.
What sights are near Agia Marina beach?
Agia Marina beach sits close to several of Aegina’s top sights.
One of the advantages of Agia Marina is how close it is to the island’s main attractions. The ancient Temple of Aphaia stands on its hill just above the resort, only a short distance away, making it easy to combine a morning at the temple with an afternoon on the beach.
The road across the island from Aegina Town to the beach also passes the great Monastery of Agios Nektarios and the medieval ruins of Paleochora, so visitors can take in some of Aegina’s most important sights on the way to or from the sand. This blend of easy sightseeing and beach relaxation is a big part of what makes Agia Marina such a practical and rewarding base.
When is the best time to visit Agia Marina?
The best time to visit Agia Marina beach is from late spring to early autumn, when the sea is warm and the resort is in full swing.
Agia Marina is a summer beach, and the ideal months to enjoy it run from late spring through to early autumn. By June the sea is warm and pleasant. The water stays comfortable for swimming well into September, so the shoulder months either side of high summer are excellent for a relaxed beach day with fewer people.
July and August bring the warmest weather and the liveliest atmosphere. Along with the biggest crowds as Athenians and holidaymakers flock to the coast. Those seeking a quieter time prefer late June or September. Whenever you come, arriving earlier in the day helps you find a good spot on the sand and enjoy the calm morning water before the beach fills up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Agia Marina the best beach on Aegina?
Agia Marina is widely regarded as the best and most popular beach on Aegina, especially for families. It is the island’s longest sandy beach, with soft sand, shallow and crystal-clear water and a smooth. Gentle seabed that makes for safe, easy swimming, which is why it stands out from the pebbly coves found elsewhere on the island. As a fully organised resort beach it offers sun loungers, umbrellas, water sports and a strip of tavernas, cafes and shops right behind the sand. Everything you need for a full day by the sea is close at hand.
It is also conveniently placed near the Temple of Aphaia and the Monastery of Agios Nektarios, letting visitors combine sightseeing with a swim. For families and for anyone who prefers sand and shallow water with facilities, Agia Marina is the top choice, though those seeking quiet or unspoilt coves prefer the smaller beaches of the west and south.
How do you get to Agia Marina beach from Aegina Town?
You can get to Agia Marina from Aegina Town by local bus, car, taxi or rented scooter. Following the road that crosses the island to its east coast, a distance of about fourteen kilometres. The regular bus service links the port of Aegina Town with the resort and is the easiest budget option, while driving or riding gives you the freedom to stop along the way. The route is a scenic one, winding through pine forest and passing some of the island’s most important sights. Including the Monastery of Agios Nektarios, the medieval ruins of Paleochora and the Temple of Aphaia. The journey itself is enjoyable. Some visitors also arrive at Agia Marina directly by sea in season.
It is worth checking bus times for the return trip, especially later in the day. You can plan a full, relaxed day at the beach.
Is Agia Marina beach good for children?
Yes, Agia Marina is one of the best beaches in the Saronic Gulf for children. Its long stretch of soft sand, shallow water and smooth, gentle seabed create calm. Safe conditions where young children can paddle and play close to shore. The sheltered bay keeps the sea calm on most days. Being a fully organised beach, it also has sun loungers and umbrellas for shade, along with tavernas and cafes just behind the sand for snacks. Drinks and breaks out of the sun, all of which make a day out with a family easy and comfortable.
Water sports such as paddle boarding add extra fun for older children, while the clear, shallow water is perfect for a first swim. Combined with its easy access and nearby sights, these family-friendly features are exactly why Agia Marina is the beach most often recommended for parents visiting Aegina with children.